Between platters of finger food and boxes of Quality Street, your appetite might not be quite ready for another dose of Christmas food. However, if you experience a quick feeling of satiety after eating frequently, it could be a sign of something more sinister, according to a doctor.
Everyone can struggle with feelings of fullness from time to time. Whether you’ve got an upset stomach or you just aren’t particularly hungry, a one-off occurrence of no appetite isn’t a cause for concern.
The decadence of Christmas means that you enjoy rich foods, or things that are not usually part of your day-to-day diet. All of this can leave your tummy feeling funny.
However, medical doctor, cancer researcher and personal trainer Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence, warned that feeling full quickly often could be a symptom of cancer. Dr Jackson-Spenced told Express.co.uk: “This feeling may be accompanied by other signs such as pain, fatigue, or unintentional weight loss.”
The doctor explained that stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic and ovarian cancer can all hamper your appetite. “It’s mainly due to the anatomy of the cancer, for example gastric (stomach) cancer takes up room in your stomach which can feel like a fullness,” Dr Jackson-Spence added.
“One-third of women have ascites when their ovarian cancer is first diagnosed.”
Pancreatic cancer can also trigger bloating, early fullness as well as symptoms of indigestion.
However, Dr Jackson-Spence added that these symptoms are only a cause for a concern if they persist longer than two weeks, or are accompanied by any other the red flag signs.
The doctor said: “If your symptoms persist longer than two weeks or are accompanied by any other red flag sign such as unintentional weight loss, anaemia, blood in vomit or stools, feeling any lumps, or a change in bowel habits then you should go to your doctor as soon as possible.
Dr Lee added that while anyone can feel bloated, there some tell-tale signs that you should get your bloat checked.
She said: “If the bloating is unusual, severe, persistent and has lasted three weeks or more, it’s important to see your GP promptly.”
