Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Doctors Say These Are The Symptoms You Should Absolutely NEVER Ignore
Doctors Say These Are The Symptoms
You Should Absolutely
NEVER Ignore
By Phil Mutz
You Should Absolutely
NEVER Ignore
By Phil Mutz
No one knows our bodies better than ourselves — so when something’s wrong, it doesn’t take long to notice.
Paying attention to the way we feel and to new sensations or
pains can be one of the most important tools in detecting and preventing
many fatal conditions, like in detecting a heart attack.
Dr. Len Lichtenfeld
of the American Cancer Society writes, “You know your body best. When
you see or feel something different or just feel ‘off’, pay attention.
Don’t dismiss it.”
While there are some ailments that we can solve ourselves — like minor aches and pains — certain symptoms tell us that we should seek medical attention right away. Neurosurgeon Dr. Keith L. Black
writes, “The things that we doctors are most concerned about are new
symptoms that develop quickly, rather than things that develop over a
long period of time.”
But how do we know which symptoms to be concerned about? When I saw this list of symptoms that I should never ignore, I knew that I’d definitely be paying attention for them.
While this list should never take the place of medical advice, these are quick and easy indicators to know if something major might be wrong. This is some of the most important information I’ve seen in years – I’m so glad I know this now!
Scroll through below to see which symptoms
you should NEVER ignore, what they might mean for your health, and how
you can make sure to stay as healthy as possible.
Chest pain is very serious and requires
immediate medical attention. Pain or lingering tightness in the chest
can be an indicator of a heart attack — but it could also be a sign of
heart disease or even a blood clot.
Dr. Shilpi Agarwal
writes, “Any chest pain, especially accompanied by sweating, pressure,
shortness of breath, or nausea, should be evaluated by a medical
professional right away.”
As with any symptom, chest pain does not automatically mean that something terrible is wrong. But in this case it is always better to be safe than sorry!
A sudden onset of extreme pain in your head,
particularly if it feels worse than any headaches you’ve had before,
is a strong indicator that you should see a doctor right away. These
terrible headaches could be a sign of an aneurysm or even a burst blood
vessel. There are also other possibilities such as meningitis or
shingles.
The Cleveland Clinic writes,
“A sudden, severe headache could be a sign of a more serious,
life-threatening condition. Up to six percent of the population could be
living with an unruptured brain aneurysm.”
As with the onset of any sudden symptom, seeking medical attention is
always the smart move with a terrible, unexpected headache!
Sudden confusion or an inability to
concentrate are actually extremely serious indicators that something is
very wrong. Medical attention is definitely needed for confusion or a
large change in personality. The strange behavior could be an indicator
of a brain tumor, bleeding in the brain, or even a stroke. At the very
least, it could be a sign of low blood sugar, dehydration, or an
infection.
Dr. David Bronson writes, “The mortality rate for severe confusion is pretty high. You have to figure out what’s going on.”
If you see this change in behavior in yourself or someone else, it is definitely best to seek medical help as soon as possible!
Unexplained weight loss of five percent of
your body or more over a relatively short period of time is a serious
indicator that you should see a doctor. One of the biggest symptoms of
several types of cancer is this type of weight loss, and it is important
to catch it as quickly as possible. Other possibilities include
diabetes, depression, and problems with your endocrine system.
Dr. Julian Schink writes, “Colon cancer is commonly associated with unexplained weight loss.”
While shedding a few pounds is not cause for concern, if you find
yourself unsure of why you are losing weight, it is best to get things
checked out!
Seeing flashes of light, unexplained bright
spots, or other oddities in your vision is certainly a reason to see
your doctor. These flashes or the presence of a large amount of floaters
in your vision could be a sign of a detached retina, which can quickly
lead to permanent loss of vision.
The National Cancer Institute writes that although these symptoms do not cause pain and may seem harmless, getting fast treatment can save your vision.
In this case, while a flash of light may mean nothing, it is
definitely better to be safe than sorry when dealing with your longterm
vision!
A persistent fever or one that is abnormally
high certainly requires medical attention. As a fever indicates that
your body is battling some kind of infection, a more serious fever
indicates a more serious infection. Possibilities include meningitis, a
urinary tract infection, or even some forms of cancer like lymphoma or
leukemia.
Dr. David Bronson writes, “Fever of 103 degrees and higher warrants a trip to the doctor — period.”
And while the likelihood of cancer being the problem is low on the
list, most of the potential causes require antibiotics, making a
doctor’s visit extremely necessary!
There are many situations, such as extreme
physical activity, that can cause you to be short of breath. But if you
can’t catch your breath for an extended period of time, or if it is
accompanied by chest pain, a fever, circulation issues, wheezing, or
gasping, you should see a doctor right away. This inability to catch
your breath could be a sign of a blood clot or pulmonary disease, both
of which are extremely serious.
Dr. Shilpi Agarwal
writes, “Without urgent evaluation, breathing can quickly become
labored, and it can be catastrophic if not evaluated and treated
quickly.”
While this shortness of breath could be a sign of severe anxiety or
even asthma, it is better to seek medical attention right away to be
sure!
Swollen legs mean that fluid is accumulating
that shouldn’t be there, and it may be a sign of heart failure, thyroid
problems, or even vein problems. And if it is accompanied by pain in the
back of your lower leg, it could be an indication of a blood clot. In
any case, you should seek medical attention.
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum
writes, “If you flex your toes upward and it hurts, that’s also
suggestive of a blood clot. But don’t rely on that. If it’s hot, red,
and swollen on one side, go to the ER.”
Regardless of what is causing the swelling, it is very important to have a doctor check things out right away!
Serious and sudden pain in your stomach is
definitely an indication that you should see your doctor. This severe
pain could be a sign of an aortic aneurysm or other blood flow issues.
If it is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it could be a sign of
painful gallstones.
Dr. Richard Desi writes, “If the aneurysm ruptures, the pain tends to be sudden and severe and typically centralized around the belly button.”
While you should never panic, this symptom should be taken seriously and you should see a doctor right away!
Everybody feels tired some of the time, but
if you are experiencing longterm fatigue and exhaustion, it could be a
sign of something more serious like uterine or gastrointestinal cancer,
hypothyroidism, anemia, or even depression. In any case, it is important
to see a doctor.
WebMD
discusses hypothyroidism by saying, “When the gland is underactive and
the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on
weight.”
Normal levels of tiredness shouldn’t be cause for alarm. But if you
you can’t kick that fatigue no matter how much sleep you get, it is
probably best to see a doctor to be safe!
Pain in the pelvis — whether sharp, dull, or
sudden — should be checked out by your doctor right away. Pelvic pain
could be a sign of appendicitis, a kidney infection, a nerve condition,
or even a hernia. In the case of an injury, pelvic pain could mean a
possible broken pelvis.
Dr. Julian Schink writes, “Even if it’s just vague pain, it’s not supposed to hurt down there.”
The list of possible causes for the pelvis is quite long, so it is probably better to be safe than sorry in this case!
Everybody uses the bathroom, but if you find
yourself having to go over and over again, it might be a sign that
something is not right and that you should see your doctor. Excessive
urination can be an indication that a mass is pressing on the bladder.
These are often benign, but they should be tested right away.
Dr. Julian Schink writes, “If you’re going to the bathroom more often, then a lightbulb should go off in your head that something’s not right.”
While this isn’t necessarily a reason to run to the doctor in the
middle of the night, it is serious enough that it is worth getting
checked out sooner rather than later!
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