By Corina Tan
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Feeling a twinge of pain or discomfort is quite usual for most people, but when is it nothing and when is it a sign that something needs attention right away? Given the rise of health concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, you don’t have to be a hypochondriac to think about any niggling symptoms which could be a clue that something more serious is going on. Here are some symptoms that could easily be overlooked or misdiagnosed as something else.
Abdominal Issues
Everyone has tummy troubles now and again, but belly pain sometimes signals a serious condition. A sharp pain in the lower right side could be appendicitis, the lower left could be diverticulitis. The middle upper right section could be gallstones, and closer to the pelvis could be ovarian cysts or urinary tract infections. Dull or burning pain or cramps could sometimes be caused by ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Stomach aches that are accompanied by a fever could be viral gastroenteritis. It is always wise to get tummy aches checked out especially if they also occur together with sudden weight loss, as that could be an indication of colorectal cancer.
Mouth Issues
A dry mouth or an excessive feeling of thirst that can’t be quenched with water could actually be a sign of diabetes. White spots on the tongue followed by an unpleasant smelling breath may signal a yeast infection or even a tumour. If your breath smells like sour milk instead, you could be lactose intolerant, or if it smells like nail polish, you could be consuming too much protein. Canker sores, red lesions on your tongue, loose teeth, or red or white patches inside the mouth that lasts more than two weeks could actually be a sign of cancer. A glossy red tongue could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.
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Coughing
Coughs can linger for months, but if it persists without other cold symptoms, it could actually be an indication of acid reflux, chronic bronchitis, heart failure, pneumonia, lung or throat cancer. Some high blood pressure medications can also cause excessive coughing. Any coughing that produces, blood, yellow or green phlegm should be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. A sore throat and a cough together could be signs of Covid-19, so it is always good to get tested just in case.
Numbness & Tingling
Numbness and tingling in your feet that progress to your knees and thighs could indicate a disease of the central nervous symptom. Multiple sclerosis is one such disease that disrupts the flow of information to the brain and causes many other symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, vision problems, balance and cognitive issues. Other possible causes could be a blood clot, a pinched nerve or peripheral neuropathy. Trouble seeing, speaking or understanding words could be a sign of stroke. A feeling of numbness in the chest that lasts longer than 30 minutes could be a heart attack, especially if it is accompanied by nausea and dizziness.
Headaches
This is probably one of the most common ailments suffered by everyone now and again. While a regular headache may just be caused by stress, lack of sleep or dehydration, it could also signal a bigger issue. If a headache wakes you up from sleep or doesn’t get better with medication, it might be a brain tumour. If also accompanied by a high fever and a stiff neck, you might have meningitis. Headaches accompanied by blurry vision or trouble focusing could be an aneurysm. A nagging headache that persists and intensifies over several weeks could even be a sign of stroke.
While these symptoms of pain are just the tip of the iceberg, the main takeaway is that ignoring what we feel is insignificant could turn out to be something more serious instead. If pain or discomfort anywhere in the body persists for an extended period of time or feels like it is getting worse, it’s probably a good idea to schedule an appointment with the doctor.
