Subtle health warning signs that can happen to your body at 3am

Subtle health warning signs that can happen to your body at 3am Health experts are urging people not to brush off new symptoms that show up at night What happens while you’re asleep can sometimes offer clues about your health - and experts say it’s worth paying attention if your nights start to feel noticeably different. Symptoms that crop up after dark can be easy to dismiss as everyday issues, and you may not pay attention to them once you're tucked up in bed, especially if they occur at the likes of 3am. But if they’re new for you, keep returning, or are getting worse, it’s sensible to get them checked. Cancer Research UK says persistent or unusual nighttime changes can occasionally be an early sign that something else is going on, and advises speaking to a doctor if anything doesn’t feel right. They highlight that ongoing fatigue and night sweats can, in some cases, be linked to cancer. It reassures: "Most of the time, these symptoms will be caused by something less serious than cancer. But it’s still important to get checked out." Night sweats or a fever The charity explains: "Sweating at night or having a high temperature (fever) can be caused by infections or a side effect of certain medications. It’s also often experienced by women around the time of the menopause." If you wake in the early hours - for example around 3am - drenched in sweat, the advice is to contact your doctor if you’re having very heavy, soaking night sweats or an unexplained fever. Feeling tired Specialists say feeling more tired than normal can have many causes - particularly stress or poor sleep. But if you’re constantly exhausted, or there's no clear reason for it, they advise speaking to your doctor. When should I tell my doctor about my symptoms? Cancer Research says it isn’t your responsibility to judge whether a symptom is serious. Cancer can show up differently from person to person, and early signs aren’t always painful or disruptive. It advises people to pay attention to their body. If something doesn’t feel right, they notice an unusual change, or they’re worried, speak to a GP. It adds: "If you’ve seen the doctor about something already, but your symptoms have continued, keep coming back, or have got worse - make another appointment. Even if it isn’t cancer, it might be something else your doctor can help with. "Or, it might be nothing at all. But your doctor would rather you checked with them again, than miss something important. You’re never wasting their time." There are more than 200 different types of cancer. Other general cancer symptoms to look out for, as outlined by the NHS, include: - Changes in your skin, such as a rash or sore that does not get better - Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding between periods or after sex, or bleeding after the menopause - White or red patches in your mouth - Changes in your poo, such as needing to poo more or less often than usual, diarrhoea or constipation that does not get better or gets worse - Difficulty getting an erection - A sore or ulcer in your mouth that does not get better - The whites of your eyes or your skin looking yellow (jaundice) – yellow skin may be harder to see on black or brown skin - Coughing up blood - Problems swallowing - A new mole, or changes to a mole anywhere on your body - Shortness of breath that does not get better or gets worse - A hoarse or croaky voice that does not get better - Vaginal discharge that's not usual for you - Pain anywhere in your body that's not usual for you - A new lump or swelling anywhere on your body - Needing to pee more often or more urgently, or pain when you pee - Heartburn or indigestion that's frequent, very painful or gets worse - Unusual bruising or bleeding (such as bleeding from your bottom, blood in your pee or vomiting blood) - A cough that does not get better or gets worse - Blood in your semen - A high temperature that lasts a long time or keeps coming back - A swollen tummy (bloating) that happens often or lasts a long time - A high temperature that lasts a long time or keeps coming back - Losing weight without trying or feeling less hungry than usual Anyone with symptoms they can’t explain or who is worried should speak to their GP. Never wait; the earlier you sort the issue, the sooner your mind can be put to rest, or you can get treatment NHS cancer waiting times The NHS aims to identify and treat cancer as early as possible. NHS England sets out guidance on cancer waiting-time standards for diagnosis and the start of treatment. The guidance says: - If you get an urgent referral to a specialist, cancer should be confirmed or ruled out within 28 days of the referral - If you're diagnosed with cancer, treatment should start within 31 days of the diagnosis or within 62 days of an urgent referral Macmillan Cancer Support has a free helpline open every day from 8am to 8pm. They're there to listen if you have anything you want to talk about. Just call 0808 808 00 00.