Pain is a part of life, from headaches, bruises,
and seasonal bugs to the emotional pain of
rejection. Most of the everyday pain we
experience is temporary and not indicative of a
truly dangerous condition.
That said, there are certain symptoms that may
seem minor but do, in fact, require immediate
medical attention.
Stick with us for six of such minor pains that
may actually be a big deal.
6. Unexplained weight
loss
It’s a cruel irony that something we work so
hard for under normal circumstances is
dangerous when it happens effortlessly. Weight
loss is like that. When you are careful to take in
fewer calories than you burn and get enough
exercise on a weekly basis, you should
experience safe weight loss of about a pound
per week.
However, if you find you are dropping weight
faster than that, for no reason you can
determine, it may spell trouble. Various scary
diseases can cause unexplained weight loss,
including diabetes , liver disease, overactive
thyroid, depression, and cancer . If you haven’t
made a lifestyle change that could explain the
loss of 10 pounds or more over six months, get
into your doctor for a checkup.
5. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can be scary anytime it
happens, but it is usually very temporary.
Things like high altitude, extreme temperatures,
strenuous exercise, or a Halloween scare can
all steal your breath for a bit. However, if you’re
just going about your daily business and
suddenly struggle to breathe effectively, head
into the emergency room. Even if it’s nothing,
you can’t mess around with your body’s oxygen
supply.
Things like pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma
cause shortness of breath, but in all fairness,
you will probably have other clues about these
things before you suddenly can’t breathe.
Other conditions can come a bit more out of
the blue, like a blood clot in the lung
(pulmonary embolism) or a panic attack.
Whatever the cause, you must get your
breathing stabilized as quickly as possible.
4. Persistent or high fever
Fevers don’t feel very good, so we often jump
right to medicating them. Several over the
counter medications effectively reduce fever,
but it’s actually not a great idea to do this
unless your fever is dangerously high (over
103F). That’s because fevers are the body’s
defense against infection , and short circuiting
them may allow germs to hang around and
multiply longer.
If, on the other hand, your fever is high and has
persisted for more than three days, it could be a
sign that the body is trying to fight a battle it
can’t win.
Things like urinary tract infections, tuberculosis,
and some lymphomas are known to spike a
fever that doesn’t go away. If you’re doing
everything right to help your body heal from
illness but aren’t making any progress, it’s
worth a call to your doctor, just in case.
3. Unexplained changes in
bowel habits
This is a tricky one, because bowel movements
can vary widely in a single healthy person
depending on a lot of factors, including diet,
stress, and whether or not they are
experiencing minor illness or allergies. And to
be honest, most of us don’t really like thinking
about our bowel movements once we exit the
bathroom.
It’s most important to notice if you are
experiencing a persistent change in what’s
normal for you. A bout of diarrhea after eating
spicy food is no big deal (at least, once it’s
over) but if it goes on for days no matter what
you eat, that’s a warning sign.
Likewise, if you notice bloody, black, tarry, or
pale stools, get checked out right away. You
may have an infection, irritable bowel syndrome,
or cancer.
2. Swelling in the legs
It may surprise you to learn that issues with
your heart are often felt in your extremities
first. When the heart struggles to pump blood
throughout the body, it’s the areas furthest
away that suffer. Blood and other fluids tend to
accumulate in the legs, causing swelling.
Heart disease is the number one killer
worldwide, in part because it can be caused or
affected by so many other conditions. Just a
few examples are hypothyroidism (underactive
thyroid), diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary
artery disease, or an undiagnosed congenital
heart defect.
Don’t let swelling in your legs linger too long
without a checkup, especially if you notice gray
or blue skin. Called cyanosis , this is another
indicator of poor circulation.
1. Confusion or
personality changes
Sudden onset confusion or personality changes
are a scary symptom, especially because the
sufferer, not being in their right mind, may not
recognize the problem. Stroke victims, for
example, often have slurred or nonsensical
speech , but in their minds, they are speaking
correctly.
Other things that may trigger sudden confusion
include infection, mental health conditions,
medication interaction or allergy, and nutritional
deficits.
It’s hard for us to behave rationally when our
brains are in an uproar, but if your loved ones
are worried, it’s important to trust them and get
to a doctor ASAP. Whether you have a
persistent mental fog, notice that you’ve lost
abilities you used to have, or suddenly have no
idea where you are or what you’re doing, this is
not a symptom that can be safely ignored
Yes, life is pain, but it is also so many other
things. When pain becomes persistent or comes
out of nowhere for no reason, it is wise to take
that seriously.
We often hesitate to go to the doctor if we
think “it might be nothing,†but really, “nothingâ€
is the best answer we can get. It is always
better to know early, as many diseases or
disorders can be treated most effectively when
caught right away.
In fact, a couple of the symptoms on this list
can indicate a true emergency, like shortness of
breath or mental confusion. Don’t hesitate –
get to the doctor and get treated to that you
can get back to enjoying the pleasurable side of
life.
