Some symptoms are considered trivial when they are not.
Due to lack of time, difficulty getting an appointment, fatigue… We sometimes tend to delay making an appointment to see our doctor. But that’s a mistake. Here are the symptoms that merit a consultation according to our general practitioner.
First, persistent headaches. Harmless headaches are often tension headaches that are linked to stress, overwork, and visual fatigue from overexposure to screens. “However, if headaches become chronic and affect your quality of daily life, it is best to talk to your doctor.” warns Dr. Patrick Aubé. In the same way, unusual headaches, of sudden onset, if they are associated with nausea or vomiting, constitute a reason for consultation at the Emergency Room. Then the cough when it is chronic. “It’s because I’m a heavy smoker,” “It’s because of my allergies”… Chronic coughs are often trivialized. However, a cough that persists for more than three weeks should systematically be the subject of a consultation. “It could reveal an underlying pathology such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, respiratory allergy, gastroesophageal reflux or even a bronchial or mediastinal tumor.”informs the general practitioner.
Among the other symptoms that should not be overlooked, losing or gaining weight for no apparent reason. This is not normal. If your food intake and physical activity remain unchanged, it is important to report it to your doctor. An infection, a hormonal problem, diabetes or even cancer could be the cause of these weight variations. Persistent fatigue is also a symptom that we frequently complain about. So much so that we tend to minimize it and “cope with it”. However, fatigue can sometimes be the sign of a more or less serious health problem (deficiency, depression, cancer, infection, etc.). Hence the importance of informing your doctor in the event of persistent fatigue despite good sleep hygiene.
Persistent back or joint pain should also prompt you to consult a doctor. We hear so much that back pain is “the disease of the century” that we tend to neglect it. However, it could be osteoarthritis or a chronic inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or spondylitis. In any case, it is essential to discuss this pain during a consultation. The doctor may possibly prescribe additional tests to help make a diagnosis.
Finally, abdominal pain. Given their frequency, stomach aches are often trivialized.However, if pain in the gastric and intestinal regions persists, it is advisable to inform your doctor.”insists our interlocutor. Gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, an ulcer or even functional colopathy can be the cause. So be vigilant and take care of yourself. In health, prevention is always better than cure.
Thanks to Doctor Patrick Aubé, author of “Easy Digestion” (Ed. Marie Claire, 2023)