While a few aches and pains are common, some symptoms might not just be what they seem like. Make sure you don’t ignore certain health symptoms…

Recurring bloating
While women tend to get bloated more often than men due to their menstrual cycle, if you discover that you’re bloated more often than not, it’s worth getting it investigated. Keep an eye out for gas, pain in the abdomen or difficulty while eating. It could be due to an underlying gynaecological problem, which may need to be checked. What to do: Visit your gynaecologist soon.

Excruciating headaches
A burst blood vessel in your brain could trigger sudden and extremely painful headaches. Called a ruptured aneurysm, this requires urgent attention. Additional symptoms include chest pain, exhaustion and deteriorating vision, which could indicate cardiac cephalgia or meningitis. What to do: Ask your GP whether you need to do any tests to diagnose the reason for the agonising headaches.

Painful toothache
A little bit of a sting or pain while having an icecream or a chilled drink is okay, shooting pain is not. If you feel like your teeth are feeling extra sensitive, it’s time you make a trip to the dentist. A bad toothache could mean that a nerve in the tooth has been damaged — a sign of rotting teeth. The more you keep postponing a visit to the dentist, the more the bacteria will spread in your mouth, leading to severe pain. What to do: Book an appointment with your dentist asap.

Pain in the chest
Certain foods cause heartburn or indigestion. You need to identify the difference between that and something that could be potentially more dangerous. Don’t let the thought of a heart problem deter you from visiting the doctor.When you feel like there is a load on your chest — quite literally — or pain, it may just be one of the many signs of a heart attack. What to do: Don’t wait — get yourself checked immediately to find out how serious the problem is.

Unnatural hair growth
While all of us have hair on our bodies, if you notice thick, dark hair on your face, chest, stomach or near your breasts, it could indicate a gynaecological problem Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This occurs when there is an imbalance of female hormones in the body. Other symptoms include irregular periods and trouble conceiving.What to do: Your gynaecologist may ask you to do tests to detemine the cause.

Sudden weight loss
Whether you’re dieting and exercising or not, losing a lot more weight than you should or losing weight suddenly for no apparent reason, is a cause for concern. Unexplained weight loss could be pointing out towards an underlying illness, a sign of diabetes or several other health problems. What to do: Don’t procrastinate. Get a check-up done immediately.

Problem in the bedroom
One of the most common problems, erectile dysfunction happens to all men at some point in their lives. But if it is a recurring problem, you need to get it checked. What to do: Visit a sexpert or a urologist who will ask you to do some tests.