26 January,2010 06:58 AM IST | | Aviva Dharmaraj
The excruciating Hollywood-style heart attack is fiction. The real one is accompanied by simple shortness of breath and sweating. Here's how to listen to what your body is telling you
Ease of access to information and over-the-counter medication might deceive most of us into believing that we can play God or at least, doctor.
However, given the steady increase in the number of emergency visits to the hospital, it's time to take your health into your own hands by leaving the diagnosis to the experts.
Your body flashes signals that warn you of potential problems. Most symptoms turn out to be not so serious. A majority of headaches stem from stress, eyestrain and lack of sleep.
But that sudden "thunderclap" headache could indicate bleeding in the brain. And if you are able to recognise it, you might end up saving your own life.
Here are 8 common symptoms you should pay heed to. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure.
8 Signs You Can't Afford To Ignore
1 Pain in shoulder joint or the hand. Shortness of breath
Thank Hollywood for the familiar image of the ageing executive keeling over from acute chest pain after a particularly heated exchange. Or the ageing father of Hindi films clutching his chest after hearing his daughter has eloped with a man from a different caste. Fact is, you, or someone you know, might be having a heart attack without your even knowing it. Roughly a quarter of all heart attacks are "silent", that is, they occur without chest pain. "Pain in the shoulder joint and hand accompanied by shortness of breath and sweating can be indicators. We often mistake these for muscle or bone pain," says Dr Anil Sharma, chief of Cardiology, Leelavati Hospital. "Heart attack symptoms can radiate to the upper part of the abdomen, the left side of the body including the shoulder and hand, the back of the body, and occasionally even to the jaw," he adds. Other common symptoms include nausea, dizziness and fainting.
2 Unable to sleep within 30 minutes of going to bed
If you have experienced a major life change recently, say a divorce, the death of a loved one, a change in job or residence or are just plain stressed, you could be suffering from insomnia. "If a person cannot easily fall asleep within half an hour of going to bed, wakes up in the middle of the night and doesn't get adequate rest over a period of one week, he should see a doctor," says Dr Khusrav Bajan, consultant physician, critical care specialist, PD Hinduja Hospital. "Insomnia should not be ignored since it can signal the beginning of certain illnesses, the most common being depression." Other complications that can arise from sleeplessness include anaemia, thyroid problems and low haemoglobin count.
3 Period that's delayed by more than a week
If you are a woman aged 20 to 40, who usually gets her periods regularly, and have not been sexually active since your last period, a 7-day delay in your period could signal a hormonal imbalance or a thyroid problem. "Nowadays, we see a lot of cases of stress-induced irregularities in the menstrual cycle," says Dr Kunjal Bathija, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Bombay Hospital. "Once we rule out the possibility of pregnancy, we advise patients to go in for tests to determine whether there is the possibility of a thyroid or hormonal complication," she adds. Dr Bhathija points out how even a 2-3 kilo weight gain or loss can sometimes impact the menstrual cycle.
4 Fever that stays for over three days
A persistent, low-grade fever between 100 and 102 degrees, which lasts for over three days, should be checked by your doctor. Persistent fever can signal a urinary tract infection or even tuberculosis. It could also be a sign of an infection, such as endocarditis, which is the inflammation or the infection of the innermost layer of the heart. Endocarditis, if not properly treated, can damage a heart valve, which in turn can lead to heart failure.
5 Mild vaginal itching that won't go away
Mild vaginal itching can be suggestive of a number of bacterial infections including sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Early detection and treatment can easily cure the condition. "If the itching is accompanied by a creamy white discharge without a smell it is most likely candiasis. If it has been sexually transmitted, taking a prescribed oral antibiotic can cure it," says Dr Kunjal Bhathija, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Bombay Hospital.
6 Seeing sudden flashes of light
Feeling like a deer caught in headlights? Experiencing the sudden sensation of flashing lights could be a sign of migraine or even retinal detachment. A visit to the ophthalmologist is critical. In case of retinal detachment, lack of proper and prompt medical attention can result in the permanent loss of vision. "Visual disturbances can be caused due to diabetes, dehydration, hypertension or diseases including dengue or Falciparum malaria," says Dr Sunil Mirpury, Mirpury Clinic.
7 Increased thirst, hunger, fatigue could be diabetes
Early diabetes symptoms can be seemingly harmless. Among the most common symptoms are excessive thirst and increased urination. These symptoms can lead to fatigue resulting from dehydration and the body's inability to function at optimum since it's unable to process sugar for energy. This in turn leads to a feeling of constant hunger. The result is rapid weight loss, especially in the case of type 1 diabetes. You could also experience a pins and needle feeling (also known as paraesthesia) in your feet and hands, or a slight burning sensation. The main cause of the fatigue is an imbalance in blood-sugar levels or glucose. In diabetics, due to the poor production of insulin, glucose is not properly utilised by the cells and instead floats around in the bloodstream and can't be used as energy, therby leaving diabetics with a feeling of being drained.
8u00a0A loss of appetite that's not typical
"Sudden loss of appetite could be indicative of viral infections associated with gastritis, hepatitis, even jaundice," says Dr Mirpury. Viral gastroenteritis causes severe diarrhea in both, adults and children. "The spread of gastroenteritis is compounded by the fact that there is a water shortage in the city right in the middle of the festive season. So, hygiene levels are significantly lower as no establishment is going to turn down business claiming water shortage," says Dr Mirpury. "If a patient is suffering from diarrhea, which does not get resolved within 24 hours, a visit to the doctor is a must."
Why visit to the doc is not a waste of time
You know what you are feeling better than the best medical expert. Your awareness and vigilance can help make a difference, and quicken diagnosis, say most docs. If patients can recognise potentially serious symptoms, they'll have more power when they go for tests or visit a doctor. Share all that you have experienced in detail with your doctor. Don't feel embarrassed or think it's too small a symptom to waste his time. It will only help him rule out other complicated possibilities.
3 Pains you shouldn't overlook
Calf Pain: It could mean Deep Vein Thrombosis, where a blood clot can occur in the leg's deep veins. It could break loose and cause pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lungs) that could be fatal.
Between Shoulder Blades Or Lower Back: Most often, it's arthritis. Other possibilities include a heart attack or abdominal problems.
Abdominal Pain: It could be appendicitis, gallbladder and pancreas problems, even stomach ulcers.
Regular check-ups for men aged 30 to 40:
Clinical work-up including BP and systemic check-up
Basic biochemistry like blood counts, sugars, liver enzymes, renal, cholesterol and calcium tests
XR Chest
ECG, Treadmill Test and routine Sonography
For Women:
Clinical work-up including BP, systemic check-up and gynaec check-up with breast examination
Basic biochemistry like blood counts, sugars, renal, liver enzymes, cholesterol, calcium tests
XR Chest
ECG, Treadmill Test
Did You Know?
2015
Heart attack deaths in India will double by this year
65%
Deaths from heart attacks have decreased in the US
5 Times Higher
Incidence among Indians younger than 45, in the last three years, than in other populations
