By Connie Colbert
Director, Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic
Most of us have random aches and pains, twinges and odd sensations, but which ones should we be concerned about and seek medical attention sooner than later?
- Weakness in your arms and legs accompanied by numbness in your face: This is especially bad if it is on one side of your body. This could be a sign of a stroke or other neurologic condition.
- Severe headache: If you have a sudden onset of “the worst headache of your life,” you should be concerned –especially it is accompanied by blurred vision, dizziness or problems walking or speaking.
- Chest pain: It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to chest pain, especially any chest pain accompanied by sweating, pressure, shortness of breath or nausea. Those symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional right away. If your chest feels tight or heavy and it lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back again, get help. Don’t try to tough it out.
- Tenderness or pain in the back of your lower leg, especially when accompanied by redness and swelling: This could be a symptoms of a blood clot. If you have been sitting for a long period of time or riding on a long plane flight and these symptoms are present, it is important to see a medical professional.
- Blood in your urine: If it is accompanied by pain in your back or the urgency to use the bathroom, this might indicate a kidney stone or infection. However, if there are no other symptoms associated with the blood, this should be checked out – it could be a sign of kidney or bladder cancer.
- Blood in your stool: While for many people this might be the result of an infrequent bout of constipation, for some this can be the first indication of more serious problems such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis or colon cancer.
- Wheezing or any problems breathing: This should be evaluated as soon as possible because these symptoms can quickly worsen if not treated properly. A medical professional will need to determine the cause.
- Headache and fever accompanied by a stiff neck and sensitivity to bright light: If you experience these symptoms and they come on suddenly, it is best to go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation. This could be the onset of meningitis.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical attention. They may be a sign of a more serious problem.
