Women’s Health: “8 signs women over 40 shouldn’t ignore”

By Ginny Graves
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TODAY
updated 11:54 a.m. ET, Fri., March. 13, 2009

Most minor discomfort is a sign of … not much. Maybe you had a heavy meal, a stressful day, a hard workout — and by the next day you feel fine again. But a handful of trivial-sounding symptoms can sometimes be red flags for something more serious. Since it’s often hard to distinguish between the no big deal and the dire, most of us err on the side of ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away. “Women in midlife are often juggling 20 things at once, so they tend to neglect their own health,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, author of “Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health.”

“That’s why it’s especially important for them to be informed about what really needs medical attention.” Here, a guide to eight important symptoms: when you should see a doctor and when you can just keep cruising.