Posted by on Oct 10, 2016 in Blog | 3 comments

It’s hard to know when to go see a doctor.  Even if you are worried about odd symptoms you may wonder, am I being a hypochondriac?

Hypochondriasis

According to the University of Maryland Medical School, the definition of hypochondriasis  is “an overwhelming fear that you have a serious disease, even though health care providers can find no evidence of illness.”  Although the number of people with hypochondriasis in the general population isn’t known, among patients in primary care, the numbers are between 0.8 and 4.5%.

Hypochondriasis is not a common condition.  So instead of second guessing yourself, listen to your body.  Below is a list of signs and symptoms you probably should not ignore.

Unexplained Weight Loss

weightscaleWhat is unexplained weight loss?  Why, when so many are overweight, should weight loss be a concern? When is weight loss normal or “explained”?

Have you been increasing the amount of time you spend exercising?  Have you reduced your calorie intake?  If so, then you should expect to lose weight or to increase your muscle mass.

However, if you lose more than 10% of your body weight in less than 6 months without trying, you should go to see your physician. Here’s some help with the math.  If you weigh 150 pounds and you inexplicably lose 15 pounds (10%) in 6 months or less, then you should see your physician.  (Ten percent of 150 pounds is 15 pounds:  you would weigh 135 pounds.)

Causes of unexplained weight loss

Cancer:  As many as 40% of people report unexplained weight loss at the time they were diagnosed with cancer.

Diabetes: Diabetes, especially Type 1 Diabetes presents with weight loss, even though you might be eating more.  Other symptoms frequent urination, fatigue, tingling hands and feet,  and extreme thirst.

Hyperthyroidism:  Hyperthyroidism means that your thyroid is overproducing thyroid hormone.  Weight loss is one of the symptoms along with excessive sweating, tremor, restlessness and rapid or racing heartbeat.

Conditions that interfere with your  your body absorbing nutrients like gastroparesis or celiac disease.

High Fever

When is a fever too high?  When should you become concerned? 

Your body fights infection by raising its temperature which is experienced as a fever.  So it isn’t always problematic to have a fever.  symptomsHowever, according to Mayo Clinic, adults need to contact your physician  if you have a fever that is 103 degrees F or higher or if you have had a fever for  over three days is also a reason to see your doctor. Fever at that level indicates a severe infection that could be anything from pneumonia to tuberculosis.

UC San Diego recommends that if you have a  low-grade fever (around 100 degrees) that you have for several weeks you should see your physician.  This type of fever can indicate a sinus infection, viral infection or possibly cancers like lymphoma or leukemia.

Breathlessness

When should you worry about being breathless?

Shortness of breath is the sense that you are breathing faster than normal.  You may be wheezing or gasping.  If you are in high altitudes, have been doing extremely strenuous exercise, or are experiencing extremes in temperatures, you can experience shortness of breath. However, if these circumstances are not in play and  if you are experiencing sudden breathlessness, it may be an emergency.

UC San Diego states that conditions that cause shortness of breath include chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, pneumonia, asthma, or it could be a condition called a pulmonary embolism.  Pulmonary embolisms are clots that have occurred in your deep tissue, (often in your legs) and moves to your lungs where they get stuck in the blood vessels.

Headache

symptomsPain that is “sudden and intense” or “unlike anything you’ve felt before” merits immediate medical attention.  This type of headache could be associated with a burst blood vessel in the brain called an aneurysm.

Other conditions where sudden intense headache can occur include:

Shingles: Shingles rash is often preceded by an intense headache.

Meningitis:  Intense headache, stiffness of the neck and confusion  are symptoms of meningitis.  Getting prompt medical attention is important.

Chest Pain

When does chest pain mean a heart attack?

symptomsThe discomfort from a heart attack has been described as “squeezing, pressure or tightness.”  Sometimes the pain radiates into your left arm or both arms.  Other people feel nausea and shortness of breath.  Some people having a heart attack experience pain in their back, neck, jaw or stomach.   Women may have different symptoms than men including a burning sensation, dizziness, right arm pain, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, sweating or fatigue.

Damage to the heart can occur during a heart attack.  Call 911 if you have these symptoms.

Chest pain might also be gastrointestinal reflux or GERD.  GERD is a chronic condition in which contents from the stomach go back up into the esophagus. Between 10% and 20% of cases of intense chest pain are caused by GERD.

Sudden Confusion or Changes in Personality

What should you do if you or a loved one has sudden confusion or unusual changes in personality?

Infections, medications, bleeding in the brain, poor nutrition, a stroke or even a brain tumor can cause changes in personality or difficulty concentrating.  Dehydration or low blood sugar can also cause these types of changes.  Medication side effects and infections could also cause confusion or aggression.  Get medical attention ASAP.  Your brain health could be at risk.

 Sudden Symptoms

Symptoms that suddenly occur are often warning signs that something is wrong and you need to see a doctor.   When you feel that something’s not quite right with your body, listen to it; don’t ignore or dismiss it.