10 good reasons to see a doctor
In this article we will describe 10 good reasons to see a doctor. MyHSN recommends you see a doctor if you have any of these conditions.
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 see a doctor. A more serious infection could be happening.
2. You have a severe cough that lingers more than three 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
These are not normal cold, flu or COVID-19 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 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. Examples include gallstones, kidney stones or infections, and ectopic pregnancy.
6. Your normal pattern of pooing or weeing has changed significantly for more than two weeks
Bowel movement and urination patterns vary quite alot 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 flashes 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.
Go to your optician or nearest A&E with an eyes clinic (check first they have one) today.
8. You develop unexpected symptoms after a procedure or starting a new medication
If undergo a medical procedure or surgery, have a vaccination, 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 symptoms of concussion. These can include difficulty concentrating, headache, irritability and change in sleep pattern.
10. You experience severe depression, anxiety or have strange thoughts or hallucinations
These can be due to a mental health problem; or a physical condition, such as an infection or drug interaction. Watch out for trouble thinking or focusing, or irregular sleeping patterns.
Summary
We have described 10 good reasons to see a doctor. We hope it has been helpful.
