8 Serious Medical Conditions and Their Symptoms

Sometimes you may not think much of a headache or cough because it is “just” a headache or cough. But what if it is a symptom of a disease that you should be concerned about? It’s common to experience a symptom in one part of our body for a disease occurring in a different part of our body. You may think it is minor, but it could be a warning that you have a serious disease.

To help you determine if it’s time to visit a doctor, here are the symptoms of 12 serious health problems that need to be checked by a professional.

1. Heart Attack

It’s common to have a misconception on heart attack symptoms due to its exaggeration in movies and television series. Some think it will suddenly occur, but symptoms may appear a month before.

These symptoms are:
● Low energy or unusual fatigue
● Difficulty sleeping
● Breathing problems
● Anxiety
● Indigestion
● Abdominal or back pain

When having a heart attack, the person may:
● Feel recurring pain, squeezing, fullness, or uncomfortable pressure in the center of the chest for a few minutes. They may also feel discomfort or pain in their arms, neck, back, stomach, or jaw.
● Shortness of breath, with or without pain

Aside from these, they may also break out in a cold sweat, feel lightheaded, nauseated, or start vomiting.

2. Stroke

Stroke is a medical condition that may occur suddenly. When someone is having a stroke, their face will start drooping, their arm weakness, and have a hard time speaking.

Before this happens, symptoms and signs for stroke are:
● Sudden or rapidly developing problems with sight, balance, and coordination.
● Suddenly getting dizzy, confused, or trouble understanding.
● Suddenly feeling weak or numb in their face, legs, or arms.
● Suddenly slurring, being incoherent, or having a hard time saying the right word.
● Having a severe headache for no reason.

3. Breast Problems

Breast cancer may occur in 1 in 8 women, but there are also breast problems that are not cancer-related.

Someone may have breast disease if:
● Have milky, brownish, yellowish, or greenish nipple discharge
● Sudden breast tenderness or pain
● The breast or nipple skin changes and starts swelling, scaling, dimpling, pitting, or getting red or ridges.
● A lump is forming near the breast or underarm area.
● Inverted nipples

4. Lung Disease

There are different types of lung diseases, namely asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Go to the doctor if you are:
● Wheezing severely
● Having a difficult time breathing
● Coughing blood
● Recurring pneumonia or bronchitis
● Constantly produce mucus or phlegm
● Chronic cough or chest pain

5. Bladder Problems

Having issues with your bladder is embarrassing and frustrating, but if you are having bladder problems, this may also be a sign of a more serious medical problem.

Symptoms of serious bladder problems are:
● Difficulty or feeling pain when urinating
● Frequently urinating
● No bladder control
● Blood is found in the urine
● Urge to urinate even if the bladder is empty
● Waking up constantly at night to urinate
● Wetting the bed
● Leaking urine when exercising, coughing, sneezing, or laughing

6. Mental Illness or Emotional Problems

Aside from physical causes, there are also symptoms that occur when one has a mental illness or emotional problems. These are:
● Feeling extremely tired even when well-rested
● Feeling depressed, sad, worthless, or empty
● Constantly worrying or feeling anxious
● Unknown cause of tension
● Recurring nightmares and flashbacks of traumatic events
● Not wanting to get out of the bed or do other activities
● Thought of or attempted suicide
● Thoughts about killing other people
● Hallucinations or delusions

It is also important to keep an eye on mothers who just gave birth as they may experience baby blues even after two weeks of giving birth. Check if it gets worse or if they have thoughts of harming themselves or their baby after giving birth.

All of these symptoms may also have a physical cause that can possibly be treated.

7. Female Reproductive Health Problems

Women may get reproductive health conditions for several reasons, such as cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids. They may also be infertile or get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Here are the symptoms of reproductive diseases and hormonal problems:
● Bleeding or spotting when not on their period
● Excessive bleeding or severe pain during periods
● Feeling pain or discomfort during sex
● Itchy or burning sensation of the vagina or genital area
● Irritation and getting bumps, sores, or blisters on the vagina or genital area
● Severe abdominal or pelvic pain
● Change in color, odor, or amount of vaginal discharge
● Feeling full in the lower abdomen
● Lower back pain
● Frequently urinating or constantly have the urge to urinate
● Past miscarriage or early labor
● Excessive hair growth on the face, stomach, chest, thumbs, or toes
● Baldness, hair thinning, or dandruff
● Oily skin or acne
● Patches of thickened dark black or brown skin

8. Stomach or Digestive Health Problems

The digestive system composes of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, rectum, and anus. You may have digestive or stomach problems if you have:

● Rectal bleeding
● Mucus or blood in the stool
● Diarrhea, constipation, or black stools
● No control on bowels or change in bowel habits
● Acid reflux or heartburn
● Pain or feeling full in the stomach
● Unusual bloating, swelling, or feeling discomfort in the abdomen
● Constant vomiting
● Vomit contains blood

When these symptoms occur, it’s best to note all of it down and share them with your doctor.

Based on Materials from Medicine Net
Photo Sources: Scottsdale Recovery Center, Pexels, Family Education, Behavioral Health, Sharecare