Are you fond of searching the Internet to diagnose possible health problems? With the influx of information from so many different sources readily available, this can actually be dangerous. What's worse is when people dismiss consistent symptoms because of what they read without seeking sound medical advice.
According to the American Heart Association symptoms of a heart attack include chest pressure or pain in the center of chest that isn't relieved by heartburn medication. Pains in the arms, back, neck or jaw or shortness of breath without chest pain are also possible signs of a heart attack.
The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person and are different in males vs. females. Nausea, sweating and feeling light-headed are also common symptoms, but women may be more likely to experience these warning signs than men. Women also tend to have increased back or jaw pain.
Many people dismiss anxiety, depression and weight changes as normal life symptoms. These indications may be signs of an under active thyroid. Other signs of thyroid problems include menstrual changes in females, irritable bowel, hair and skin changes, and muscle aches.
Because an under active thyroid can cause a variety of symptoms, ask your physician to recommend health testing centers in Washington that specialize in under active thyroid testing.
If you experience frequent headaches, they may be due to more than simple stress or fatigue. Normal headaches should ease with aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) within an hour. If you are prone to sinus headaches, many pharmaceutical companies make over-the-counter medications geared to relieve sinus pressure and pain. The same is true for migraine pain.
On the other hand, if you have a headache that doesn't respond to over-the-counter medication and you feel no relief after 24 hours, it could be a sign of a brain aneurysm, meningitis or stroke. Some flu strains come with severe headaches, but it's best to seek out professional advice for extended head pain.
If you find you must visit the bathroom often or wake up numerous times in the night to urinate, you could have a bladder condition. For men it may be caused by an enlarged prostate. In both sexes frequent urination can be a sign of a bladder or kidney infection with or without back pain.
Frequent urination may also be a sign of diabetes or interstitial cystitis, a condition most experienced by women which causes pain in the pelvic and abdominal area. Bladder cancers or benign tumors may present in those who find the need to urinate frequently so it's important to have these symptoms checked by a physician.
There is a difference between leg pain and a muscle spasm. Spasms will usually go away whereas leg pain can be constant. Some causes of leg pain include blood clots or circulatory problems.
If you experience swelling in your legs, it could be a sign of heart disease or a worsening current heart condition. Additionally, leg pain is often associated with allergic reactions to insect stings or medications.
If you experience sudden bumps or lumps it may mean you are allergic to a medication or that you are having an allergic reaction to an insect bite. Other lumps and bumps that don't go away and aren't bruises may be cysts, warts or boils.
Lumps that are hard to the touch with no pain may be cancerous, although more than not they are benign tumors. However, lumps that won't go away on their own should be seen by a physician.
If you cough up blood, this could be an early sign of cancer or tuberculosis or it could be due to the effects of infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.
Blood in the urine may be a sign of a bladder or kidney infection. If your stool is extremely dark or tar-like in appearance, this could indicate early signs of colon cancer, Crohn's disease or colitis.
If you feel weak, have no energy, and find you're sleeping excessively this could indicate anemia or tired blood syndrome. Fatigue is also a symptom of fibromyalgia and CFS (aka chronic fatigue syndrome).
Tiredness is also a sign of depression, thyroid or heart problems, or a liver virus. A blood test can reveal some of these conditions, so it's best to seek professional medical advice.
There are a number of reasons people suffer from itchy skin. Most of the time it's due to dry skin or a prescribed medication. Other reasons could include scabies, bed bug bites, poison ivy, psoriasis or eczema.
If you have itchy skin accompanied by a red rash with a painful burning sensation, you may have shingles and will need an antiviral medication. If you've had the chicken pox, the shingles virus is in your body and for many people it stays dormant. It's important to note, no matter what you read on the Internet, there is no such condition as "internal shingles" where a rash doesn't appear.
Yeast infections are the main cause for abnormal vaginal discharge in women and are easily treated. Other reasons for abnormal discharge are STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) or bacterial vaginal infections. Both of these conditions need to be treated with medications, so don't ignore unusual vaginal discharge, especially if there is odor associated with the discharge.
Diabetes and poor circulation are the most common reasons for tingling in the hands and feet, arms, or legs. If you experience tingling accompanied by pain, you may have a nerve condition or a bruised muscle. It's difficult to detect the causes of tingling with CT scans or sonograms, so your doctor may do blood tests or an MRI.
Certain medical conditions can cause blurry vision. Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes or retinal detachment will all cause changes in your vision. Cornea scratches will also cloud your vision and usually come with pain. Seek out an ophthalmologist or your family physician if you experience repeated vision changes or blurred vision.
Many of us attribute various symptoms to age, strenuous activity, viruses or the flu. Instead of playing the guessing game on symptoms, seek advice from a health care provider.