10 Health Issues You Can Diagnose Yourself
Discovering Health Issues in the Shower
The shower is an ideal place to get acquainted with your body. You can sing, smell your shampoo, or simply watch the water go down the drain while pondering life. Alternatively, you can spend a few minutes identifying potential health concerns. While you shouldn’t become paranoid or obsessively examine yourself every time, the shower is a great place to notice changes in your body and prevent any illnesses.
1. Changes in Nipple Color
A simple exam you can perform in the shower is feeling your nipples. It’s best to do this when your fingertips are wet. Pay attention to any lumps or bruises. If you find any, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Throughout our lives, our nipples change due to hormones, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy. However, sudden, unnatural changes can be signs of infection or even tumors.
2. New or Changed Moles
If you’ve ever used a tanning bed, check your intimate areas as well; that’s where melanoma often appears. Anything that itches, looks strange, or is painful is a reason to see a dermatologist. Also, be concerned about asymmetrical moles with irregular edges.
3. Painful Lymph Nodes
Pain in your neck or armpits? If these areas are very sensitive to touch, it could be a sign that your lymph nodes are swollen. Their enlargement is often a sign of infection, and you shouldn’t ignore this during your doctor’s visit.
4. Dry or Problematic Skin Areas
Such spots can be signs of hypothyroidism or liver disorders. If you’ve been sweating more and your feet swell significantly by the evening, it’s a clear reason to pay more attention to your health.
5. Changed Vaginal Discharge
Clear and milky white discharge is completely normal. It comes from vaginal glands to cleanse them of bacteria and dead cells. However, yellow, green, and lumpy discharge are the first signs of a sexually transmitted infection. If the discharge becomes thicker than usual and has a strong odor, it may indicate vaginosis, a hormonal imbalance that is easily treatable.
6. Unnatural Nail Color
The shower is an ideal time to pay attention to your toenails. This can also be a sign of infection. If your nails are brittle, you may have thyroid problems.
7. Dizziness
Have you ever felt dizzy just standing under a hot stream of water? Hot water can help reveal problems with low blood pressure—orthostatic intolerance. It can also indicate adrenal fatigue and even fibromyalgia.
8. Thinning Hair
It’s normal to find hair on your comb, but pay attention if you’re losing significantly more than usual. This can also be a sign of low thyroid levels or iron deficiency.
9. Strange Bruises
Accidentally bumped into the coffee table? No big deal if you get a bruise. However, if your entire body is covered in them and you can’t remember where they came from, it’s a serious health problem.
10. Signs of Stress
If you’re dealing with a serious life problem or a mental illness like panic attacks or depression, it’s not uncommon to feel anxious and depressed when standing alone in the shower. A shower should be a two to ten-minute break to calm your body and mind. If you can’t reach this state, you definitely have problems.
For more information on health and wellness, visit World Health Organization.
