Looking after your health is the most important thing you can do. There are other responsibilities we have – to family, friends, employers and others – but without continued good health, we cannot expect to keep to these or other requirements. For the most part, we as humans are pretty sensible: if we feel ill, we’ll look to get the treatment and the rest that we need in order to recover.
Sometimes, however, partly because of the above list of responsibilities, we are prone to ignore health issues that affect us. More precisely, we ignore symptoms. You have probably, at some point, noticed a pain or another issue and told yourself and others “it’s most likely nothing. I’ll do something about it if it doesn’t improve.” or a variation on that theme. The problem is that sometimes, that first twinge is the only warning we get before we start to feel very unwell. So if any of the symptoms below occur to you any time soon, take some action and get looked at.
Unexplained weight loss
If you’re embarking on a new diet and looking to shed the pounds, then trying on old clothes and seeing that they’re now too big can be a real positive. However, there is a difference between seeking to lose weight, and the loss just happening. Simple reasons might be a high level of stress; you may not have been eating as you should, and put the attendant lack of energy down to tiredness.
However, weight loss that wasn’t planned can be a harbinger of something more serious; diabetes is one potential cause, while other illnesses including various cancers can have unexplained weight loss as their first visible symptom. If you’ve started shedding weight without intending to, it is essential that you see your doctor. At this stage, a speedy diagnosis can bring either considerable relief, or the chance to do something effective against a more serious foe.
Pain around the stomach
Stomach cramps can be a sign that you’ve eaten something that your body isn’t tolerating, or that you’re under- or over-producing stomach acid. If the pain is in the stomach and is constant, it is something a doctor should look at. However, when we say pain around the stomach, we mean a sharp pain which you might immediately identify as a muscle issue. It might well be that, and require some rest while it repairs.
It may also be a hernia; various types of this injury can develop quickly or slowly in the abdominal area and can be seriously detrimental to your wellbeing. It’s hard, and inadvisable, to self-diagnose a hernia and try to push it back in. You’ll need the attention of a doctor who may then advise an appointment with a hernia surgeon to put it right; the most important thing to bear in mind here is that hernias do not heal on their own. They can rapidly deteriorate and make a normal life impossible, so don’t try to tough it out.
Frequent, sudden headaches
If you have a stock of over-the-counter painkillers around the house, then the chances are that you’re not someone who thinks much about a headache; usually a couple of paracetamol can have you feeling perfectly fine without a fuss. However, if you get headaches often – and they’re severe enough to be noticed – then you owe it to yourself and to those around you to seek medical attention.
Headaches can come from a benign source, may be linked to dehydration and low blood sugar as well as tension and anxiety. If they are common then it might be that you need to make a lifestyle change. Whatever may be the case, it is vital to speak to a doctor given that regular acute headaches can be a sign of an aneurysm or something worse. Quick intervention in an issue such as this can be the difference between life and death, so don’t delay speaking to someone.
It’s understandable that we ignore little things from time to time because we are busy or worried about letting others down. However, without quick attention there is always the danger that the “probably nothing” symptom you’re ignoring now could develop into something – and potentially something serious. Take the chance to see a doctor – it can buy you the time you need to deal with a real health problem. Even if the issue turns out to be nothing at all, it’s worth getting that clean bill of health and putting any remaining concerns behind you.
