The balance between constantly visiting your doctor and avoiding an illness is hard. You might feel like your minor ailment doesn’t warrant an appointment with a healthcare care professional. Or, you could be ignoring health concerns out of fear that there is something wrong with you. In fact, almost 1 in 3 Americans avoid going to the doctor. Here are five minor conditions you might be ignoring, and when you need to visit the GP.
Heartburn
We all get minor heartburn from time to time, resolved easily with the help of heartburn tablets. But when do we need to visit the doctor? If your heartburn is combined with other symptoms like vomiting or nausea, you have a persistent cough, or if your heartburn persists for over two weeks, you need to visit your doctor. They will help you rule out other factors like gastrointestinal conditions and help you feel better.
Mental Health
Although we all have bad days, there are certain times when we need to see a doctor. If cutting back on caffeine or alcohol and increasing the amount you exercise hasn’t made a dent in your moods, it might be time to consult a professional. Persistent down days that last for a week or more each time may be a sign of depression.
Headaches
Around 45 million Americans complain of headaches each year, but only 8 million of these go to the doctor. Many of us have headaches triggered by too much screen time, lack of sleep, poor eyesight, or too much caffeine. But if your headaches last more than three days, or your vision becomes blurry, you may suffer from migraines. Consult your doctor to rule out migraines and other causes of headaches and set yourself on the path to better health.
Sudden Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss might sound like a great thing if you’re trying to lose weight. However, unexplained weight loss could be a sign of other health problems like thyroid issues. If you lose 10% of your weight in a six-month period without planning to, you should definitely consult your GP to rule out other contributing health conditions.
Back Pain
Back pain is the leading cause of time off work. Most of it will resolve after a day or so, but severe back pain can impact your quality of life. For many of us, we probably need to take more breaks throughout the day or improve our posture. Get a Health & Safety Assessment at your workplace to rule out unsuitable work equipment, and book an appointment with your GP.
Your Health Matters
Your health matters. If you do have persistent symptoms that don’t go away after a few days, talk to your doctor. At the very least, you’ll put your mind at rest. You’ll also get a head start on any underlying health conditions that get worse the longer you leave them. Think about what advice you’d give to a loved one that was avoiding going to the doctor for health concerns.
