Paying close attention to common aches, pains and rashes and other possible symptoms and not delaying treatment due to COVID-19 concerns can help prevent minor conditions from developing into more serious health threats.

 

“There are a lot of health problems that can be treated better when caught early,” said Dr. Sanjeeda Jabeen, board certified primary care physician at Houston Methodist Primary Care Group at Baytown. “Big problems usually start small, so it’s worth paying attention to your body.”

 

Uncover clues about your health by taking a look at the following:

 

1. Your tongue should be pink and covered with small nodules. If you’re noticing changes in appearance or pain in your tongue, it could be a sign of a bigger issue.

 

2. Your sweat is essential for keeping your body cool. But there are times when sweating is a sign of something more serious.

• Sweating excessively may be a symptom of a condition called hyperhidrosis. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat so much that it soaks through their clothes or drips off their hands.

• Being unable to produce sweat means the body can’t cool itself (due to heat stroke, diabetes, a genetic disorder or something else), and immediate medical help is needed.

• Heavy sweating that comes on suddenly could be a symptom of a heart attack, or it could be linked to metabolic issues, cancers, menopause and stress disorders.

 

3. Your urine’s color can tell you about the general state of your health and your level of hydration.

• Clear or transparent yellow urine indicates that you’re well-hydrated.

• Dark yellow or amber urine usually means that you should drink more water.

• Pink to reddish urine may be due to blood in your urine, and could be related to urinary tract infections, prostate problems, kidney disease or something else.

• Dark-brown urine can indicate a liver disorder.

• Cloudy or milky urine can be a result of inflammation in the prostate or vagina, kidney stones, diabetes or a urinary tract infection.

 

4. Your nails can provide clues to your overall health. Nails that turn yellow or red could indicate nail fungus or even skin cancer. Clubbing of the nails, which is severe curving, can be a sign of lung disease or heart disease. Dimpling, splitting or indentation of the nails could point to psoriasis or an inflammatory skin disorder.

 

5. Your eyes are a reflection of many other aspects of your health. During an eye exam, your doctor checks for clues in the eyes that may point to conditions elsewhere in the body. Inflammation, damage or swelling within the eye may be a warning sign of diabetes, high blood pressure or inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

 

What to Do if You Need a Doctor Now

 

Preventive care is more important than ever. This is especially true for vaccines that may have been put on pause due to COVID-19 concerns and should now be pursued. Check with your primary care provider for scheduling necessary vaccines for you or members of your family.

 

You can also connect with a primary care physician virtually through telemedicine visits, including virtual urgent care, available through the MyMethodist app and E-Visits, same day sick visits conducted through an online form and guided message through the virtual care team. MyChart video virtual visits, similar to in-person appointments, are also available. Learn more by visiting houstonmethodist.org/virtual-urgent-care.

 

Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital is open and caring for all of our community and has implemented the following enhanced safety measures in all of its doctors’ offices and clinics in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and well-being of our patients:

  • Screening all patients when scheduling appointments for symptoms and exposure risk
  • Minimizing the number of patients we are seeing per day in our clinics by expanding virtual services and staggering in-person appointments
  • Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended testing for our employees
  • Screening all patients upon arrival with temperature checks and an exposure questionnaire
  • Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while providing patient care
  • Reorganizing waiting rooms and check-in lines to ensure social distancing
  • Implementing additional sanitation processes to disinfect all equipment and surfaces

To schedule an appointment with a Houston Methodist Baytown primary care physician, visit houstonmethodist.org/baytown or call 832.556.6936.