10 common reasons for seeing a doctor
In this article we will describe 10 common reasons when you should see a doctor.
1. You have a persistent, high fever
A fever is one way your body naturally fights infection. However, if you have a fever above 39˚C or a fever that lasts more than three days, you should call your doctor. A more serious infection could be happening.
2. You have a severe cough that lingers more than two weeks
This may indicate an acute illness like whooping cough, or a chronic one like a cancer or tuberculosis (TB).
Older people, pregnant women and those with long-term lung or heart disease should exercise extra caution, as they are more likely to develop serious issues (or complications from flu).
3. You have chest pain and shortness of breath or extreme difficulty swallowing – and these are not normal cold symptoms.
If you cannot keep anything down, you may need an IV to get fluids to help your body function.
4. You have lost weight quite rapidly and without explanation
An unexplained drop in weight could indicate overactive thyroid, cancer, diabetes, depression or liver disease, among other things. As a general rule of thumb, if you have lost more than 10% of your body weight in the last three months (and you are not obese and trying to lose weight), make an appointment with your doctor.
5. You experience severe abdominal, loin or pelvic pain
Abnormal, intense and sustained pain in the abdomen or pelvis can indicate an underlying issue that demands a doctor’s attention. Some examples include gallstones when pain in the abdomen (especially if accompanied by nausea and vomiting), kidney infection when in the loin, and ectopic pregnancy in the pelvis
6. Your normal pattern of pooing or weeing has changed significantly for more than two weeks
Keep in mind that bowel movement and urination can vary from person to person, so the most important thing to look for is a rapid change in your own pattern; whether that’s bloody or black stools, diarrhoea or constipation, or excessive urination.
7. You have rapidly become blind, or have severe pain in the eye(s) – or have bright lashes interrupting your vision
If you suffer from migraines, you may sometimes experience bright flashes or spots in your vision. Outside of these cases, sudden bright flashes might be a sign of a retinal detachment, a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
8. You develop unexpected symptoms after a procedure or starting a new medication
If undergo a medical procedure or surgery, have an immunisation, or start a new medication, and anything out of the ordinary occurs, you need to see a doctor – prefer the one that started or did the treatment.
9. You experience new confusion or suspect you have concussion
If you have fallen on your head or suffered a blow to it, monitor for the symptoms of concussion. These can include difficulty concentrating, headache, irritability and change in sleep pattern.
10. You experience major changes in mood
These can occur with mental health issues as well as physical conditions, such as an infection or drug interaction. Watch out for trouble thinking or focusing, irregular sleeping patterns, and feelings of severe anxiety or depression.
Summary
We have described 10 common reasons for seeing a doctor. We hope it has been helpful.
