The most common reasons to forego doctor visits are cost concerns and fear of receiving bad news. We’re all under the illusion that serious health complications come with prominent warning signs. However, that is not always the case. Significant illnesses like cancer are brilliant at hiding symptoms before it’s too late. Therefore, frequent visits to the doctor and taking account of minor health inconveniences can save your life. These indications can go unnoticeable, like a headache or a cough.
Another reason why people fail to see a doctor for their sickness is their hefty everyday schedule. If a person is asked to choose between a day out with friends and a doctor’s appointment, they will very conveniently waive off the latter.
Surveys depict that 61% of Americans prioritize other activities over healthcare due to schedule constraints. Another study in 2017deduced, 25% of people fail to make it to the hospital for their appointments due to transportation issues. As genuine as these reasons may sound, they are nothing but half-witted excuses. Healthcare should always be a top priority because delaying it could result in a life or death situation.
Rest assured, there is no substitute for visiting a hospital. There are trained medical professionals to present everywhere to help diagnose illnesses and suggest medication for recovery. These professionals have extensive experience, and the expertise gained after earning countless certifications and medical degrees.
For example, even nurses are half doctors. Yet, they’re an integral part of any healthcare facility because their role is so extensive. Even if you can’t find a doctor, you can consult a nurse to help diagnose or suggest treatment.
The best thing you could do after feeling slightly concerning symptoms is to consult a healthcare professional. It could even be a nurse if you’re apprehensive about seeing a doctor. Nurses who studied for years and earned challenging online dnp programshave the skills and experience needed to diagnose most illnesses and even suggest forms of treatment.
What’s more is that nurses are way more empathetic than doctors, understand patients better, and are readily available at any time over doctors who might have appointments to attend to. So with that settled, the following are some early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.
- Shortness Of Breath
You’ll try to convince yourself that you are short of breath because you’ve been running or overworking yourself. Shortness of breath can indicate heart failure or lung disease. Other causes may include asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or anxiety.
Any of these conditions could have life-altering consequences in the longer run. Therefore, it’s best to communicate any similar symptoms to a trusted healthcare professional at your earliest to avoid any dangerous repercussions.
- Chest Pain
What might feel like a heart attack can also be indigestion or angina. In whichever case, it’s highly recommended to call for an ambulance. However, chest pain isn’t something to be disregarded or waited out. The majority of heart attacks begin with a subtle sensation of pain which is barely ever taken into account.
Some common causes of chest pain include acid reflux, lung disease, inflammation in the ribs, muscle strain, or lung cancer. To avoid more complications and severe onsets, it is a good idea to call for help at the earliest.
- Never-Ending Headaches
Most people take no notice of headaches as they occur because of stress. Taking aspirin can send a headache away and make your life easier, but for how long? Headaches can be caused due to several reasons—almost every health condition surfaces with headaches.
Concerning causes of headaches include migraine, intracranial pressure, brain tumor, meningitis, or stroke. You should seek immediate medical attention for headaches because waiting too long can result in permanent brain injury, paralysis, or even death.
- Consistent Coughing
When you cough, the first thing that comes to your mind is whether you drank cold water or had something sour to eat. While a sore throat can be comforted with various over-the-counter goods, a serious health condition may call for more than just medication. Severe health conditions followed by persistent coughs may include lung disease, bronchitis, heart failure, pulmonary edema (water-filled lungs), asthma, or tuberculosis.
Any of these conditions can have grievous consequences if not attended to immediately. Then, a professional can better evaluate what’s causing the cough. Hopefully, it’s a sore throat.
- Frequent Urination
Most people would shy away from consulting a professional regarding anything related to urination. While frequent urination can occur because of the excessive amount of water you consume, it can also indicate several other health conditions like diabetes, pregnancy, kidney problems, or prostate gland problems.
Since diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in America, it’s suggested to instantly take any corresponding symptoms into account.
- Excessive Sweating
Excessive sweating can be a warning sign; not many would consider taking it seriously.It is common with people who are overweight. However, some cases of excessive sweating can be deemed harmful.
Excessive sweating could indicate thyroid problems, diabetes, infection, or even cancer. To confirm which condition it may be, consult with a nurse or a doctor rather than just Googling your symptoms. A professional can prescribe you a treatment plan that’s suitable for you.
- Unintentional Weight Loss Or Gain
The earliest sign of cancer is sudden weight loss. If you haven’t altered your diet and notice the numbers dropping or increasing on your weighing scale, you know what to do. Sudden weight gain can lead to thyroid, kidney, or heart problems.
Fluctuation in weight can also occur due to a change of routine, even if you’re consuming the same amount of food. It could also happen due to extreme changes in your mental well-being. To avoid regretting later, turn to a professional for confirmation regarding what it may be.
- Nausea And Vomiting
While nausea isn’t a disease, it can turn into something concerning if not given due attention. Usually, eating something stale could cause vomiting. In addition, our visual and olfactory sensations could also trigger nausea.
Seeing or smelling something obscene could be the cause. However, as typical as it is, nausea is also the most frequently occurring condition with most health problems. These may include food poisoning, peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or stomach cancer. For better advice, call a professional.
Final Thoughts
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, call for help immediately. Human life is too precious to be risked. However, even if it’s nothing serious (hopefully), do not regret spending money on healthcare. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Bearing that in mind, prioritize healthcare overwork and all other commitments. Delayed diagnosis can lead to difficult or fatal situations.
