Your stools are black

Your stools are black
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No doubt it’s an alarming sight, and the colour can be a sign of digested blood, in which case your doctor may consider more serious issues like a stomach ulcer or GI cancer. Find out 48 secrets surgeons won’t tell you.

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Your stools are green

Your stools are green
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Yikes! Green poo certainly gets your attention. “This is often some sort of infection, like giardia or salmonella,” says Dr. Sontag. Your doctor will ask whether you’ve been abroad or camped or hiked recently and then consider testing. Find out 10 ways you never knew you were using the toilet wrong.

Your wee looks pink

Your wee looks pink
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Pink or red wee is a sign of blood in your urine. The most likely causes are a urinary tract or kidney infection, but it can also be present in later stages of kidney, bladder or prostate cancer, notes the Mayo Clinic. A urinalysis will be used, in part, to uncover the cause of the bleeding.

Your wee looks like cola

Your wee looks like cola
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This should set off immediate alarm bells – particularly after an extreme workout or, say, running a marathon. It could be rhabdomyolysis, which happens when muscle tissue breaks down, enters your bloodstream, and causes kidney damage. This serious disease warrants a trip to the ER. Head here to find out about 12 medical conditions that can kill you in 24 hours or less.

Your mouth is burning

Your mouth is burning
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Appropriately called “burning mouth syndrome,” this may be due to damage to pain and taste nerves. You’ll notice a painful burn or tingle in your mouth that’s frequent and sticks around for months. While there’s no test to diagnose this problem, your doctor will do a thorough check to rule out other potential causes and may give you a prescription that can ease your discomfort.

Your leg hurts when you walk

Your leg hurts when you walk
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Certainly, the first thing you want to think about would be: Did I injure myself on that hike I took last weekend or did I overdo it running more kilometres than I should? However, if the pain can’t be linked to an injury and it feels like your actual bone is hurting, it may be bone cancer (even if the pain comes and goes). Talk to your doctor about getting a biopsy.

You wee all the time

You wee all the time
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Yes, an increase in bathroom visits can be because of a urinary tract infection – though UTIs usually have that tell-tale burn. However, if you wee constantly and have an unquenchable thirst, you may be developing diabetes, notes Dr. Sontag. If you notice that you’re going much more frequently than before or are waking up throughout the night to relieve yourself, talk to your doctor. Head here to learn how to cope with an ‘overactive’ bladder.

Your nipples are leaking

Your nipples are leaking
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Not breastfeeding? Not having sex? Then it may be a condition called galactorrhea. It could be an underlying medical problem like a prolactinoma, a benign tumour on your pituitary gland. While not always harmful on its own, the tumour can lead to irregular periods and interfere with your fertility. Blood tests can help your doctor uncover the underlying cause of your leakage.

You sit down to watch TV and immediately snooze

You sit down to watch TV and immediately snooze
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What seems like a commonplace event – it was a boring show anyway! – can mean something more: Most notably, sleep apnoea. “I diagnose this a few times per week,” Dr. Sontag says. It’s more than an issue of disruptive snoring, he says: “Some patients hold their breath when they sleep for two minutes at a time. You’re not getting enough oxygen throughout the night,” he says. Sleep machines have come a long way; they’re smaller and quieter today. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor if you snore, feel unusually tired throughout the day, or your partner says you stop breathing at night. Here are 9 silent signs of sleep apnoea you might have been ignoring.

You wake up exhausted

You wake up exhausted
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This can be a sign of restless leg syndrome, or RLS. “You wake up tired because your body has never fully relaxed at night,” says Dr. Sontag. You may also have a strong urge to move your legs that gets worse when you’re sitting down. An evaluation of your medical history and symptoms can help point your GP in the right direction. Here are 13 surprising things that might be causing your sleep woes.

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