Credits: Social Media
Changes in your weight and stool are key indicators of health, says hospice nurse
Spotting the early signs of critical illnesses can save your life. A hospice nurse, from her experience of years, warns of two symptoms you should never ignore.
Aside from eating healthy and maintaining an active lifestyle, not being mindful of the obvious changes in your body could result in a late diagnosis of diseases. Like maintaining a ‘gratitude journal‘, recognizing early signs of any health issue will help you live longer.
Hospice nurse warns of early signs you should never ignore
Hospice nurse Julie McFadden uses her social media channels to talk about death and the different body functions associated with the end of life. She aims to educate people about the natural phenomenon and help others grieve the loss of their loved ones healthily.
In one of her videos, she draws attention to two changes in the body that should never be overlooked as they can be symptoms of serious underlying issues.
Unintended weight loss
Healthy weight loss over a period due to better diet and exercise is good and even recommended for longevity, but a sudden decline in your weight should be taken as a warning sign.
Body weight is an indicator of health. While being overweight is linked to several health issues, people often overlook weight loss because society glorifies thin bodies. However, losing weight for no reason could be triggered by a health issue and the hospice nurse says: “I would not be happy. I would be concerned and I would 100 percent go see a doctor.”
“Several devastating diseases that I see all the time in hospice, one of the first symptoms is unintended weight loss,” she explains. Julie recommends getting the symptoms checked immediately to catch the devasting disease early.
Changes in stool
Your gut health is crucial for your overall well-being. If there are obvious changes in your stool, that are too prolonged, getting it checked by a doctor can detect any health issue in the early stages of occurrence.
Julie says: “The second time I would always go see a doctor for is changes in the stool. A lot of times it means absolutely nothing, but sometimes, it can mean something.”
Changes in your poop are a “huge indicator for some diseases”. While you must always see a doctor if there’s blood in your stool, the number of times you poop in a day is important too.
Julie McFadden is a certified RN/BSN and author, who believes in educating people about the dying process before theyre going through it with a loved one or themselves. Her YouTube channel boasts over 420,000 subscribers and she’s been featured in several leading media outlets including Newsweek, New York Post, People, and USA Today.
