MOST ACHES AND pains aren’t a sign of something serious, but certain symptoms should be checked out. See a doctor if you feel any of these things:

Weakness in your arms and legs

If you get weak or numb in your arm, leg, or face, it can be a sign of a stroke, especially if it’s on one side of your body.

You could also be having a stroke if you can’t keep your balance, feel dizzy, or have trouble walking.

Get help quickly if you suddenly can’t see well, get a bad headache, feel confused, or have problems speaking or understanding. Caught early, it is often reversible,

Chest pain

When it comes to chest pain, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Any chest pain, especially accompanied by sweating, pressure, shortness of breath, or nausea, should be evaluated by a medical professional right away.Chest pain or pressure can be a sign of heart disease or a heart attack, particularly if you feel it during exertion or while being active. Or, chest pain may mean problems other than with your heart; for example, you have another serious condition, such as a blood clot moving into your lung.

If your chest feels tight or heavy, and it lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back again, get help. Don’t try to tough it out.

Tenderness and pain in the back of your lower leg

This can be a symptom of a blood clot in your leg. It’s called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. It can happen after you’ve been sitting for a long time, like on a long plane ride, or if you’re sick and have been in bed a long time.

If it’s a blood clot, you may feel the pain mostly when you stand or walk. You may also notice swelling. The leg is usually red and tender, and it will be larger than the other leg.

It’s normal to feel tenderness after exercise. But if you also see redness and feel heat where it’s swollen or painful, call your doctor.

If you flex your toes upward and it hurts, that’s also suggestive of a blood clot. But don’t rely on that. If it’s hot, red, and swollen on one side, go to the hospital.

It’s important to catch a blood clot before it can break off and block your blood flow, which can lead to complications.

Blood in your urine

Several things can cause you to see blood when you urinate.

If you have blood in your urine and you also feel a lot of pain in your side or in your back, you may have kidney stones. A kidney stone is a small crystal made of minerals and salts that forms in your kidney and moves through the tube that carries your urine.

Your doctor may take X-rays or do an ultrasound to see the stones. Many kidney stones eventually pass through your body when you pee. It can be very painful. Sometimes your doctor may need to remove the kidney stone.

If you see blood in your urine and you also have an increase in feeling that you urgently need to pee, make frequent trips to the bathroom, or feel burning when you urinate, you may have a severe bladder or kidney infection, If you see blood but don’t feel any pain, it may be a sign of kidney or bladder cancer, so visit your doctor.

Wheezing

Breathing problems should be treated right away. If you’re wheezing, or hear a whistling sound when you breathe, see your doctor.

Without urgent evaluation, breathing can quickly become labored, and it can be catastrophic if not evaluated and treated quickly.

It may be from asthma, a lung disease, a severe allergy, or exposure to chemicals. Your doctor can figure out what’s causing it and how to treat it. If you have allergic asthma, an allergist or pulmonologist (lung specialist) will create a plan to manage it and reduce flare-ups.

Wheezing can also be caused by pneumonia or bronchitis. Are you coughing up yellow or green mucus? Do you also have a fever or shortness of breath? If so, you may have bronchitis that’s turning into pneumonia. See your doctor.

Suicidal thoughts

If you feel hopeless or trapped, or think you have no reason to live, get help. Talking to a professional can help you make it through a crisis.

Go to a hospital emergency room or a walk-in clinic at a psychiatric hospital. A doctor or mental health professional will talk to you, keep you safe, and help you get through this tough time.

Here are the sleep wreckers

WHEN YOUR ALARM clock goes off, do you hop out of bed feeling ready to meet the day? Or do you hit the snooze button and roll over trying to figure out how to stay in bed just a little longer because you’re so tired?

When it comes to catching your sleeps, it’s not just about quantity. It’s about the quality. Luckily, you can outmaneuver the most common sleep wreckers that block you from getting a good night’s rest.

Your glass of wine after dinner

Many people think that a nightcap is just the thing they need to help them relax and fall asleep. But it can backfire.

Alcohol does make you feel sleepy initially. But as your body breaks it down, it can have a stimulating effect, keeping you out of the deeper stages of sleep, or even causing you to wake often throughout the night.

Do this: You don’t have to swear off alcohol altogether. But don’t drink right before bedtime.

It takes about an hour to digest one alcoholic beverage. So if you’ve had two glasses of wine by 10 p.m., it may keep you from a restful sleep until midnight or later.

Your smartphone

Electronic devices, including laptops, cellphones, and TVs, all give off light that can affect your body’s production of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that helps you fall asleep at night.   Do this: Keep your phone in the kitchen  at night to recharge. Don’t keep it on your nightstand, where you’ll be tempted to check it just before lights out. And no electronics for at least 60 to 90 minutes before bedtime.

Your bedtime snack

Foods that are high in refined carbohydrates (egchips ) can cause a quick rise in your blood sugar, . Your body then responds with a surge of insulin, causing a drop in blood sugar. That’s then countered by the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline,This seesawing back and forth can make it very hard to fall and stay asleep.

Do this: A small snack at night is fine. But ditch the chips for a healthy carbohydrate combined with some protein. Some good choices include almond or peanut butter on a whole wheat cracker,  or a banana and yogurt.4: Sleeping In

Most people think they can “catch up” on sleep lost during the week. But when you get up late on weekends, it can actually be worse for you.

Your body has a natural wake/sleep cycle, also known as its circadian rhythm. When you stay up too late or sleep in too long, you upset that rhythm and make it tougher to get back on track.

Do this: Pick a bedtime and wake-up time and stick with it. The most important thing anyone can do is go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Consistency is key.

Your bedroom’s temperature

When you are in a room that’s too hot or too cold, you may not sleep well.

Do this: Of course, perfectly comfortable varies from person to person. Studies show that room temperatures below 65 and above 75 affect sleep cycles. So try to keep it in that range.

You can always adjust the temperature to your liking, and hopefully, your partner will agree with that setting.

Your mattress

A bad mattress and a pillow that doesn’t support your body right spell bad news for sleep.

Do this: Buy a new mattress every 8 years, or as needed. Life changes such as a car accident or back injury can change your mattress needs. Also, if you move houses more than two or three times, the springs in a mattress can get damaged.

If you wake up stiff and sore every morning, then it’s time to shop for a mattress. Pillows are easy buys, so replace them anytime.