Ignore These Symptoms at Your Peril
07 Jul 2008
When should you worry about symptoms? After all, we all have an occasional ache and pain, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, visual troubles and shortness of breath. So how can you separate minor problems from the ones that could end your life? There’s no 100 percent guarantee, but here are some good guidelines.
Persistent Fever
If you have fever for no apparent reason lasting for several days, see your doctor. A persistent fever can be due to a urinary infection, undetected pneumonia, tuberculosis and malignant conditions such as lymphomas. For unexplained fever there is usually a cause.
Vision Problems
If you need a longer arm to read the newspaper you’re middle aged and need glasses. Or, if you’ve had spots and cobweb-like objects floating in your vision for years, they’re just annoying. But, the sudden appearance of floaters and lightning-like flashes, can mean a retinal detachment. You can lose your eyesight unless prompt treatment reattaches the back part of the eye.
Rectal Bleeding
Too many people are ignoring this symptom and dying from colon cancer. If you had a colonoscopy a few months ago, in all probability bleeding is due to a benign problem such as hemorrhoids. Other conditions, such as diverticulitis (small inflamed hernias of the large bowel), can cause bleeding. But unless you’ve had a recent colonoscopy you must assume the bleeding is due to cancer until proven otherwise. Don’t procrastinate, see your doctor.
Diarrhea and Constipation
No one goes through life without having an occasional bowel problem. If we’re travelling and develop Motezuma’s Revenge we all know we’ve encountered a bad bug. And if it’s chronic constipation from not eating enough fiber, it’s possible to resolve by improving lifestyle. But sudden diarrhea or constipation without cause can signal a serious bowel problem. So can alternating constipation and diarrhea. And if black or tarry stools appear in the toilet bowl that normally means intestinal bleeding and the need for a hasty visit to the doctor.
Shortness of Breath
You wouldn’t be alive, if you now and then, you didn’t feel a bit short of breath. Some patients who complain of being unable to catch their breath are either uptight or suffer from panic attacks. But if breathlessness is gradually getting worse it could be due to chronic obstructive lung disease, asthma, emphysema, cancer and heart disease. And if there’s swelling of ankles it may be due to a failing heart.
Chest Pain
It’s one of the most difficult symptoms to assess even for doctors. For most people overindulgence in eating and drinking results in heartburn, an inflammation of the lower part of the food pipe. If you’ve had this symptom before you may be safe to assume it’s for the same reason. But if there’s any doubt, it’s safer to seek speedy attention. However, never delay when sudden constricting chest pain strikes as if there’s a tight rope around you and pain radiating down the left arm or up into the jaw. This symptom usually means heart attack, and the sooner treatment is started the greater the chance of survival with a less damaged heart.
Changes in The Head
A sudden loss of vision lasting a second or two, or a short temporary loss of consciousness, called a TIA (transient ischemic attack), may be the prelude to a major stroke. A "thunderclap headache", often categorized as such because it comes on like a clap of thunder, needs immediate attention. So does a headache that’s accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, weakness, numbness or speaking problems. These symptoms may be the result of stroke, meningitis or a brain tumour.
Weight Loss
A great deal has been said about the dangers of gaining weight, but losing weight can signal serious problems. Unexplained weight loss can be the result of cancer, liver disease, hyperthyroidism and depression.
Menstrual Bleeding
The main rule to follow is that any abnormal bleeding should be reported to the doctor. There is a dangerous tendency to wait and see if the bleeding happens again. Often the bleeding is due to a benign condition, but if it’s due to a cancer you’ve lost valuable time in waiting to see the doctor.
