Everyone has aches and pains, but there are some that should never be ignored. Why? They could be a sign of a serious health problem. The ones doctors are most concerned about are those symptoms that appear suddenly without warning. Here are 6 that should not be ignored, ever.
#1 - Chest pain: This one is often ignored because many people chalk it up to indigestion. They just can't believe they might be having a heart attack. Whether a person is thin or overweight, sudden chest pain or pressure on the chest, along with shortness of breath, nausea and sweating, may indicate you are having a heart attack.
#2 - Sudden intense headache: Most headaches come on gradually, so if you get an intense headache suddenly, it could be a sign of an aneurysm (blood vessel that bursts in your brain), meningitis, or even shingles.
#3 - Sudden weight loss: Weight loss is good but not if you lose an unusual amount of weight suddenly. How much is too much? If you lose more than 5 percent of your body weight for no reason over a period of six months, it could mean cancer. It could also mean diabetes or an overactive thyroid.
#4 - Fever: This refers to not just an ordinary fever from cold or flu, but a persistent and high fever that won't go away. Even a low-grade fever that lasts for weeks can be a sign of something serious like lymphoma and leukemia.
#5 - Leg swelling: Excess fluid in the legs causing swelling is one sign of a medical condition called edema. Edema means that the heart is not pumping enough blood, causing the blood to back up in the veins and settle in the legs.
#6 - Sudden pain in the abdomen: Sudden abdominal pain could be a sign that an aorta has ruptured in the abdomen. If this happens, it requires emergency surgery.
These symptoms should never be ignored as they can be a sign of a life-threatening health issue.
To read more, visit www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-12-2012/symptoms-you-should-never-ignore.4.html