Small continuous problems can lead to big trouble.
kalhh / Pixabay – Small continuous problems can lead to big trouble.

Just a few years ago one of my brothers passed away from a stroke. The doctor told us that it was so massive that he was probably dead before he hit the floor. His body was alive, but the brain damage was irreparable.

What we didn’t know was that he had severe headaches for years. He self-medicated and would not go to the doctor’s office to find out what it was and what was causing it. I think many people are in that boat. They ignore the symptoms and hope that it passes.

Should we be wary? When should we get off the couch and see a doctor? The are some visible symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or cancer. But, the ones that are minor and won’t go away should be a reason to have them checked out.

Any long-lasting symptom, such as blurred vision, should not go untreated. In fact, any vision problem that persists should be checked out. Balance issues can be a big warning. Off balance from turning your head might be attributed to vertigo. But, consistent occasions of just being off balance should be checked out. You never know the cause.

Dizziness and confusion is another thing to concern you. You can’t remember where you left the car keys. That’s not a big deal unless it happens every day. It might be the beginning of something that can be treated effectively. Too many times we get too far down the road that any treatment is ineffective or too costly.

Heartburn and indigestion occur in many of us. But, they can be symptoms of something much worse. Single occurrences are no big deal most of the time. Add those symptoms to some other signs (see above), and you might have cause to be alarmed enough to visit your doctor.

I rarely ever have heartburn. One night I had a severe case. After a while, my wife suggested that I go to the emergency room. I pushed through the pain and told her I would go in the morning if it didn’t get worse. It never got worse but lingered for hours. It got to the point that I could not get comfortable and finally went to the emergency room.

I ended up having my gallbladder removed. I had no symptoms before indigestion. It turns out that gallbladder symptoms can be widely varied. It was interesting that my mother had her gall bladder removed, her grandmother and great-grandmother had their gallbladders removed. My father had his removed the same month I had mine removed. My son had his removed years later. Maybe it runs in the family?

Exhaustion can be caused by many things. However, unexplained exhaustion day after day could be a warning sign that something big might be happening in your body. Get someone to evaluate it.
Your legs are the farthest point from your heart. If you consistently have swollen legs, feet or ankles, it might be a warning that something might be amiss. Don’t live with the discomfort when it might be the first indication of something treatable is around the corner.

I highlighted a few symptoms that when in concert with each other can be a concern that should be analyzed by a professional. If you have a single symptom that doesn’t go away in thirty days or so, see a doctor.

It amazes me the number of people I talk to who never have an annual physical. I was inculcated in the military to have an annual flight physical. I had one for thirty-one years. I also had company-paid yearly physicals while employed by civilian employers. I look forward to my annual physical.
I want to know what is going on in my body and act quickly. I believe in preventive action over corrective ones. But, you must know to take any action.

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