When your body speaks, you should listen. Most people aren't very good at it, though, and it's tempting to ignore a problem that could signal something bad. Even if you do pay attention to your symptoms, it's not easy to know what they mean. That's why diagnosis is a job for a doctor. But you can use the information here to help you decide how urgently you need to see one.
Symptoms you should never ignore: unintentional weight gain
Have you been gaining weight without trying to?
Description: gradual weight gain with no other symptoms
Possible causes: decrease in exercise, increased calorie intake or aging.
Response: eat less and get more exercise. As you age, your calorie needs decrease.
Description: weight gain accompanied by swelling, chest pain or shortness of breath.
Possible causes: heart or lung disease.
Response: see your doctor, who will order diagnostic tests.
Description: weight gain accompanied by fatigue, hair loss, decreased cold tolerance, constipation or depression.
Possible causes: hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Response: see your doctor, who will order a diagnostic blood test. If your thyroid is underactive, treatment is thyroid hormone replacement pills.
Description: weight gain after starting a new medication.
Possible causes: a side effect of medications such as corticosteroids, lithium, tranquilizers and some antidepressants.
Response: talk with your doctor about whether a different drug should be substituted. Side effects sometimes disappear after a few days or weeks of taking a medication.
Description: in women, gradual weight gain possibly accompanied by irregular or nonexistent periods, excess hair growth, acne or infertility.
Possible causes: polycystic ovary syndrome.
Response: see your doctor, who can prescribe medications to control symptoms; in some cases, surgery is necessary.
Description: weight gain during a period of high stress or anxiety.
Possible causes: anxiety or intense stress.
Response: look for ways to change whatever is causing the stress or anxiety. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga and visualization can help you cope. Longer-lasting anxiety can be treated with therapy, medication or both.
Description: weight gain accompanied by sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in enjoyable activities or thoughts of suicide.
Possible causes: depression.
Response: see your doctor, who may refer you to a mental health professional for medication, therapy or both.
Description: weight gain after quitting smoking.
Possible causes: emotional eating and the slowing of metabolism that comes with smoking cessation.
Response: Suck on sugarless candies, snack on raw vegetables, drink plenty of water and start an exercise regimen.
Description: weight gain accompanied by excessive thirst, fatigue, increased urination or poor wound healing.
Possible causes: diabetes.
Response: see your doctor, who will order a test to measure your blood sugar levels.
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