A friend had a headache and I asked her to go to the hospital to see the doctor but she just shook it off saying she would be fine and I thought to myself if she had metaphysical powers over her health (something we call Odeshi in Nigeria) but 3 days later, she was driving to work and she heard a sound from the axle of her car tyre, something I didn't hear myself because it wasn't noticeable and she was at the mechanic stand for repair.
I was forced to pour out my thoughts on her attitude saying she could leave her health unattended to but take the well-being of her seriously. She replied to me that the sound she heard was a sign and if she didn't attend to it, it was going to become a big deal, and I replied to her that hope she knew that the minor health signs she gets and doesn't take serious can become a big deal in the future? Most diseases do not just creep into a person's life like a thief in the night, they come with sign and symptoms and it left to us as individuals to either take them serious or just disregard them. She decided to ask me a question I was willing to respond to, she asked me what were the signs she should look out for, and trust that my medical self will be willing to do justice to that.
First and foremost, if you notice Chest Pain, it is a sign that there is something wrong. I do not care the type of pain you are feeling in your chest either dull, sharp, pressing, stabbing, or even aching, the first thing is go see a doctor. If you notice intense chest pain that looks like the chest being heavy, then it might be a sign of a heart attack and it is best to visit the doctor as soon as possible.
Personally, I do not like too much food, but then if you are someone that eat well and suddenly realize that eating very little get you full all of a sudden, then you should visit the doctor as you might be suffering from Early Satiety which can be caused by reflux disease, peptic ulcers, and it can even be a case of stomach cancer.
Still on the stomach as people call it, I mean the abdomen (please the lower part after the chest before your hip region is not the stomach but the abdomen). If you notice abdominal pain such as cramps, ache, intermittent, sharp or dull form of pain, then you should visit the doctor because pain in the abdominal region can mean a lot as there are numerous organs in the abdomen and it could as a result of conditions like appendicitis, gallstones, liver problem, or even obstruction in the intestines. If the pain is severe and persistent, then a doctor should be the next option because they are just one call away.
If you go to the toilet and you notice blood in your stool, urine, vomit, or you are just see non-menstral bleeding, then you should go to the hospital because seeing blood in your urine can be a sign of infection, trauma, diseases, tumor, or even some abnormalities associated with the gastrointestinal tract.
Going to genitals, when a person experiences painful intercourse, before you start to check Google for help, visit the doctor. While your friend Google might tell you it is as a result of dryness, or allergic reaction, it might actually be as a result of Urinary Tract Infection, conditions such as Endometriosis, Yeast infection in the Vagina, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), pelvic inflammatory disease, and vaginismus sensitivity.
Let me guess you have heard of migraine and you wonder what are the early signs a person could have? well, one of the signs is flashes of light even in dark spaces. This same sign can be as a result of conditions like retina detachment and it is important to visit an Ophthalmologist and a medical doctor.
We all work a lot, I mean people who are very busy and one thing we have in common is being tired but then we a person is always feeling fatigue, stressed, and exhausted, then you should see a doctor because it can be a signal for numerous conditions including but not limited to cancer, anemia, diabetes, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Headaches is one sign that should not be taken for granted especially when it is consistent. It might be a sign for serious conditions including brain tumor, so while headaches usually come and leave after rest or eating, it becomes a matter of concern when it is consistent and intense. Visiting the doctor could just save your life from conditions that can be life-threatening.
Now that I have talked about these signs, have you thought about what would happen if you take your health as serious as you take your car maintenance seriously? While your car would be inherited by someone else in the case of an unfortunate event, your life cannot be inherited by someone else so you should take it seriously as you just have one life to live.
Reference
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/other-conditions-may-be-causes-of-chest-pain
https://www.healthline.com/health/causes-of-chest-pain
https://www.healthline.com/health/satiety-early
https://www.medicinenet.com/abdominal_pain_causes_remedies_treatment/article.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK412/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/blood-in-stool
https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/hematuria
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/vomiting-blood-haematemesis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/painful-intercourse/symptoms-causes/syc-20375967
https://www.kernodle.com/obgyn_blog/8-causes-of-painful-intercourse/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25069-photopsias-eye-flashes
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/flashes-of-light
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tiredness-and-fatigue/
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-fatigue-causes-and-remedies