Symptom Pairs To Watch Out For

You have swollen ankles + shortness of breath

Can indicate: Heart problems
Check this out with your doctor, as this pair of signs can sometimes indicate heart problems, says GP and Prevention adviser Dr Joe Kosterich. When the heart pumps inefficiently, he says, fluid can bank up, usually in the ankles and lungs.
Other symptoms
Tiredness, bloating, nausea and tightness in the chest. Track these symptoms by listing when they started and the order of their appearance, along with anything else you noticed that coincided with their onset, says Kosterich. This record will help you rule out other causes.



MORE: YOUR HEART FAQs ANSWERED

Your appetite and thirst have increased + you need to urinate more frequently

Can indicate: Type 2 diabetes
Together, these can be a red flag for type 2 diabetes, a condition that often goes undiagnosed, says Sydney GP Dr Claudia Nicholson.
Other symptoms
Weight loss, fatigue and altered vision. Your medical history and family history can help with diagnosis, Nicholson adds, along with some notes on the nature and duration of your symptoms.



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You’re losing weight + your girth is expanding

Can indicate: Ovarian cancer
Unexplained weight loss is always worth investigating, but this combination can be an early sign of ovarian cancer, says Nicholson. “Many women think ovarian cancer is a silent disease,” she says. “In fact, when surveyed, most women had symptoms for a period of time before diagnosis.”
Other symptoms
Lower abdominal pain, needing to urinate frequently or urgently, feeling full quickly or finding it difficult to eat. Noting such changes can help, because it’s easy to dismiss early symptoms.



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