Don’t ignore these weird symptoms
May 04, 12
Everyone has had some sort of weird body twitch or pain that they didn’t understand, and in most cases, we shrug it off quickly. But now and then, odd little symptoms may be signs of something serious. The following list of symptoms, which come from NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman, could point to big problems:
- Big hearing loss in one ear
If you’re losing hearing in one ear only, it could be that you’re developing a tumor affecting a cranial nerve, known as an acoustic neuroma. The neuroma may not be malignant, but it can grow large enough to put pressure on your brain and can be fatal. - “Pitted” nails
If you’re nails look like they’ve been pricked frequently with a pin, or “pitted,” it could be an early sign of psoriasis.
- Retina freckles
If you get black spots with well-defined margins on the back of the eye, it could be a sign of colon cancer. - Bleeding gums
Most people get bleeding gums now and then if they brush or floss to hard on a tender spot — and that’s usually not a big deal. But in rare cases, bleeding gums can be a sign of blood cancer known as leukemia. Since kids usually don’t get gingivitis, bleeding gums among children is especially serious.
- Dry mouth
If your mouth is persistently dry — especially along with dry eyes — you’re probably not just thirsty. These two symptoms are key to a diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome, a disease which attacks the body’s immune system (specifically the mucus and moisture secreting glands in your eyes and mouth).
To learn more about these conditions, and watch a video of Dr. Snyderman discussing them, visit here.