can alleviate it is essential. This information may save you from an
unnecessary trip to the doctor. It also provides you a chance to learn to
tackle minor symptoms by yourself.
We tell you about some signs and symptoms which call for a visit to the
doctor's clinic and those which can be managed at home.
ALL THESE POINTS ARE NOT TO SCARE BUT TO BE JUST AWARE, THEY CAN BE OF SOME
REAL HELP.
When to see a doctor
FEVER
DON'T PANIC
If you are running a low-grade temperature with mild headache, running nose,
body ache and tummy upset, it could be a cold or viral fever.
When you have fever with sore throat and are unable to swallow or lose your
appetite.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
If you have a persistent, low-grade (38.3 degree Celsius or less) fever for
more than a week.
You feel faint and confused after spending time outdoors in hot weather and
start running high fever, as this is a sign of heatstroke.
If you have fever for more than three or four days, chances are it might not
be a seasonal flu.
Body aches are common in fever but if you have joint pain then you may have
chikungunya.
WHEN TO HEAD TO HOSPITAL
When you have high-grade fever accompanied by a severe headache, neck
stiffness, drowsiness, nausea, aversion to bright lights or vomiting. These
symptoms indicate meningitis, which is a life-threatening condition.
If your fever is accompanied by mental confusion or difficulty in breathing
or chest pain or extreme listlessness or irritability or abdominal pain or
pain when urinating, seek medical attention immediately.
DIZZINESS
DON'T PANIC
If you vomit after travelling long distance. You could just be a symptom of
temporary motion sickness.
If your head spins when you get up suddenly after lying down; or experience
a light dizziness after changing Postures while lying down or when you bend
and straighten, either with a ringing sound or blocking sensation in the
Ears or not, after exposure to cold Climates or Cold water Bath - all these
could be due to Acute Labyrinthine Nerve Inflammation in the Ears, affecting
the Equilibrium of the Body. If do not disappear on its own or with simple
Medications, can meet an ENT Consultant.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
If you often feel dizzy immediately before a headache, you may have
migraine. But if you have a persistent headache which gets worse when you
wake up or lie down this might be a symptom of a brain disorder such as a
tumour.
Dizziness that occurs after starting a new medication could be a drug
reaction.
The dizziness occurs when you move your head or turn it rapidly, or it has
lasted a few hours to a few days. You could be suffering from a mild
inner-ear disorder.
WHEN TO HEAD TO HOSPITAL
If you feel dizzy after a blow to the head or fall on your head as you could
have a brain injury.
If your dizziness is accompanied by pain in your chest; pain or tingling in
your jaw, neck, or arms; shortness of breath or sweating, rush to the
hospital.
These are all signs of a heart attack.
You have a spinning sensation accompanied by numbness in your face, arms or
legs and slurred speech. These symptoms usually signify stroke. Rarely these
things can be, Facial Nerve Neuralgia or Palsy or Trigeminal Neuralgia.
CHEST PAIN
DON'T PANIC
You get a burning sensation after meals or when you lie down and it's
accompanied by bloating, belching or an acid taste. It could be symptoms of
heartburn and can be treated with a change in dietary habits and over-
thecounter antacids and Posture changes.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
If your heartburn is persistent, it could be a sign of gastroesophageal
reflux disease ( GERD).
Your chest pain occurs when you exert yourself or when you are angry and
goes away after you take rest. You may have angina- chest pains caused by
coronary artery disease.
WHEN TO HEAD TO THE HOSPITAL
Your chest pain is severe and is accompanied by dizziness, sweating and
shortness of breath. These are all signs of a heart attack.
You feel short of breath or the pain gets worse when you inhale. You could
have a blood clot that's travelled to the lung- this most often occurs after
you have been confined to a bed or seat (car, bus, train, or plane) for many
hours.
HEADACHES
DON'T PANIC
If you have recently binged on alcohol and feel a headache coming on, it is
probably just a hangover. Avoid Alcohol Always, Good for you.
Sometimes a headache results due to dehydration so if you have forgotten to
drink water, this may happen. Headaches are also a direct symptom of sudden
caffeine withdrawal. So, if you have been drinking fewer cups of coffee, tea
and fizzy drinks, be patient as the symptoms will definitely ease out on
their own.
When it is a band-like pain across the entire front or back of your head,
this is most likely to be a stress induced headache.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
If you also experience nausea and vomiting, it could be a drug reaction or
even a migraine. Be sure to talk to your physician so that he/ she can make
the required changes in your medication.
If you feel dizzy and shaky with incoherent movements, get fresh air
immediately and then see a doctor. Chances are, the headache is brought upon
by toxic fumes.
When throbbing eyes and blurred vision accompany the headache, it could be
indicative of increased eye pressure or high blood pressure.
WHEN TO HEAD TO THE HOSPITAL
A headache caused by a blow to the head and comes with confusion, nausea and
blurred vision could be a concussion or haemorrhage.
The feeling that this is the worst headache you've ever had may be a sign of
something far more serious lying deep below the surface.
Head to the hospital in this situation.
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