Some medical symptoms are so obvious our brains go on automatic and we know what to do. When I got hit on the head with a golf ball, for instance, and the bleeding would not stop, my golfing buddy took me to the hospital for stitches. No questions asked.

What do you do, however, when the symptoms are not so dramatic or obvious? True, not every ache or pain indicates it requires serious attention. We have a word for people who claim they have some serious illness attached to every twitch or gas bubble. The term is hypochondriac. Even so it is important not to discount some symptoms that take place suddenly and stay for some time. This is especially true for omen whose symptoms differ from the symptoms of men and whose risk for certain diseases increases after menopause.

Here is a list of my top three symptoms never to be ignored.

1.  Problems with seeing, speaking or moving
Difficult speaking, blurred vision or numbness or paralysis on one side are considered classic signs of a stroke. They may also only last for a few minutes and are called transient ischemic attack, TIA, or ministrokes. Any one of these symptoms requires immediate emergency care especially since quick treatment usually reduces risk of brain damage. And if the problem is TIA your doctor can give you treatment to prevent more TIAs or a more significant stroke.

2.    A sudden, extremely bad headache
Many women frequently suffer from headaches yet it is important not to brush them aside. Any severe headache is a potential medical emergency because it could be caused by an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, a stroke, a brain tumor, or meningitis. Medical care is definitely called for if there is a headache following a head injury or there is a fever together with the headache. A severe headache with a seizure, rash, or double vision are also significant enough to get emergency treatment.

3.    Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without dieting is not as good as it sounds. Loss of appetite may indicate some medical problem such as hyperthyroidism, depression, cancer or liver disease. There may also be a problem with the way you are absorbing food. The rule of thumb is to call your doctor if you lost more than 5 percent of your weight in one month or 10 percent of your weight in 6 months without trying.

It is important to pay attention to your body. Knowing the difference between  how you usually respond to a cold or eating something that did not agree with you and a symptom that is not part of your norm is important as you get older. Things happen in life. Be aware and take care.

Three more symptoms in my next post.

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

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Filed under: Conditions and Diseases

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