A close-up stare at yourself in the mirror every morning can provide a daily health checkup that could extend your life and perhaps even save it someday. “Mirror, mirror on the wall — who’s the healthiest of them all?” is a phrase you should take to heart, since many expert diagnosticians believe our faces reflect our state of health.
They believe that warning signs like bloodshot eyes are all too often ignored as inconsequential when they could in fact be evidence of serious illness. Here are some of the medical problems that a long look in the looking glass can reveal:
1. Skin
A blotchy or irritated complexion can indicate irritable bowel syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome can cause acne in women due to hormonal changes. Changes in skin color, especially to yellow, can be a sign of jaundice and liver problems. A color change to orange can be a sign of too much beta-carotene from eating too many yellow and red fruits and vegetables. Sallow skin can be a symptom of dehydration. And, of course, changes in a mole can indicate skin cancer. Any worrying change in your skin should prompt a trip to your doctor, advises the Mayo Clinic.
2. Hair
Vitamin B-12 is essential for hair pigmentation, so if you’re prematurely going gray, you might be deficient in the vitamin. This condition is known as pernicious anemia, and other symptoms can be weight loss, fatigue, and diarrhea. Low iron levels could cause thinning hair in women, or according to NaturalNews.com, it can signal a deficiency of vitamin D. In both sexes, thinning hair on the head and/or eyebrows, especially if accompanied by dry skin and fatigue, can be a symptom of an underactive thyroid gland.
3. Eyes
Bloodshot or inflamed eyes can signal everything from an infection to gastroenteritis, or even autoimmune diseases such as arthritis. High cholesterol can cause a white ring around the iris or colored part of the eye, due to fatty deposits, as can small waxy lumps on the skin around the eye. Pale eyelids may indicate anemia. Drooping eyelids, often caused by eyestrain, can also be signs of either a stroke or even lung cancer, which can put pressure on a nerve group in the chest that affects the eyes. Bulging eyes, ophthalmologist Marc Werner tells AOL, may be a sign of thyroid disease.
4. Nose
A red bulbous nose has long been associated with alcohol causing the blood vessels in the nose to dilate — think W.C. Fields — but a red nose can also be caused by illness, chronic sinus problems, and even eating spicy foods. Red noses (and faces) are often a result of rosacea, an adult skin disease in which the blood vessels of the face enlarge and turn the nose red, making the face appear flushed.
5. Ears
An earlobe creased at a 45 degree angle toward the shoulder may be a warning sign of cardiovascular disease. Reports in the British Heart Journal and Modern Medicine found that men with ear creases were 55 percent more likely to die of heart disease than men without ear creases. Weight doesn't appear to affect whether or not people have creases in their ears because both thin and fat people have creases in equal numbers. And ear creases were a more accurate predictor of dying suddenly from a heart attack than other risk facts, such as previously diagnosed heart disease. Creased ear lobes are also linked to genetic disorders, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
6. Mouth
Bleeding gums are commonly a sign of gingivitis due to poor oral hygiene, but they can also indicate leukemia, which affects blood clotting. Minor burns from food can cause ulcers in the mouth, as can even stress, but if they last more than two weeks they need to be evaluated for cancer. Cracked lips, especially at the corners of the mouth and if they’re persistent, can be caused either by anemia or diabetes. Pale lips can be a sign of low oxygen levels in the blood caused by heart or lung problems, and also can be yet another indicator or anemia. White patches on the tongue can be caused by a fungus called thrush, and can be cleared quickly by an anti-fungal mouthwash. White patches that are not sore and don’t go away need to be checked for cancerous cell changes.
In fact, any sore or discolored area in your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks should be investigated by a professional, advises The Oral Cancer Foundation.
7. Weight
If you’re not trying to slim down, but suddenly drop 5 percent of your body weight in a month or 10 percent in six months, it’s time to call the doctor. Sudden, unexplained weight loss could be a symptom of liver disease or diabetes, says the Mayo Clinic. Also, if you feel full after eating little, a gastrointestinal disorder could be the culprit, or, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a problem with your gallbladder. But it could also indicate a more serious condition, such as pancreatic cancer or ovarian cancer.
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