When the body speaks, pay attention

Everyone knows a good diet, exercising regularly and getting an annual physical are the cornerstones to good health. But paying attention to your body is equally important. Chest pain could be benign, or it could indicate a heart attack. A lingering cough could be allergies, or it could mean something far worse. Here are some common health signs and symptoms that could be minor annoyances – or may point to potentially fatal illnesses.

Sudden confusion

Whenever someone has a change in mental status not caused by substance abuse, intoxication or withdrawal from medications, they should immediately see a doctor. In addition, if the confusion occurs while the person has a fever, they are at a higher risk of brain infections, such as meningitis and encephalitis. Anyone with recent head trauma should get evaluated if they seem confused or their mental state changes.

Chest pains

Crushing chest pain and a numb left arm are common signs of a heart attack. However, another symptom that people do not really hear about is pain in the neck and lower jaw as serious cardiac event. Women are more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain. In women, this diagnosis is often seen as anxiety and panic attacks and serious diagnosis can be missed.

Yet chest pain could indicate several other life-threatening issues besides a heart attack that require immediate attention, such as pulmonary embolism (artery clot in the lungs), tension pneumothorax (sudden leak of air outside the lung, compressing vital organs in the chest), pericardial tamponade (collection of fluid or blood between the heart and covering sac that compresses the heart), aortic dissection (tear in large blood vessel coming out from the heart due to uncontrolled blood pressure and hardening of the blood vessel wall), and stress cardiomyopathy (broken-heart syndrome: a sudden, major emotional reaction to a life-changing event, such as a death in the family, can trigger this condition).

Blood in stool

Causes of blood in stool range from harmless, annoying conditions, such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures, to serious conditions, such as cancer. If the person is very young or very old, they should see a doctor and describe their symptoms. Another link to blood in stools is a risk of colon cancer, especially if it runs in your family and occurs after the age of 50. A stool that is black in color also signals bleeding in the stomach or intestine and it requires urgent attention, especially if you are on regular pain medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. 

Abdominal pains

Most people have different tolerances for pain, so knowing when a pain in your abdomen is serious enough to seek medical attention is key. A “stomach ache” usually refers to cramps or a dull ache in the abdomen. It's usually short-lived and is often not serious. However, it’s a big deal when you have any type of pain that progresses rapidly and does not improve. Appendicitis and acute pancreatitis are a few common yet alarming conditions that require immediate attention. Elderly men or women with long histories of smoking should worry about a leaking aneurysm of large blood vessels in the abdomen. Kidney stones and infections in the kidney are other common pain syndromes that require immediate care. Any pains with a lump in your groin, or males with severe pain in the testicles, require immediate attention, as this can mean an obstructed hernia or testicular torsion.

‘Common’ aches and pains

Never ignore serious, rapidly worsening pain and skin color changes anywhere in the body, especially in the arms and legs. That could point to deep tissue infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria – which requires immediate antibiotics and surgical intervention. Also, any allergic reaction with hives or swelling of the face or tongue should be immediately taken care of. In addition, common back pain accompanied by a fever or any new neurological weakness or numbness may require immediate attention. If you experience any of the above symptoms, it’s best not to ignore them or assume they’re benign – especially if these problems linger or worsen. Early detection and getting a treatment plan in place is key, and annual checkups are vital to helping establish benchmarks and note changes. You know your body’s aches and pains best – but only a doctor can accurately diagnose illnesses and diseases.

Listen to your body and take the warning signs seriously. Schedule regular checkups with your doctor, and seek immediate medical attention if you’re concerned about possible signs of a life-threatening condition. Your body – and your loved ones – will thank you.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER. The information provided by Ross University School of Medicine is not intended to be a substitute for seeing personal professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Vijay Rajput, MD, FACP, SFHM, is professor and chair of medicine at Ross University School of Medicine.