No-one likes to consult a doctor unnecessarily, but there are times when you should always seek medical advice.
It's always better to be seen than dismiss the signs and delay an important diagnosis until the condition has become worse – or it's even too late to treat.
Here, I reveal the top 10 top symptoms you should never ignore – and why. 1. WEIGHT LOSS FOR NO APPARENT REASON
Most of us love losing weight and if it's achieved through sensible diet and lifestyle changes, then great.
What concerns medical professionals is unexplained weight loss – where there is no obvious reason for the pounds to be falling off someone, i.e. there has been no change to your normal diet or levels of activity.
As a rough guide, if you lose five percent of your body weight (e.g. eight pounds if you weigh 175 pounds) in less than six months without following a weight loss diet, then it's time to let your doctor know – especially if it's associated with fatigue, tiredness or other persistent niggling symptoms.
Unexplained weight loss could be a sign of an undiagnosed illness such as gut problems that affect absorption of nutrients, an overactive thyroid, undiagnosed diabetes, depression or the big worry for everyone – cancer. While in most cases it won't turn out to be cancer, unexplained weight loss is a red flag symptom and may not always be accompanied by loss of appetite.
2. AN UNUSUAL THICKENING OR LUMP ANYWHERE ON THE BODY
If you notice an unusual lump anywhere on your body, you should always tell a doctor. While a lump in areas such as the breast or scrotum is likely to send you promptly to the doctor, don't ignore lumps elsewhere, either.
While most lumps are due to a non-serious condition such as benign (non-cancerous) growths (e.g. lipoma, fibroma or cysts) they all need to be checked and diagnosed. It is often difficult for even a doctor to tell different lumps apart and you may need a biopsy so the lump can be examined under a microscope and diagnosed accurately. Soft lumps, such as a hernia (in which a part of the body such as a loop of intestine pushes through a weakness in the muscle or tissues that normally contain it) also need assessment as some types can get trapped and painful, and can even lose their blood supply (a strangulated hernia) which needs urgent treatment. If a lump becomes increasingly painful, seek medical advice straight away.
As for thickening of the skin, this is where you run a finger over an area and feel that underlying tissues are thickened or hardened - or feel different to the surrounding area - without necessarily forming a lump.
3. CHEST PAIN
Chest pain can be caused by many conditions, some of which are serious (e.g. heart attack or a clot on the lung) and some not (e.g. spasm of tiny muscles between the ribs, or an inflammation of rib cartilage called costochondritis).
Chest pain can be due to acid reflux, or heartburn, and an estimated 20 per cent of cases are mistaken for a heart attack – but it is often difficult for even doctors to tell these apart.
While angina (heart pain) and heart attack can cause different symptoms in different people of different ages, chest pain or tightness is the main warning sign for both men and women. The pain may feel like an aching discomfort, tight pressure or burning, and can be sharp, dull or feel like a bear hug or an elephant sitting on your chest.
Sudden chest pain should always be taken seriously and medical assistance sought without delay. NHS Choices recommends that you call 999 for an ambulance if you develop sudden severe chest pain, especially if it:
- feels heavy, pressing or tight
- lasts longer than 15 minutes
- spreads to your arms, back or jaw
- is accompanied by breathlessness, nausea, sweating or coughing up blood
If chest pain is less severe, or resolves, contact your doctor or attend a local walk-in center for assessment. You could have had an episode of angina for example (heart pain due to lack of oxygen reaching heart muscle) which needs treatment to prevent a future heart attack.
4. A CHANGE IN BOWEL HABIT
Many people feel embarrassed talking about their bowels with someone else, but it's a conversation that really could save your life. Bowel cancer is one of the biggest killers and it's striking more people at a younger age than ever, so don't ignore a change in your bowel movements – it's one of the few ways your intestines can show that something is wrong.
A change in bowel habit means a persistent change in opening your bowel so it is more or less frequent than is usual for you.
Your stools may also change in consistency, so you develop constipation, or a general slowing down of bowel movements, or diarrhea and a speeding up of your intestines.
If this continues for more than a week or two, seek medical advice - earlier if you develop abdominal pain or notice blood or slime in your motions. Try not to feel embarrassed - your doctor is used to dealing with problems like this.
5. UNEXPECTED BLOOD LOSS FROM ANY PART OF THE BODY
This is a frightening symptom that you are unlikely to ignore. You should let your doctor know as soon as possible if you.
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