Part II

Continuing our look at 16 symptoms that are important, here is the second group of eight. The subject is about symptoms that should cause you to seek medical attention sooner rather than later. Some may seem obvious, others may not. Either way, I hope you will file these away in your memory banks for future reference in case you develop one or more of these symptoms.

1- Genital or anal sores. There can be a variety of sores or growths that can affect the skin or the membranes in the genito-anal region. All are problematic and should be examined. They are often due to sexually transmitted diseases and could be passed on to others (who would not be very appreciative of such a gift). Any new lesion arising in this area should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

2- Moles. Most people have a variety of moles on their skin that have been present for years and are not a problem. But, if an existing mole changes its color, shape or size, this could be a sign of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Sudden appearance of a new mole or moles may also be worrisome. Such changes need examination soon. In addition, part of any routine physical examination should involve a thorough look at the skin for moles so that there is a baseline against which to compare future changes. On occasion measurements or even photographs of moles may be taken to allow future comparison.

3- Muscle weakness. Any sudden change in your muscle strength, your ability to walk or pick things up, or coordination of movement (imbalance), without apparent cause such as injury, is not normal and should be evaluated. It could be something wrong with the muscles themselves or it could point to something going on in the brain, which initiates and coordinates all movement. This could be a sign of a stroke, regardless of your age, and should be checked out soon.

4- Difficulty breathing. Sudden changes in breathing (too rapid, too slow, or difficulty getting air either in or out) can be signs of heart or lung problems or even such things as panic attacks. If it’s severe or getting worse, call 911. It could be an allergic reaction (including asthma) that left untreated could be fatal. It could also be a symptom of heart disease (especially if you wake up suddenly with difficulty breathing). Difficulty breathing after any chest injury might be just a bruised muscle, but if it’s severe or getting worse, that’s a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment (there may be air or blood around the lungs that must be removed immediately).

5- Excessive urination. The more you drink the more you pee and that might be perfectly normal. But if there’s a change in your urinary frequency without apparent explanation, that could point to problems such as infection, prostate enlargement, or even diabetes. It’s the change from your normal pattern that may be signaling a problem. Left untreated, excess urination due to diabetes will likely result in an eventual medical emergency, so it’s better to have such symptoms evaluated sooner than later.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next