At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013 - (Page 146)

Medical messages don’t ignore those bloodshot eyes or pale nails, there could be a more serious underlying problem C hanges in your body and face aren’t just signs of ageing – they can also give you valuable insight into what’s actually going on beneath the surface. While an obvious symptom such as pain, bleeding or fever is usually hard to ignore, body signs are often far more subtle and, as a result, easier to brush aside and leave uninvestigated. ‘These medical messages are not merely random occurrences. Rather, they are sent by your body to warn you that something might be out of kilter,’ says Joan Liebmann-Smith, author of Body Signs: How To Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective (£12.99, Michael Joseph). Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should panic each time you notice a small change. ‘Many of these health signs are common and, more often than not, they are nothing to worry about. However, it is vital that you are alerted to them, and – if they do persist – get them checked out to rule out any underlying conditions which may be the cause,’ says Dr Rob Hicks, one of the UK’s most well-known media-doctors. Read on to find out if you have any of the following conditions. 146 | JUNE 2013 symptom A PAIR OF HOT SWOLLEN JOINTS It could mean… an early sign of rheumatoid arthritis This condition is characterised by inflammation and pain or aches in the shoulders, hands or wrists, knees, ankles, elbows and feet. ‘A pair of swollen joints in any area of your body, most commonly wrists, knees or ankles, must always be taken seriously as it might be a warning sign for rheumatoid arthritis. It’s something that people often ignore for months before getting themselves checked out, and if it is arthritis you could be damaging your joints,’ says Jo Cumming at Arthritis Care (www. arthritiscare.org.uk). ‘The swelling is caused by your immune system attacking the joint. In arthritis it will feel hot too, which is part of your body’s defence mechanism.’ If it’s just one swollen joint, this is likely to be due to injury or over-use. What to do: See your GP, who will do a blood test to check for high levels of rheumatoid factor and also for levels of proteins associated with arthritis. If tests are positive, you’ll be referred to a rheumatologist. http://arthritiscare.org.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013

Editor's letter
Carol's hello
News
Summer days
Rear of the year
Shades of citrus
Maxi moment
Good for the sole
Razzle dazzle
Swing by the sixties
All shapes and sizes
Steal her look
The swimwear round
A moment with Carol
Beaming with pride
Loose women
Forever friends
What men want
The D word
Fear not
Keep your flirt on
Sex on fire
Culinary classics
Food glorious food
At a pinch
Oiling the meals
Flaming hot
Under the grill
Raise a glass
Water works
Weight-dropping wonders
Tuck in
Home improvements
Holiday hazards
Proceed with caution
Warning signs
Down to the bare bones
Back on track
A sorry sight
20 under £20
How do they do it?
Rewind time
Lacklustre locks?
Pearly brights
Good job hunting
Old timers
The golden years
Cash in a flash
Money guru
Foster the love
Child's play
Easy as 1, 2, 3?
Summertime accessories
Those in glass houses
On the tiles
Home safe home
Savvy traveller
Holiday honcho
Port of call
Here come the girls
It's a numbers game
Book it in
Up, up and away!
Last word

At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013