Ever felt slightly under the weather, maybe a sore throat, a mild fever, or a headache?
Usually, once we pop an over-the-counter pill, the headache vanishes or the high temperature falls back down.
But what if it doesn’t?
It could be a symptom of an underlying issue that needs to be treated.
It could be your body’s way of telling you, it’s time to go to the doctor.
Here are some health issues that tell you, it’s imperative to visit the clinic immediately.
1. Skin
Let’s begin with the largest organ of the human body. The skin.
The skin, though largely passive, can tell many things about our body’s internal health.
Itchy skin, for example, can have a deeper meaning. It can indicate problems like kidney failure, diabetes, and even leukemia.
Yellow skin could also be a sign of a problem with your liver or kidneys.
Other issues like lumps or cysts on the surface of your skin could be signs of underlying conditions.
2. Headaches
It’s not unusual to have a headache every once in a while. Usually, It is because of an overly stressful day, lack of proper sleep or dehydration, or hunger. Sometimes headaches can come from standing in the sun for too long too.
In most cases taking an over-the-counter (OTC) pill and sleeping will fix the headache.
But, if it persists, and is accompanied by other symptoms like light-headedness, fever, difficulty in paying attention, etc. it might be time to visit your doctor.
3. Stiff Neck
A stiff neck can be caused by numerous reasons -not sleeping right, bad posture, stress, or just normal muscular strain. The symptoms usually go just as easily as they come.
But sometimes, a stiff neck can be a sign of something far more serious and concerning. According to a study conducted in 2011, neck stiffness can also potentially indicate a degenerative spinal disorder.
Now, not to frighten you, but if this is left untreated, it can lead to permanent nerve damage, in some cases paralysis, and rare cases, even death.
So, while it isn’t necessary to show up at the clinic every time your neck stiffens up, you might want to be wary of persistent ones that stay for long periods.
4. Abrupt Changes in Personality
While this one isn’t a physical symptom that points to a physical disorder, it is still just as important as the rest on this list.
If you, or those dear and close to you, notice sudden changes in your personality that are unwarranted, it could have some medical cause behind it that may need to be investigated.
The culprit could be several things ranging from a side effect from a medicine or a more global concern like depression, diabetes, or a thyroid problem.
5. Chest Pain and Pain in Left Arm
Dull chest pain accompanied by pain in the left arm is almost a sure symptom of a heart attack.
This is a potentially lifesaving symptom to be on the lookout for.
While it is more noticeable in men and usually subtler in women, identifying it early on could be what ends up saving your life.
6. Your Teeth
Your dentist isn’t just looking for cavities. Your dental system can warn you of so many conditions if you look carefully.
Bad breath, despite a solid brushing and floss regimen, can indicate a case of acid reflux.
Gum diseases can also tell a lot about your internals. Red swollen gums that bleed are signs of type – 2 diabetes. A dry mouth, despite drinking water regularly, can be a sign of the autoimmune disease – Sjogren’s syndrome.
Your dentist can also see if you have a very stressful lifestyle or not from the condition of your teeth.
Stress is a major tooth sensitivity cause. When stressed, we tend to clench our teeth and grind them, eventually wearing off the enamel and going as deep as the dentin inside. If you have a teeth clenching problem, we recommend that you wear Smile Brilliant’s Night Guard while sleeping to minimize the damage to your teeth.
Conclusion
It is extremely important to be fully aware of what is happening in our body and notice all the changes that are taking place in it.
While it may not be necessary to go and visit the doctor every time, knowing some common symptoms of serious conditions can help identify major health issues early.
In any case, if anything feels weird and you don’t feel well, it is always better to get checked by a medical professional rather than brush it off and try and wait for it to pass.
