From severe headaches to a persistent cough – the 9 symptoms you should never ignore
IT CAN be easy to chalk up various symptoms you're experiencing to tiredness, stress, something bad you ate or viruses circulating.
You might put off speaking to a doctor about them unless you feel iffy for a few days or your symptoms get worse.
But there are some signs you should never ignore.
Sadik Al-Hassan, superintendent pharmacist at PillTime Bristol told Sun Health said he gets lots of questions about serious symptoms and health 'red flags'.
"These symptoms could indicate a chance of a more serious problem that would require referral for investigation," he explained.
"Often the chance of a serious condition is low, but needs to be ruled out to prevent serious harm."
Read more on health red flags
Often, what will make a symptoms something to be concerned about is how long someone has had them, the pharmacist said.
He gave the example of a persistent cough that's lasted longer than three weeks.
Something more obviously alarming - like coughing up blood - could also be a red flag symptoms, Sadik continued.
The pharmacist and Dr Sarah Jarvis - GP and clinical consultant to Patient.info - shared nine symptoms you should never ignore.
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1. A squeezing in your chest
Many of us will know that a heart attack is a medical emergency, so chest pain is always worth speaking to a doctor about urgently.
But you might not know the exact symptoms that indicate you're having a heart attack.
Dr Jarvis said: "Look for a heaviness, tight band or squeezing feeling across your chest – this could spread to your neck, shoulder or arm. You may also feel dizzy or short of breath."
"It’s important to know the signs and call 999," the GP added.
2. Weakness and speech problems
"A stroke is also a medical emergency," Dr Jarvis said.
But "new treatments mean getting immediate help could make all the difference to recovery", she noted.
That's why it's super important to know the symptoms.
The GP advised you think of the acronym FAST, which stands for:
- Face weakness - drooping of the mouth or eye, not being able to smile
- Arm weakness - not being able to raise both arms, or weakness in one leg
- Speech problems - not speaking clearly, speaking nonsense or not seeming to understand or get words out
- Time to call 999.
"Stroke and other emergency conditions can also lead to sudden confusion, where you’re not sure of your own name or age," Dr Jarvis added.
3. Severe breathing difficulty
Severe breathing difficulties, "where someone is choking, gasping or can’t speak is an emergency too", according to the GP.
4. Heaving bleeding
"Heavy bleeding which is pouring or spraying out, or where there’s enough blood to form a puddle" is something you should get urgent help for, Dr Jarvis said.
5. Blood in your poo
Not all red flags signs will seem as immediately worrisome.
Sadik told Sun Health that finding blood in your poo should be is definitely something you should speak to a health professional about.
He said he would immediately refer a pharmacy patient for further tests if they reported this symptom, as it could indicate they're suffering from bowel cancer.
Blood your poo could look red, but it could also be darker - even black - depending on where in your bowel the bleeding is happening.
According to the NHS, other symptoms to look out for include:
- changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- bleeding from your bottom
- often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
- tummy pain
- bloating
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired for no reason
6. Severe headache
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, which can be very serious if not treated quickly.
One of the key red flag symptoms in adults is a severe headache, Dr Jarvis said.
"It can be accompanied by neck stiffness - where you can’t put your head down to touch your knee - and dislike of bright light," she went on.
"It can also cause a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade if you press a glass against it."
7. Swelling of the lips, tongue and throat
Some allergic reaction symptoms can be mild, but in some cases your body can undergo a dangerous reaction called anaphylaxis.
This "can be life-threatening if not treated immediately", Dr Jarvis said.
She went on: "Symptoms come on quickly and include swelling of the lips, tongue and throat which can make it hard to breathe; wheezing and hoarseness; an itchy raised rash, like a nettle rash; and sometimes feeling dizzy, fast heart rate, collapse and a gasping sound when you try to breathe in."
8. Changes to your moles
Sadik said it's well worth keeping track of any moles you have on your body.
You might forget about them but any changes to their size, shape or colour could be a sign of skin cancer.
A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma, according to the NHS.
Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun. Some rarer types may even affect your eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.
Aside from your mole changing, other signs to look out for include:
- swelling and soreness
- bleeding
- itching
- crustiness
9. A persistent cough
It's that time of the year when everyone seems to have a cough or cold.
But a cough that lasts longer than three weeks is not something to be ignored, Sadik said.
If that's the case, it's definitely worth speaking to a GP about.
Other red flags include:
- a cough that's very bad bad or quickly gets worse
- you feel very unwell
- you have chest pain
- you're losing weight for no reason
- the side of your neck feels swollen and painful - this might mean your glands are swollen
- you find it hard to breathe