When you experience mild symptoms, you may think about making an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP), but more often than not, you just dismiss these concerns. Is that the right call?
Hair Loss
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If you’ve noticed more hair than usual in your hairbrush, snared in your shower drain and on your bathroom counter, you can do a number of things to help limit hair loss.
All of these are preventive measures against hair loss, which is most commonly caused by hereditary factors linked to aging. While it’s normal to lose between 50 to 100 hair strands each day, reach out to your PCP if there has been a sudden increase or if you notice thinning on your scalp. Being kinder to your hair and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you retain more hair. If excessive hair loss continues, consult your PCP about additional measures. Prescription medication may provide a solution.
A Little Known Sign of Diabetes
Did you know that darker skin in your armpit area could be a sign of diabetes? Uncontrolled diabetes can cause a number of skin conditions, including acanthosis nigricans, which is caused by a build-up of insulin and typically appears in the neck, groin or armpit.
If you notice a patch of skin that is darker than the rest of your skin and velvety to the touch, schedule an appointment with your PCP to be tested for diabetes.
Don’t Ignore Heavy Periods
A heavy period, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as requiring a pad or tampon change more frequently than every two hours or passing clots that are quarter-size or larger, can be a warning sign of a serious issue.
Conditions that can cause heavy bleeding include uterine fibroids or other noncancerous growths, uterine and cervical cancer, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, hormonal issues, bleeding disorders, thyroid conditions, and more. Intrauterine devices and aspirin can also contribute to heavy bleeding.
If you experience heavy periods, which can lead to anemia, schedule an appointment with your PCP or gynecologist for a diagnosis and treatment.
Extended Sadness
Periods of melancholy or anxiety lasting for two weeks or longer can be a sign of clinical depression. Your PCP can help by evaluating your symptoms, diagnosing the cause of your mental state, and prescribing medication or providing a referral to a specialist, if needed.
It can take antidepressants a few weeks to begin to make a noticeable difference in your mood. Exercise may also help alleviate depression.
Persistent Fatigue
When you feel lethargic even though you should be well-rested, any number of factors could be causing the issue, including a need to adopt good sleep hygiene habits to make it easier to fall and stay asleep. Your PCP might recommend avoiding screen time before bedtime and turning down your thermostat at night, for starters.
If these conservative measures are ineffective, your PCP may recommend one or more diagnostic tools to determine what’s causing your symptoms, including lab work to test for conditions—such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, kidney disease and heart disease—or a sleep study to test for sleep apnea.
Has it been a while since your last check-up, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0535 to request an appointment.
Sources: aad.org, cdc.gov, nimh.nih.gov, medlineplus.gov/antidepressants, medlineplus.gov
