
The difficulty with self-diagnosis is that some symptoms of serious health problems are seemingly innocuous. Here are some signs that women over 40 shouldn’t ignore:
Symptom: Pain and swelling in your calf
Likely cause: Pulled muscle
Worst-case scenario: Blood clot in the legSymptom: Flu-like feelings (fatigue, nausea, sweating, chills)
Likely cause: Virus
Worst-case scenario: Heart attackSymptom: Burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet
Likely cause: A tight-fitting pair of shoes
Worst-case scenario: Prediabetes (elevated blood sugar levels)Symptom: Bloating and pelvic pain
Likely cause: Gastrointestinal bug
Worst-case scenario: Ovarian cancerSymptom: Persistent cough
Likely cause: A cold
Worst-case scenario: Adult-onset asthma, a condition that can worsen as women enter midlifeSymptom: No matter how much you sleep, you don’t feel well-rested
Likely cause: The flu
Worst-case scenario: Sleep disorderSymptom: Trouble finding the right words
Likely cause: Sleep deprivation
Worst-case scenario: StrokeSymptom: A new mole
Likely cause: Harmless skin growth
Worst-case scenario: Skin cancer