While you probably shouldn’t run to a doctor at the first sign of a sniffle, you must not avoid making an appointment if you suspect you have a serious health issue.
Unfortunately, some people fail to speak to a doctor when they have a major health concern due to fear of a life-altering diagnosis or a desire not to add to a practitioner’s busy workload.
However, there are some medical symptoms you should never ignore to protect your health. Keep reading to find out more.
1. Unexpected Weight Loss
If you lose unexpected weight, especially a substantial amount, without trying suddenly or over time, you shouldn’t hesitate to talk to a doctor. Losing more than 5% of your body weight without trying might be due to a serious underlying health condition, such as:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- An overactive thyroid
- An inflammatory bowel disease
- Heart disease
Don’t delay in discussing significant weight loss with a GP. Also, you don’t need to worry about a lengthy wait to speak to a doctor, as you can book online appointment GP and talk to them about your health the same day. By doing so, you could get to the root cause of the problem as soon as possible and start treatment sooner rather than later.
2. Unstoppable or Unusual Bleeding
There are some times when you might naturally see blood, such as a nosebleed or wound. Yet, there are some circumstances when the sight of blood is a cause of concern. For instance, you must talk to a doctor if you notice blood in your urine or stool or when coughing or vomiting.
Blood in urine could be due to one of the following conditions:
- Anemia
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney disease
- Bladder cancer
- An injury
Also, blood in stools might be caused by:
- Hemorrhoids
- Trauma
- Colon cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Diverticulitis
Also, if blood spurts from a wound or your nose and doesn’t stop after 15 to 20 minutes, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.
3. Chest Pain
Never ignore chest pain, as it might be a sign of a heart attack. If you experience sudden chest pain, which may radiate to your jaw or right arm, ring emergency services immediately. However, chest pain might be due to an issue with your lungs, heart, esophagus, musculoskeletal system, or nervous system.
4. Breathing Difficulties
Call 911 if you are struggling with breathing difficulties, such as feeling like you can’t breathe or get adequate air into your lungs. The problem could be life-threatening, as it might be caused by a:
- Blood clot in the lungs
- Pneumonia
- A heart issue
- Asthma
5. A Wound or Sore That Will Not Heal
If you have noticed a wound or sore on your skin isn’t healing after three months, make an appointment with a doctor. Also, you shouldn’t hesitate to talk to a GP if a wound or sore reappears, as it might be an initial symptom of cancer, diabetes, or an infection.