You already know that the obvious signs and symptoms — chest pain,
abdominal pain or unexplained bleeding — are generally good reason to seek
immediate medical care. But, the not-so-obvious symptoms may leave you
questioning whether you need to see a doctor.
Here's a list of warning symptoms worth reading. You may find some of the
symptoms surprising. But, be aware of the significance of these symptoms and
when it's important to seek timely medical care. It could make a difference in
your quality of life and may even save your life.
Don't ignore these symptoms
Don't ignore the following 10 signs and symptoms — some of which are not
obviously alarming. But, trust that your body informs you of its needs. While
some messages are more urgent than others, milder but persistent symptoms may
also signal trouble.
1. Unexplained weight loss
If you find you're losing excessive weight without intending to do so,
see your doctor. Unintentional excessive weight loss is considered to be a loss
of more than:
a.. 5 percent of your weight within one month
b.. 10 percent of your weight within six to 12 months
An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by a number of conditions,
such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) , depression, liver disease,
cancer or other noncancerous disorders, or disorders that interfere with how
well your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).
2. Persistent fever
If you have a normal immune system and you're not undergoing treatment,
such as chemotherapy for cancer, a persistent low-grade fever — over 100.4 F —
should be checked if it lasts for a week or more. If you have a fever with
shaking chills, or a high fever — greater than 103 F — or if you're otherwise
severely ill, see your doctor as soon as possible.
If you have an immune system problem or take immune-suppressing drugs,
fever may not be a reliable warning sign and your primary doctor or oncologist
can tell you what would signal a need for an evaluation.
Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything
from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant
conditions — such as lymphomas — cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can
some medications and conditions, and reactions to certain drugs.
Fever is common with treatable infections, such as urinary tract
infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, check
with your doctor. Some underlying cancers can cause prolonged, persistent
fever, as can tuberculosis and other disorders.
3. Shortness of breath
Feeling short of breath — beyond the typical stuffy nose or shortness of
breath from exercise — could signal an underlying health problem. If you ever
find that you're unable to get your breath or that you're gasping for air or
wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless with or without
exertion or when reclining also is a symptom that needs to be medically
evaluated without delay.
Causes for breathlessness may include chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, anxiety, panic attacks,
pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis
and pulmonary hypertension.
4. Unexplained changes in bowel habits
See your doctor if you have any of the following:
a.. Severe diarrhea lasting more than two days
b.. Mild diarrhea lasting a week
c.. Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks
d.. Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement
e.. Bloody diarrhea
f.. Black or tarry-colored stools
Changes in bowel habits may signal a bacterial infection — such as
campylobacter or salmonella — or a viral or parasitic infection. Among other
possible causes are inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
5. Mental status changes
Immediate medical evaluation is warranted if any of the following occur:
a.. Sudden or gradual confused thinking
b.. Disorientation
c.. Sudden aggressive behavior
d.. Hallucinations in someone who has never had them
Changes in behavior or thinking may be due to infection, head injury,
stroke, low blood sugar or even medications, especially ones you've recently
started taking.
6. New or more severe headaches (especially if you're over age 50)
Seek prompt medical attention if you experience:
a.. A sudden and severe headache, often called a thunderclap headache,
because it comes on suddenly like a clap of thunder.
b.. A headache accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, rash, mental
confusion, seizures, vision changes, weakness, numbness, speaking difficulties,
scalp tenderness or pain with chewing.
c.. A headache that begins or worsens after a head injury.
These headache symptoms may be caused by stroke, blood vessel
inflammation (arteritis), meningitis, brain tumor, aneurysm or bleeding on the
brain after head trauma.
7. Short-term loss of vision, speaking or movement control
If you have these signs and symptoms, minutes count. These are signs and
symptoms of a possible stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Seek
immediate emergency medical care if you have any of the following:
a.. Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of
your body
b.. Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision
c.. Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech
d.. A thunderclap headache
e.. Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a fall
8. Flashes of light
The sudden sensation of flashing lights may signal the beginning of
retinal detachment. Immediate medical care may be needed to save vision in the
affected eye.
9. Feeling full after eating very little
Feeling full sooner than normal after eating and having persistent nausea
and vomiting that last more than a week are warning signs that should be
checked by your doctor. There are many possible causes, including pancreatic
cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer.
10. Hot, red or swollen joint
These warning signs may occur with a joint infection, which requires
emergency care to save the joint and keep bacteria from spreading elsewhere.
Other causes may include gout or certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid
arthritis.
With Best Regards
SHENOY INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL
CONSULTANTS PRIVATE LIMITED
11-A, KASHI NIKETAN, 2ND ROAD,
CHEMBUR, MUMBAI - 400 071
TEL : 6797 3433 / 2521 2111
EMAIL : [email protected]
[email protected]
Dealing in Mutual Funds, General & Life Insurance Products, Post Office
Schemes, Fixed Deposits, I.P.Os., and Capital Gains Bonds
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"BETTER PERSONALITY GROUP" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/better_personality?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Medical : 10 symptoms not to Ignore
Shenoy Investment & Fin. Cons. Pvt. Ltd Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:39:11 -0700
- Medical : 10 symptoms not to... Shenoy, Sheshagiri B
- Medical : 10 symptoms n... Shenoy Investment & Fin. Cons. Pvt. Ltd
