Today’s edition of Hood Health 101 gives you a list of itches and ouches you should never overlook
Often times, our bodies experience mild symptoms that have the potential to turn into severe problems. Do you hesitate to pay attention to your body’s messages out of fear? Most of these
ailments can be addressed with dietary changes, but so many of us are not willing to eat to live and instead choose to live to eat. This list will help us to acknowledge certain ailments of concern. Please pay attention and do not ignore these signs and symptoms. Hypochondriacs beware!
1. Chest Pain – This could just be something as simple as heart burn.
But hey, don’t take a chance. If you feel pain in your left arm, are
experiencing jaw pain, it’s hard to breathe and/or you are sweating a
lot, you could be experiencing a heart attack.
2. Shortness of Breath – If you are not being active at the moment and
are experiencing shortness of breath, pay close attention.
3. Unintended Weight Loss – This could be a sign of an overactive
thyroid. It is also one of the first signs of disease like, liver
disease, depression or another illnesses.
4. Bloody Urine or Stool – Blood can get into your urine or stool if
you have cysts, stones, an infection or inflammation along the urinary
or excretory system.
5. Piss Problems – If you have to urinate too much or if you can’t pee
with ease, it could be a sign of prostate or kidney issues. If you
can’t control your bladder, you may need to practice some “kegals”.
If you feel the need to pee but only a few drops come out and it hurts
like hell, you could have a urinary tract infection or may be burning
from an STD. Betta get that checked out, homie.
6. Swollen Legs – Your body may not be eliminating water properly.
This could be a sign of heart, kidney or liver disease.
7. Skin Breakouts – Looking at your skin is a good way to see what’s
going on inside your body. Many times, our skin will react to food
that we’ve eaten or even detergent we’ve used. If you have lesions or
ulcers, large moles, especially if they do not run in your family,
visit a dermatologist.
8. Persistent Headaches – If you have a headache that lasts for more
than 2-3 days, there may be a problem. The first thing you should do
is drink a lot of water. Headaches are one of the first signs of
dehydration. If these headaches are accompanied by vomiting or vision
changes, go see a doctor. Immediately!
9. Muscle Weakness – If you are weak and not able to walk and it’s not
because of a fall or lots of exercise, this could be a sign of a
stroke, neurological or autoimmune disorder like multiple sclerosis.
10. Elimination – If you have been constipated or have not had a bowel
movement for more than a day, you are what is called “BACKED all the
way UP”. Each time you eat, you should eliminate. You should at the
very least be going once a day. Diarrhea could be a sign of bacterial
infection, viral infection, parasites, or a colon problem like cancer.
If your poop is bloody or tar-like, go see somebody. Drink lots of
water and eat fruits and vegetables to keep your digestive tract clear
and your immune system charged.
11. Fever – Go get the Vaseline and a thermometer and roll over! Ha! A
fever could be a sign that your body is fighting off some sort of
infection.
12. Loss if vision, slurred speech or weakness – These signs could be
symptoms of a stroke, especially if you feel numb in your body.
13. Fatigue – You should not always feel like you are exhausted,
especially if you are getting rest.
14. Hot, Red, Swollen Joints – You might have “The Gout”. Go get you
some cherry juice. It’ll help to lower the uric acid levels in your
system.
15. Menstrual Issues – Sometimes, women have heavy bleeding, painful
menstruation or irregular periods. Women can suffer from many
ailments such as endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis and more. Go
get your coochie steamed, check your diet and see a midwife. You
don’t have to suffer.
16. Lumps around the breast – I don’t think I have to tell you that if
there is a lump near your breast to go get it checked. Men, you can
get breast cancer too.
17. Reproductive areas – If you have any itching, burning, blisters,
sores, bumps or bugs in or around your genitals, something is going
on. Go get that looked at.
18. Stomach area pain – Something could be going on with any of your
organs in that area, like your gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, uterus
or colon.
-Scihonor Devotion
SciHonor Devotion, CD, CPD, CCCE, CMA, CWSP is a contributing writer
to the Hood Health Handbook set. She is a Labor Doula, Postpartum
Doula, Childbirth Educator, Homebirth Midwife Assistant and Womb Sauna
Practitioner who serves women and girls in her community through
workshop, ceremony and rites of passage. She is also Co-Owner of
Queen’s Quisine: Vegetarian and Vegan Catering Company and can be
contacted at www.facebook.com/EarthDoulas / SciHonor17@gmail.com /
www.facebook.com/QueensQuisine
