When it comes to your health, here are some red flags you shouldn’t simply brush off. By Sasha Gonzales

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While many symptoms are not worth your having a fit, there are some that you should never assume to be benign because they may, in fact, be serious, says Dr Koh Hau Tek, medical director at Parkway Shenton.

See your doctor immediately if you notice or experience any of these.

● Frequent thirst, frequent urination and weight loss are symptoms of diabetes

● Changes in the breasts, like lumps, dimpling of the skin, unusual nipple discharge or a lump in your armpit that’s close to the breast may indicate breast cancer

● Breathlessness during rest or exertion, coupled with chest tightness and leg swelling may be symptoms of a heart attack or heart failure

● Prolonged coughing (more than two weeks) and bloody phlegm could mean that you have a lung infection

● Tiredness, tremors in the limbs and hair loss may mean a thyroid disorder

● Intermittent nosebleeds or unusual nasal discharge with neck lumps – these can be symptoms of nose cancer

● Poor sleep, low mood and anxiety may indicate mental health issues

● Black stools and the feeling that your bowels have not been emptied completely after going to the loo may indicate a problem with the intestines

● Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and upper abdominal pain may signal a problem with the gall bladder and/or biliary tract

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