Have you ever wondered when it is the best time to see your doctor? Sometimes it may be the case that you have an obvious issue and you need to visit them as soon as possible, and other times you are just not sure. This is something many people go through daily, and the information below will help you make the right decision.
No matter what your situation, keeping your health at the forefront of your daily life needs to be key. Without it, you won’t be able to fully function and it may affect other areas of your life. The key message to keep in mind is that for many health conditions, early detection is a factor that leads to favorable outcomes. In some cases, doctors or medical practitioners don’t diagnose a condition early enough and send you packing with some mild medication, only to find out your symptoms have gotten worse.
Often, when medical physicians misdiagnose an illness it could worsen and lead to unfavorable outcomes. Many patients who undergo this problem have no other choice but to claim compensation, which can be the only solution.
It is the medical professional’s responsibility to look after you and do a thorough examination to find the underlying cause of what may seem like a harmless condition that may become or turn out to be detrimental. If you ever do find yourself in this situation of having to make a claim, click here to find the best first-hand advice and guidance from some of the best medical negligence claims solicitors.
So, what signs should you look for to indicate it’s time to visit your GP and get yourself checked sooner rather than later? Let’s look at a few common ones.
When a cold becomes worse
When people suffer from colds and cases of flu they often run to the pharmacy and get themselves some cold medication or concoct homemade remedies to help them get better. Sometimes this may work, while other times it doesn’t and your symptoms get worse, this should be a good enough indication to visit your GP immediately.
When you have a persistent fever
Fevers are not bad for the body, they are an indication that the body is fighting an infection of some kind. But when it persists and goes above a certain temperature i.e. 103˚ Fahrenheit (39.4˚ Celsius), or in cases where it lasts for more than 3 days, and is coupled with other symptoms like you can’t keep food in your stomach, or you have trouble swallowing, then you should see your GP and get checked up.
You are losing weight without even trying
Everyone should know their body, and when you are keenly aware of changes happening to the body, such as losing weight drastically and without any reason, it could mean there is an underlying issue. Any unexplained weight gain or weight loss should be checked out by your doctor who can run tests and find out what the cause is.
Some people who suffer from an overactive thyroid, depression or liver disease face these types of symptoms.
You can’t breathe properly
Some of the common causes of shortness of breathing include extreme temperatures, strenuous exercises, obesity and high altitudes. If none of these is making you lose your breath then it is always best to book an appointment with your doctor or general consultant and get the symptoms checked.
It could be the case that you have anything from asthma to bronchitis or and other similar conditions that you may never have known about until you get diagnosed with it.
Other things to look out for is a change in your bowel movements, vision impairment, experience a change in mood and get confused easily when you have started a new medication and you are getting a negative reaction. These are only a few of the things you should be aware of and get checked as soon as possible.
Maryann D. says
This is all great advice as to when to see your doctor. I am sure we all like to put off appointments but sometimes it is best to get your doctor’s opinion on your symptoms.