How do you know if you have serious symptoms of a health problem or if it’s nothing? Here are some of the symptoms you should never ignore.
Americans spent more than 3 trillion dollars on healthcare in 2016. So it’s understandable if you don’t want to visit a doctor or hospital for a small issue.
There are some symptoms, though, that are incredibly serious. In these cases, you should always seek medical help.
But how do you know if your symptoms fall into this category? We’ve created this guide outlining 8 serious symptoms that you should never ignore.
Learn more below.
1. Sudden Headaches
If you experience a super strong headache out of the blue, this is a serious symptom you shouldn’t ignore. See a doctor right away.
This could be a sign of a wide variety of issues, including:
- Shingles
- Burst blood vessel
- Meningitis
- Aneurysm
These are just the beginning. It could be something else serious as well, like a tumor or cancer.
2. Coughing or Vomiting Blood
If you start vomiting or coughing up blood, that’s always an alarming experience. And it should be.
If this happens to you, you should see a doctor right away. This could be a sign of lung cancer, heart failure, or tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis, otherwise known as TB, is especially contagious, so you need to get it taken care of as soon as possible. However, with antibiotics for 6 months, it can go away.
Vomiting blood can also be a sign of bronchitis or a pulmonary embolism.
No matter what, be sure to see a doctor right away in case of coughing or vomiting blood. That way, you can get it figured out quickly.
3. Excessive Body Hair
For some men, it’s not uncommon for a mass of hair to start growing on the body. However, for women, this is often the sign of a very serious condition. It usually means there’s a hormone imbalance, or it could be a symptom of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
If left unchecked, these can lead to irregular menstrual cycles or infertility.
So if you have hair randomly sprouting on your chest, stomach, face, or around the nipple area, you should get that checked out.
The sooner you get it diagnosed, the better chance of overcoming it.
4. Ringing in Your Ears
Ever have ringing in your ears? This is a condition called tinnitus and it actually affects 50 million Americans.
Oftentimes, this is benign and can happen because of earwax or old age. In these situations, there’s no need to worry.
However, there’s also a more dangerous form called asymmetric tinnitus. This is when it happens in only one ear. If this is happening, it can be a sign of an aneurysm or tumor.
You’ll want to get an MRI so a doctor can diagnose the situation correctly.
5. Sudden Unexpected Weight Loss
If you haven’t been on a weight loss plan and you suddenly lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, this is a concern. Obviously, if you’re eating healthier and exercising more than in the past, you’ll expect to lose weight.
But if you’re not doing these things and it starts to happen, this is something you should see a professional about.
It could be a sign of diabetes or other serious illness. You’ll want a doctor’s care immediately.
6. One of the Biggest Serious Symptoms: Sharp Pain in the Abdomen
Everyone has abdominal pain every once in a while. This is often because of food poisoning or gas, neither of which are serious.
However, if you ever experience sharp, sudden intense abdominal pain, you should get it checked out as soon as possible.
This could be a myriad of things, including:
- Pancreatitis
- Stomach cancer
- Appendicitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Stomach Ulcers
- Colitis
And there are many more potential options as well. See a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose the issue.
7. Sudden Vision Changes
As with many of these serious symptoms, the key here is the word sudden. Most people have gradual vision changes over time. But sudden changes are not normal and can be very dangerous.
If you experience double vision, vision loss in one eye, or blurred vision, this could be a sign of a bigger issue.
One of the most intense potential issues is a stroke. A stroke happens when a clot reduces blood flow to your brain. If you have any of these vision issues, call 911 immediately to get help for a potential stroke as soon as possible.
The sooner you get treatment, the smaller the long-term impact, so make sure you get help quickly.
If you’re interested in taking more control of your health and diagnoses, learn more about our artificial intelligence tools that can help.
8. Moles That Bleed or Itch
Almost everyone has moles, freckles, or beauty marks. And most of the time they are completely harmless.
In some cases though, if they start to itch or bleed, this is a sign of a deeper issue.
Often, this is a symptom melanoma, which is the most deadly form of skin cancer. So follow the ABCDE rule from the American Academy of Dermatology.
This means that if you see any of these changes in your moles, you should get them checked out: asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving.
If any of them fall into these categories, get them checked as soon as you can.
Final Thoughts
There you have it: 8 serious symptoms you should never ignore. If these happen to you or a loved one, seek immediate medical attention.
You could potentially save your life by doing so.
If you have questions or want to learn more, contact our team of experts today. We are happy to help you!