Here are five symptoms you should see your GP about immediately
With GP services busier than ever these days, a survey of 2000 Brits by Channel 4 and Benenden Health, has revealed that a third of us are ignoring potentially dangerous medical symptoms, because we don’t want to cause a fuss.
NHS GP Dr Chintal Patel says: ‘More patients are putting things off, thinking their symptom isn’t serious or they simply don’t want to bother their doctors. But the earlier you seek help, the better.’ Here are the signs that she says should never be ignored…
Breast changes
One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK — and early detection is vital. Dr Chintal says: ‘Most people who come to see us won’t have breast cancer, but conducting a proper breast exam every month is key to noticing what’s not normal for your body.’Look out for breast, chest, or armpit lumps (usually painless), and skin changes like dimpling, puckering or rashes. Discharge or bleeding from the nipple, or retraction of the nipple, should be checked by your GP as soon as possible.
To do a thorough self-examination, check your breasts, the area up to the top of your collarbones, down to the top of your abdomen and into your armpits.
Dr Chintal says: ‘Every month, stand in front of a mirror and place your hands on your
hips, then look at your chest, breasts, nipples and cleavage, as this can reveal abnormalities or changes. ‘Using the pad of three fingers, feel the whole area for lumps. Repeat lying down. If you notice anything unusual, call your GP without delay. Breast changes will be seen as a priority.’
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Toilet troubles
One in 18 UK females and one in 15 men are diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime, with early diagnosis being key. If you have persistent changes in loo habits like runnier poos, niggling abdominal pain, bloating after eating, blood in your stools without piles, or painless bleeding, see your GP. Unintended weight loss, however small, can indicate a bowel blockage. With any cancer, the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat. Don’t wait longer than four weeks to report toilet troubles.
Dr Chintal says: ‘People don’t make a habit of looking at their poo, but it’s vital. Don’t be embarrassed to seek help — we view all poo matters medically, and the words that might make you cringe are everyday language for us.’
Chest pain
Common symptoms of heart attack include pain or a tight, heavy or squeezing sensation across the chest. It can also be subtle, mistaken or dismissed as indigestion. With heart attacks, you could experience radiating pain or discomfort in the left (or both) arms, as well as the back and jaw, along with feelings of anxiety and impending doom, dizziness, and shortness of breath. With indigestion, you won’t get the other symptoms, and usually, there’s a history of heartburn, reflux or pain after eating.
Dr Chintal says: ‘If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, sit down, dial 999 and try to relax. If you have aspirin, take 300mg.’
Opiate issues
It can take just 72 hours to get addicted to prescribed opiate painkillers like tramadol, codeine and morphine. In the UK, GPs hand out 2700 opiate prescriptions an hour, and low-dose codeine can be bought over the counter. It’s not always easy to spot dependence, but signs to watch out for include taking opiates ‘just in case’, requesting repeat prescriptions earlier than expected, and borrowing medication from others. You might experience withdrawal physically — anxiety, jittery limbs, sleep disturbance, diarrhoea and nausea.
Dr Chintal says: ‘Seek help as soon as possible. We won’t judge you — our role is to help. If you’re experiencing withdrawal, we can taper your doses sensibly and refer you to services that can help, if needed.’
Lung problems
Any cough lasting for three weeks or more needs to be checked by your GP. Common symptoms we ignore include coughing up blood or phlegm, persistent chest infections, shortness of breath or chest pain. Sometimes, lung cancer symptoms come with fatigue and weight loss.
Dr Chintal says: ‘Consider underlying risk factors for lung cancer, including family history being a smoker or your age.’