Physical Warning Signs No Woman Should Ignore

Persistent Nausea

Persistent nausea can be a sign of multiple physical conditions. Nausea is even associated with mental health disorders like generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder. One of the most common causes of persistent nausea in women is pregnancy. If a woman is certain she is not pregnant, though, constant nausea can be more cause for concern. Nausea might be caused by gallstones, which women are twice as likely to develop than men. Some stones don't cause symptoms, but others can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain, and shoulder pain.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can also cause nausea. This disease causes the contents of the stomach to re-enter the esophagus. Migraines may cause headaches during the episode or directly before the head pain occurs. Nausea might be related to a peptic ulcer, which occurs when sores develop in the esophagus, small intestine, or stomach. Other causes of persistent nausea include inflammatory bowel disease, an obstruction of the intestine, pancreatitis, a hernia, hepatitis, and serious diseases of the central nervous system.

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue can be a sign of a serious condition. In fact, there's a disorder called chronic fatigue syndrome in which the main symptom is prolonged fatigue. Sometimes doctors will write off persistent fatigue as a natural sign of aging, but chronic fatigue isn't a normal part of getting older. It's important to see as many health professionals as necessary to get a diagnosis. Fatigue may make women feel like they're sleep deprived or have the flu, even if they've gotten enough sleep and are generally healthy otherwise.

Anemia, a disorder that causes inadequate blood cell production, can also cause fatigue. Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can lead to fatigue as well. A disorder related to chronic fatigue syndrome that causes fatigue is fibromyalgia, though fibromyalgia also tends to come with pain. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis can all cause fatigue. If the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, individuals will develop a condition called hypothyroidism, which can lead to fatigue and depression. Food intolerances and allergies are also related to fatigue. Sleep apnea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing in sleep, leads to decreased sleep quality and tiredness as well.