Sometimes we confuse what symptoms one must mention to the doctor. Especially when we are in clinic, we forget to mention many health issues mainly the less important ones. Here is a list of symptoms that if you experience, then you must mention it to your doctor.
Symptoms are the only signal of your body to any disease. Sign and symptoms play a vital role for accurate diagnosis for any disease. Based on the sign and symptoms, doctor gives laboratory tests and ultimately the disease is diagnosed.
But what happens if you forget to mention an important symptoms. It is especially true if we have underlying medical conditions of various organs. Many times we forget to mention a symptom that may be the only warning symptom of that particular organ.
Otherwise many times we as common people ignore some symptoms considering them minor one, like minor pain in certain part. Many cases these apparent minor symptoms are the major symptoms of certain health condition.
No disease becomes severe in one day. The disease progresses from mild, moderate to severe. When the disease is mild, the symptoms are less. With the progression of the disease, the symptoms also increase.
When a disease is diagnosed in its mild form, the chances to get cured is highest. Similarly, if a disease is diagnosed in its severe form, then chances to get cured is much less. Not only that, many times, damage to the organs that occurs can not be revert back to normal if the disease is diagnosed in severe stage.
That is why, it is very important to give attention to your symptoms. When any part of our body is in danger or you can say, when any part of our body losses normal functioning or diseased, it gives intimation to us through symptoms. When we ignore those symptoms and delay to seek medical help, the disease progresses.
So what are the symptoms that you should not forget to mention? Lets check.
General Health
- Well-Being
- Appetite
- Weight Change
- Sleep
- Mood
- Energy
Cardiovascular System (Heart and Vessels)
1. Chest pain on exertion (angina)
2. Breathlessness on
- Lying flat (Orthopnoea)
- At night (Paroxysmal noctural dyspnoea)
- Minimal exertion (mention the severity of breathlessness)
3. Palpitation
4. Pain in legs on walking (Claudication)
5. Ankle swelling
Respiratory System (Lungs)
- Shortness of breath (Exercise tolerance)
- Cough
- Wheeze
- Color of sputum and the amount of sputum production
- Blood in sputum (Haemoptysis)
- Chest pain (due to breath in or inspiration, or due to coughing)
Gastrointestinal System
- Mouth (any oral ulcer, dental problems)
- Difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia)
- Pain during swallowing (Odynophagia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Pain in abdomen
- Any changes in bowel habit
- Vomiting of blood (Haematemesis)
- Any changes of color of stools such as pale, dark, tarry black, fresh blood, etc.
Genitourinary System (Genital and Urinary)
- Pain to pass urine (Dysuria)
- Frequency of passing urine (at night, nocturia)
- Blood in the urine (Haematuria)
- Libido
- Incontinence (stress and urge)
- Sexual partners (Unprotected intercourse)
In Men
1. Difficulty starting of urine, hesitancy (Prostate symptoms)
- Poor urine stream or flow
- Terminal dribbling
2. Urethral discharge
3. Erectile difficulties
In Women
- Last menstrual period (consider pregnancy)
- Timing and regularity of periods
- Length of periods
- Abnormal bleeding
- Vaginal Discharge
- Contraception
- Pain during intercourse (Dyspareunia)
Nervous System
- Headache
- Dizziness (vertigo or lightheaded)
- Faints
- Fits
- Altered sensation
- Fatigue or weakness
- Visual disturbance
- Memory problems or changes in concentration
- Hearing problems (deafness, tinnitus)
Musculoskeletal System ( Bone, Muscle and Joints)
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness or swelling in joint
- Difficulty in mobility of joints
- Decreased muscle grip to hold any objects
- Any change in muscle strength
- Bone pain
- Intolerance to heat or cold
- Any change in sweating
- Excessive thirst (Polydipsia)
Other
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Skin Rash
When you go to a doctor, if you have any of the above mentioned symptoms, never forget to mention them. To avoid forgetting the symptoms to mention, you can write the symptoms you have in a paper. It is the best way to avoid forgetting to mention the symptoms. Also, the person accompanying you to the doctor, tell the person your symptoms so that if you miss the symptoms to mention, the accompanying person can mention it to the doctor.
Also, never hide any medical history to a doctor. Past medical history such as requirement of hospitalization, intake of overuse of drugs, presence of sexually transmitted disease, etc.
It is highly recommended to mention all the symptoms that you are facing. Do not think that a symptom is minor so that this symptom you n need not to mention. Any symptom can turn into major from minor. More detailed you give your symptom history or information about your symptom, more correct the diagnosis will be. It also helps for a rapid diagnosis. Stay healthy and happy.
