We all know about the typical warning signs of disease. Lumps in the breast could mean breast cancer. A dark spot on your skin may mean melanoma. That spare tire around your mid-section could put you at risk for heart disease. But other not-so-obvious changes in the body could also be signaling something serious.
After traveling the world with his wife, Les Duncan thought he was healthy.
Then, it happened.
"I had an excruciating headache. I was more nauseous than I've ever been in my entire life."
His doctor said nothing was wrong.
Duncan knew better.
"I think the biggest mistake people make is not listening to their body."
Some symptoms could be warning signs. What if you go gray prematurely? It could mean thyroid disease or a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Varicose veins? That puts you at a higher risk for blood clots or deep vein thrombosis.
Warning signs of diabetes are bleeding gums, tingling feet or a rash.
After pushing his doctors, Duncan found out he was at risk for brain hemorrhaging.
"He was very proactive about things, and he became very knowledgeable about what he had," said neurosurgeon, Dr. Jonathan White.
Listening to his body may have saved his life. He noticed that putting pressure on one side of his head made him feel better.
"When I began treatment, the doctors told me that lying on the right side of my head probably applied the pressure needed to stop the bleeding and probably saved my life," saved Duncan.
Duncan says he also craved foods like spinach, broccoli and asparagus. He found out later those are foods rich in Vitamin K, which is known to aid blood clotting.
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