EBN- Chest pain, sudden loss of vision or speech, and severe abdominal pain require immediate medical attention, but what about the more subtle symptoms?
It can be difficult to know when to seek medical attention. Here are seven symptoms to look out for.
Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without trying can be a sign of a health problem. Unexplained weight loss can be caused by a number of conditions.
These conditions include: an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), diabetes , depression, liver disease, cancer , or disorders that affect how your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).
If you have lost more than 5% of your body weight in the last 6 or 12 months, talk to your doctor.
Persistent or high fever
Fever appears to play a key role in fighting infection, and its persistence may indicate infection with some form of infection, including coronavirus infection .
Fever can also be a symptom of many other infectious diseases, from urinary tract infections to tuberculosis. Some medications can also cause fever.
Call your doctor if your temperature is 103°F (39.4°C) or higher, or if you have a fever for more than three days.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can be caused by strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, obesity, and being at high altitudes. It may also be a sign of another health problem.
Shortness of breath can be caused by a number of things, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, or a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism). Other causes include heart and lung problems.
Shortness of breath may also accompany a panic attack, which is a sudden episode of intense anxiety that causes severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or clear cause.
Unexplained changes in bowel frequency
There is no fixed pattern in the habit of defecation, but rather its patterns vary greatly. Consult a doctor if you notice any unusual or unexplained changes in defecation, such as:
Constant stomach pain
Changes in bowel habits may indicate a bacterial infection, such as Campylobacter or Salmonella , or a viral or parasitic infection. Other possible causes of this condition include irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.
These changes may be the result of many problems, such as infection, dehydration, poor nutrition, mental health conditions, or medications.
