THE EARLY WARNINGS ONE SHOULD OBSERVE

Most of the time, we tend to ignore things we experience such as a recurrent headache, occasional dizziness from standing up too fast, a feeling of tingling in the hands and arms, or even shortness of breath.

There are many warning signs for many conditions, but we do not also immediately seek medical assistance whenever we experience body weakness or body aches. It is also difficult to determine which type of a headache could be a sign of something serious. Generally, if a headache for instance is differing from a typical headache or is unrelenting and does not respond to over the counter pain relievers, then it’s the time to seek the medical intervention of your family doctor. On the other hand, early diagnosis is often critical to a good diagnosis, the disease will be treated early, hence, economic benefits are obtained such as hospitalization and medication costs.

There are also times when symptoms worsen slowly over the passage of time and it can be hard to assess its severity or seriousness, hence, we should be more vigilant for health is wealth and to lessen the impact.

Feeling dizzy is something that should not be shrugged off or taken lightly. Recurrent episodes of dizziness or fainting could be a sign of serious health problems such as arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat, a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack, or a heart blockage or blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract. The glands located on top of the kidneys produce hormones that affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, and other vital functions.

If the produced hormones are not enough, one may experience nausea; muscle aches, and even weight loss.

There are also conditions that can cause dizziness like low blood sugar or hypoglycemia and anemia. When the condition of dizziness is having a sensation that the things around seem to be spinning (a symptom of vertigo) or there is ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or experience distorted or muffled hearing or vomiting episodes, it can be related to an infection of the inner ear (Meniere’s disease) , which play a key role in maintaining balance. The older people are susceptible to vertigo due to the deterioration of the nerve endings of the inner ear as well as general nerve deterioration. It is a sign to visit a family physician.

Losing weight fast even without dieting by increasing your exercise regimen and the decrease in weight is about five percent of your body weight within two to three month. On the other hand, unusually gaining weight more than 10 kilos or over within four to six months which could not be attributed to increasing in food intake or decrease in activity or a sedentary lifestyle. These two conditions could either be diabetes or a thyroid disorder.an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause weight loss; underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause weight gain.

Diabetes mellitus is mainly caused by the failure of the pancreas to release enough insulin into the body. The warning signs include the need to urinate often, increased thirst, and weight loss. The levels of sugar in the blood and urine are high. It affects the eyes, kidneys, and even the nervous system. Other risk factors are age, family history, being overweight, and having low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. A visit to your family physician will order a blood test rule out diabetes and other conditions.

Eating too much or eating incompatible foods like green mangoes, turnips, or raw foods may cause stomachache and even loose bowel movement. And it can also become a serious condition. Food poisoning such as salmonella has the same symptom as a virus but with a higher fever. In rare cases, gradual enlargement of the abdomen could indicate ovarian cancer and also cause abdominal pain. An abdominal infection causes stomach upset, LBM, sudden cramps, and fever.

A peptic fever ulcer will cause pain, indigestion, and failure to respond to changes in diet or taking antacid or eating too much pepper. If the abdominal pain is too intense and occurs under the right rib cage, (right upper quadrant of the abdomen) it’s likely to be due to gallstones. It is a mineral deposit in the biliary tract, consisting of bile pigments and calcium salts. Increased amounts of cholesterol in the blood, diabetes, underactive thyroid gland, and inflammation of the biliary system promote the formation of gallstones. Gallstones can be detected through an abdominal ultrasound. If the gallbladder becomes infected, there may also be fever and nausea. Kidney stones can cause back pain but are often accompanied by fever and nausea. Kidney stones are identifiable because they cause the most intense of all back pain.

Intestinal obstruction is a serious cause of abdominal pain. It may be due to adhesions from prior pelvic or abdominal surgery or a growth or appendicitis. Symptoms of an obstruction are fever, inability to have a bowel movement, and vomiting. Appendicitis has the same symptoms an obstruction, but the pain may localize over time to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.

If you pass out bloody LBM or incessant abdominal pain, LBM or vomiting that does not go away after 12 hours, or if the back pain is not relieved by rest or over the counter remedies within one week, you have to seek your family doctor immediately.

Chest pain can have many causes like indigestion or a simple muscle pull. Indigestion is sudden, burning pain is accompanied by gas or reflux or regurgitation of a bitter-tasting acid. The pain is relieved by the antacid.

If the chest pain is associated with shortness of breath or the pain is unrelenting for more than fifteen minutes and it cannot relieve by antacid, changing position and pain radiates to the neck or arm, you have to seek medical help.

After playing basketball, volleyball or any physical activities for the first time and years and pain is felt when moving the body or taking a deep breath resulting in expansion of chest wall and putting pressure on the muscle, the pain is due to a pulled pectoral muscle. The pain caused by shingles or herpes zoster if different. Shingles commonly start with a burning sensation in the chest and are followed several days later by skin lesions. This also indicates a visit to your family doctor and is treatable by anti-viral medications.

Have a peace of mind by having regular check-ups to monitor your health. Stay healthy always.