Everyone wants to stay as healthy as possible. You may go to the gym, practice yoga, or enjoy running outdoors. As you take steps to prevent negative health outcomes, it is important to know the signs of significant issues. The ability to recognize warning signs can give you valuable time to get to a doctor. Take note of the next 12 symptoms that you should never ignore.
1. Chest Pain or Pressure
Heart attacks are often portrayed as sudden and dramatic in movies, but the early symptoms can be trickier to recognize in real life. Developing chest pain or pressure with radiating pain in the upper body is a sign of a heart attack and a warning that you should seek emergency medical care. Other conditions can mask themselves as cardiac events, such as when an ms hug feels like heart attack.
2. Significant Dizziness
Dizziness can be a sign of a heart attack, adverse reaction to a medication, or a stroke. Sudden dizziness is most concerning, as it can be a pre-syncopal symptom before fainting. Call a friend or family member to drive you to the doctor rather than taking yourself if this occurs.
3. Sudden Confusion or Change in Mental State
Abruptly confusing names, faces, the date, or how to perform common tasks can be a sign of multiple serious issues. A notable change in mental state can be a red flag for a head injury, low blood sugar, stroke, seizure, or other neurological problem.
4. Loss of Appetite and Fever
Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, difficulty retaining food, and fever can be signs of bowel obstruction or appendicitis. A case of appendicitis can typically be identified when pressing down on the abdomen resulting in increased pain upon release. Doctors may order imagery to find the location or cause of obstruction.
5. Weakness and Sensation of Tingling or Heaviness on One Side of Body
Sudden weakness, tingling, numbness, and heaviness in one side of the body can be signs of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A stroke can also affect speaking, language comprehension, and equilibrium. TIA symptoms typically last for a short period of up to two minutes. Immediate medical attention is important for recovery.
6. Sharp Increase in Visual Floaters
A sharp increase in visual floaters can be a sign of a retinal detachment or tear. It can impact your whole field of vision or cause peripheral flashes of light. A retinal detachment can cause permanent loss of vision and necessitates immediate medical attention, leading to potential surgical intervention.
7. Shortness of Breath
Unusually labored breathing or shortness of breath should be addressed right away. It can be a sign of pneumonia, a collapsed lung, asthma, or anaphylaxis.
8. Red or Hot Wound with Fever
Poor healing combined with a fever can be a sign of systemic infection. Also look out for nausea, dizziness, and a headache. A systemic infection can be in the bloodstream and may require IV antibiotics. Seek immediate medical attention to treat the infection before going septic.
9. Loss of Consciousness
Any sudden loss of consciousness should be handled with care. It can be a sign of low blood sugar, heart trouble, seizure, stroke, or dehydration. Monitor for a head injury if you fall upon loss of consciousness.
10. Worst Headache Ever
If you experience the worst headache of your life, you should pay attention. This can be a sign of an aneurysm or stroke. Ask a friend to take you to the ER or call 911.
11. Pain and Swelling in an Extremity
Pain, swelling, heat, and discoloration in an extremity can be a sign of a blood clot. You should avoid flying until you undergo a complete medical exam with an ultrasound of the affected area.
12. Coughing Up Blood
Coughing up blood can signal internal bleeding from lung cancer or tuberculosis.
You can protect your future by moving forward with valuable knowledge.