We all sometimes experience moments when our bodies feel a tad bit
off. Perhaps you may feel weaker than usual, experience some random body
pain, or just have very nonspecific symptoms. During these times, it is
best to be in tune with your body. It is never a good idea to ignore
any of your symptoms hoping they will go away, as doing so often
exacerbates any health problem.
While some people, unfortunately, choose to ignore their symptoms
until it is far too late, others find it easier to simply blame any and
every symptom they have on malaria and start treating for it. Though
malaria still remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, you should
not always attribute all of your symptoms to the condition. It is quite a
dangerous practice to automatically assume that it is the culprit
whenever you have any health woes. This can cause you to miss other
serious diagnoses that may actually be hurting your health.
How do you know exactly what symptoms are serious and warrant
immediate medical attention? Well, if you are ever unsure of when to
urgently seek help, then you must keep the following red flags in mind.
These are symptoms that should prompt you to see a doctor without delay.
1. Shortness of breath: If you experience a sudden
onset of difficulty in breathing, you must seek immediate medical
attention. This symptom could be due to various conditions, but if your
shortness of breath is accompanied by a fast-paced heart rate, pain in
your chest upon inspiration, or coughing up of blood, then there is a
higher suspicion for a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs).
This is a medical emergency and it is one of the top conditions your
doctor will want to rule out immediately in your work up.
2. Unexplained weight loss: Malignancy should be
the first thing that comes to mind anytime anyone experiences an
unexplained weight loss without even trying. Our bodies are designed
such that if you decrease your caloric intake and increase your exercise
activity, you will lose weight. When you have a sudden unexpected drop
in your weight without making any changes to your diet or exercise
regimen, there may be a cause for concern. Unexplained weight loss may
point in the direction of a potential cancer. Other conditions to keep
in mind include possible HIV infection, especially if you are someone
that is having unprotected sex. Endocrine disorders such as
hyperthyroidism may also cause such weight loss. Nonetheless, your
doctor will complete the appropriate tests to determine the ethology of
the weight loss.
3. Blood in your stool: Any significant change in
your bowel habits should always raise concern. Blood in your stool is a
red flag that something is not right with your gastrointestinal health.
It may be indicative of a gastrointestinal bleed which definitely
warrants immediate attention. The bleed can be due to such things as
ulcer, haemorrhoids, or even colon cancer. It is up to your doctor to do
the appropriate work up to figure out the underlying cause. This is a
symptom that you should not be embarrassed about if it occurs, but
rather it should signal you to seek medical help.
4. Chest pain: Severe chest pain is another
symptom that simply cannot be overlooked. If you ever experience chest
pain or pressure that radiates to your arms or jaw, or is associated
with nausea or intense sweating, then you need to see a doctor
immediately. Although chest pain does not always mean you are having a
heart attack, it is one of the acute life-threatening conditions that
certainly needs to be ruled out.
Severe headache: Everyone gets headaches from time to time.
However, if you have a sudden onset of what feels like “the worst
headache of my life,” that is a huge red flag to head to the hospital
immediately. Doctors worry about a potential brain aneurysm when they
hear this complaint from patients. Another serious condition of concern
is meningitis, especially when the headache is accompanied by fever,
neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, or vomiting.
5. Here is the bottom line: Being aware of some of
the red flags is key in helping you understand what symptoms may
constitute a health emergency. If you are ever in doubt about the
gravity of any symptom or have a health concern, then it is always best
to get checked out by a physician to ensure that there is nothing life
threatening going on.
***
Via The Guardian
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