Is Your Body Trying to Message You?

Why early signs and symptoms shouldn't be ignored

Bart LaRue/Unsplash

About two months ago, I developed a mild case of heartburn. It wasn’t a huge deal, but over the course of the day, my meals turned into a small fire that came back to haunt me. I cut out alcohol, spicy foods, onions, and tomatoes in an attempt to get my digestion to calm down, to no avail.

I began to examine my stress profile, as I believe that in many cases of poor digestion, stress is the culprit. But no, life is good. I love my work, make the most of my leisure time, and have no toxic relationships that need my attention; and I’m appropriately busy. So, what gives?

Clearly, my body was sending me signals that something was amiss. I call them love notes—those early signs or symptoms your body sends out to let you know that something’s wrong. In most cases, it’s something you can control. I see this all the time with my patients when they’re just beginning to experience a symptom and aren’t sure what it’s about. With a few questions and a little insight, we’re usually able to figure out the cause and act accordingly.