KNOWING if your chest pain needs a trip to the doctor or whether an antacid 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.
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 a night of heavy drinking.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
When to see a doctor
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 a night of heavy drinking.
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.
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.
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.
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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