10 Subtle Health Symptoms Women Often Miss

Tummy aches. Bruises. Fevers. It’s a mom’s job to make her kids’ pains go away. But many moms are so busy dealing with their kids' well-being that they sometimes miss the subtler health warnings within their own bodies. “Symptoms with general persistence are what women normally ignore, but really shouldn’t,” says Los Angeles-based ob-gyn Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz. “Women just get used to them.” It’s time to stop and take care of your health, too, ladies. We’ve tapped three docs to tell us what issues moms are likely to miss.

It’s not uncommon to indulge your chocoholic side, or miss time on the treadmill, contributing to those few extra pounds. But if your routine hasn’t changed at all, packing on extra weight could mean something else. “Women don’t mention it much, or if they do, doctors don’t take it very seriously,” Los Angeles-based internist and nutrition specialist Dr. Melina Jampolis says. If the weight is truly unaccounted for, press your doc. “Weight gain could be due to low thyroid, medications or type-2 diabetes.”

Jampolis says fatigue is another one women don’t tend to bring up at appointments. But if your energy level suddenly plummets and doesn’t rebound, it’s time to speak up. “Fatigue could be due to low thyroid, iron-deficiency anemia or medications you’re on, like antidepressants,” she says.

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Look at your hands. Are your once-healthy nails suddenly breaking off? Bring it up at your next dermatologist or doctor appointment. “Brittle nails, nails curving inward with ridges or concave nails that appear indented may be the first sign of iron-deficiency anemia,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman. Catch it early, and you can take iron supplements to get back on track, but left untreated this form of anemia can lead to dangerous heart problems.

Other than the two-second deodorant swipe in the morning, you probably don’t spend much time checking out your armpits. But you should take an extra-long glance every once in awhile. Note any skin that isn’t normal complexion color. “Dark discoloration on the sides of the neck or the armpits is called acanthosis nigricans,” says Jaliman. “It may be a sign of diabetes.”

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Over-plucking can happen, and eyebrows tend to taper off anyway, so you might not immediately notice anything’s up. But sparse brows might be more than aging. “Loss of the lateral third of the eyebrow indicates hyperthyroidism,” says Jaliman. If you’re suddenly grabbing your pencil to color in a lot of strands, you may want to bring it up with your doc.

Menstruation is one of those things: It’s once a month, then it’s out of sight and out of mind. But if you’re filling tampons a lot faster, don’t just assume it’s bodily changes that come with giving birth and aging. “You could become anemic. Maybe there’s a polyp, an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus,” says Gilberg-Lenz. “Precancerous conditions are not super common, but not that uncommon. There’s a delicate balance of hormones in your cycle, and too much estrogen could overgrow the lining of the uterus, which needs to be addressed.”

Waking up with a headache every morning? Is the pain different from what you’ve felt all your life? Even if a couple pain pills take care of the problem temporarily, don’t ignore it and soldier on. Ask your doctor about it. “Most headaches are associated with fatigue or dehydration,” says Gilberg-Lenz. “But it could also be something like anemia or high blood pressure. If a headache feels different, doesn’t respond to medication or you wake up with one every morning, it’s not normal.”

Feeling the bloat? It could be your monthly cycle or the Mexican food you ate for dinner, but if it’s becoming a persistent annoyance, speak up at your checkup. “Most of the time it’s diet-related,” says Gilberg-Lenz. “But it could be a fibroid, an ovarian cyst or even ovarian cancer.”

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Lots of pregnancies come with constipation or other bowel discomforts. That’s normal, but don’t think you have to get used to it forever. Keep in mind that these changes usually straighten out once your bundle of joy arrives. If you don’t get some consistency back, there may be a larger problem. “If the problem continues postpartum, it could be a thyroid issue,” Gilberg-Lenz says. Your doctor can work with you to get back on the right digestive track.

You may think you’ve strained it, overworked it or that hot summer weather is causing your leg to swell up, but be careful, and keep a very watchful eye. What may seem rather innocuous could be a major problem. “Especially if you’ve been traveling or you’re on birth control—which millions of women are—you need to be aware,” says Gilberg-Lenz. “And also especially if there’s asymmetry—one leg is swollen, discolored or painful, and the other is fine, it needs to be assessed right away. There could be a blood clot.” And if a part of that clot breaks off and travels to the lungs or heart, it may be deadly.