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11 Signs You're Unhealthy That You Probably Ignore (But Shouldn't)

Author:

Lissa Rankin, M.D.

September 30, 2020

Physician and New York Times bestselling author

By Lissa Rankin, M.D.

Physician and New York Times bestselling author

Lissa Rankin, M.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of "Mind Over Medicine," "The Fear Cure," and "The Anatomy of a Calling." She is a physician, speaker, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic. Lissa has starred in two National Public Television specials and also leads workshops, both online and at retreat centers like Esalen and Kripalu.

September 30, 2020

It’s obvious you’re unhealthy when you’re diagnosed with cancer, flattened with a heart attack, leveled with a stroke, or put on dialysis. Such health crises will wake you up lickety-split and hopefully motivate you to make health and lifestyle changes aimed at bringing your body back into balance.

But did you know our bodies give us warning signs of waning health long before we get thwacked with potentially life-threatening illnesses? Our bodies speak to us in whispers, and if we don’t listen, our bodies start to yell.

How can you tell if your body is whispering? Here are some signs to note:

You sleep poorly.

The stress hormone cortisol is supposed to drop at night, allowing your body to rest and recharge. When you suffer from insomnia, it’s often because your cortisol levels are revved up at night as a result of too many “fight-or-flight” stress responses in your body. As I explain in detail in my book Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself, when your stress response is turned on, your body’s natural self-repair mechanisms get flipped off. Then BINGO. You get sick.

You're getting shorter.

Strange. The doctor just measured you two years ago. You used to be 5’ 7.” Now you’re 5’ 6 ½.” Why are you shrinking? It’s probably because your bones are starting to degenerate as a result of osteoporosis. Aging doesn’t have to mean bone loss. It’s possible to have healthy bones your whole life, so if you’re losing stature, it's worth noting.

To protect your bones, make sure you’re getting enough natural calcium, vitamin D, weight bearing exercise, and—the one most doctors won’t prescribe—relaxation responses, which can help your bones strengthen themselves.

You're "apple-shaped."

If your body has extra weight around the waist and belly (aka viceral fat) this is sometimes referred to as "apple-shaped." Apple-shaped individuals—particularly those who have a waist circumference greater than 35—may be at a higher risk of metabolic disease.

You're always tired.

Sure, your fatigue might be the result of burning the midnight oil and then getting up early for CrossFit or child care. You could be tired because your thyroid isn’t functioning properly, your adrenal glands are burned out, or your body is exhausted from expending all your resources trying to protect you from the toxic overload you’re bombarding your system with because of processed foods, cigarettes, alcohol, or environmental exposures.

Even more commonly, you could be wiped out because your stress responses are flipped on all the time—and your self-repair mechanisms are in overdrive, trying to protect you from infection, cancer, and a whole host of other serious illnesses. Sometimes chronic fatigue is the only symptom that your nervous system is stuck in chronic, repetitive stress response—the whisper that precedes your body’s rebel yell. So don’t dismiss exhaustion.

Your urine is dark yellow.

Hydration is essential to maintaining a healthy body, and when you’re well hydrated, your urine should be almost completely clear. If you peer into the toilet and see a lot of yellow, you’re probably not drinking enough fluids. Remember, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages are dehydrating, not hydrating, so stick to water, herbal or green tea, coconut water, or green juice.

You snore.

Snoring may be the only early sign of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by obstruction in the airways that can increase your risk of pulmonary hypertension and subsequent heart failure.

You're always anxious.

You might think anxiety is all in your head—and it certainly can be. As I write about in Mind Over Medicine, anxiety can start as a feeling in your mind that translates into the physiology of your body and predisposes you to diseases. But sometimes, anxiety can go the other way. Anxious feelings can result from hormone imbalances, hyperthyroidism, and more.

Not sure what’s causing your anxiety? Start by asking your inner wisdom what is causing you to feel anxious. Usually, anxiety is the result of areas of your life being out of alignment with your true self. If you feel anxious for no reason at all, ask your doctor to test your hormones.

You only move your bowels once a day—or even every other day.

Healthy bowels move every time you eat a meal. It’s called the “gastro-colic reflex.” When you insert food into the digestive tract, healthy bowels move to eliminate waste and make room for new nutrition. Otherwise, you wind up, well, full of you-know-what. When you’re constipated, toxins in the body can seep through the lining of the bowel, enter the bloodstream, and cause inflammation, which can put you at risk of a whole host of body-yelling health conditions. Your potty is your friend, my dear!

You catch every cold and flu.

We’re all exposed to viruses and bacteria every day, but a healthy individual should be able to fight off these pathogens the majority of the time. If you’re that person who catches every cold your friends have or gets sick every time your kids do, your immune system may not be functioning optimally. This can not only put you at risk of infectious diseases, but also other longterm health issues.

10.

Your lips crack, especially at the corners of your mouth.

Cracked lips, also known as “cheilitis,” can signal a deficiency in B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, which can put you at risk of illnesses like anemia. For a simple source of B12, mix up my favorite go-to snack—popcorn, olive oil, nutritional yeast, truffle salt, and cayenne pepper. (It’s the nutritional yeast that is a potent source of B12.)

11.

Your skin is always breaking out.

If you have frequent outbreaks of acne, psoriasis, eczema, or other rashes, your health may be on the fritz. Your skin is the body’s largest organ of elimination, and if it’s acting up, your body may be trying to tell you something. Your skin may signal food or other allergies, but your skin is also very often a sign that your nervous system is in stress response.

While all of these signs may sound a bit concerning, just remember you can always take action to protect your overall health and well-being.

Lissa Rankin, M.D.

Lissa Rankin, M.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure, and The Anatomy of a Calling. She is a physician, speaker, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic. Passionate about what makes people optimally healthy and what predisposes them to illness, she is on a mission to merge science and spirituality in a way that not only facilitates the health of the individual, but also uplifts the health of the collective. Bridging between seemingly disparate worlds, Lissa is a connector, collaborator, curator, and amplifier, broadcasting not only her unique visionary ideas, but also those of cutting edge visionaries she discerns and trusts, especially in the field of her latest research into "Sacred Medicine." Lissa has starred in two National Public Television specials and also leads workshops, both online and at retreat centers like Esalen and Kripalu. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her daughter. She blogs at LissaRankin.com and posts regularly on Facebook.