Diseases and Conditions Feature

Visual Signs of Poor Health That You Probably Ignore (But Shouldn’t)

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You Have Unexplained Bleeding

Bleeding is never a good sign, and often means that you are suffering from a serious illness.

Coughing up blood can be a sign of serious infection, cancer, and problems in the blood vessels in your lungs.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding occurs when you have bleeding that is not during your regular menstrual period, when the menstrual flow is lighter or heavier than what is normal for you, or when it occurs at a time in life that is unexpected – pre-puberty, during pregnancy or after menopause. Bleeding can be caused by a variety of factors including abnormal growths such as fibroids or polyps. In most cases, they are benign and can be removed surgically, however, if left untreated they can develop into reproductive cancers such as ovarian, uterine or cervical cancers.

Blood in stool means there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. In most cases, it is caused by hemorrhoids, swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus that can be painful, itchy, and can sometimes bleed. Rectal bleeding can also be caused by other medical conditions, such as the presence of an anal fissure or polyp. Colon and rectal cancers can cause a significant volume of blood to pass from your rectum.

Blood in urine, called hematuria, is usually caused by urinary tract or bladder infection and can be painful. However, if you are experiencing blood in your urine with little or no pain or other symptoms it could signal the early stages of bladder or kidney cancer.

Bloody nipple discharge can be a symptom of a benign, noncancerous, breast disorder such as, infection (mastitis) or intraductal papilloma – a small growth in the milk ducts. Bloody nipple discharge can also be an early symptom of breast cancer, especially if only one breast is affected, you have a lump in your breast, and the discharge is spontaneous and persistent.

If you are experiencing unexplained bleeding from any part of your body it’s important to get it looked at right away, as it is abnormal.