For many people, seeking medical treatment at the first sign of a problem is natural. Going to the doctor for a cold might sound like overkill, but for some, it gives them peace of mind even if they just have to ride things out.
However, if you’re showing signs of a more serious illness or you have chronic symptoms that won’t go away, here’s why you should seek medical care immediately.
Your symptoms might be rooted in something serious
Sometimes, persistent minor symptoms can be caused by a serious medical condition. For example, a persistent cough and fluid in the lungs might seem like a cold at first. After a while, you might think it’s just pneumonia, which is often serious, but these are also symptoms of mesothelioma.
If you aren’t aware, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fibers are sharp, and become embedded in various parts of the body, mostly the lungs and stomach.
While this is typically thought of as a disease only miners and construction workers have to worry about, there are a variety of professions that expose workers to asbestos regularly. If you don’t think you’ve been exposed because you aren’t building houses, you need to know there are many other ways to encounter asbestos.
For example, if you perform your own home repairs and remodeling jobs, like replacing the floor, you could be exposed to asbestos. Granted, one or two instances of exposure probably aren’t going to be enough to create a major problem. However, if you flip houses and perform your own renovations regularly, you’re more at risk.
Other sources of exposure come from working with automotive systems, like brakes and clutches. Asbestos has extreme resistance to heat, so it was commonly used in the 1990s to manufacture disc brake pads, brake linings, and clutch facings. Inhaling the dust from these parts can cause mesothelioma later down the road. If you’re an auto mechanic or work on cars for fun, you might have been exposed to asbestos.
Simple symptoms can worsen
When left untreated, certain symptoms can get progressively worse. The sooner you start your healing journey, the better. When simple symptoms persist, like a cold or fever, and you don’t intervene, they could lead to other issues. For example, fevers are an important part of the healing process, but a prolonged fever can actually cause brain damage. If you allow a cold to go on for long enough, you can end up with pneumonia by way of a weakened immune system.
Anytime you’re dealing with a health problem that has the potential to lower your immune defense, you’re opening the door for symptoms to become more severe and/or additional illnesses.
Early treatment can save your life
Depending on what you’re dealing with, early treatment can be a life saver. If you don’t seek medical care right away, you’re postponing the ability to get the medicines and procedures necessary to heal.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, don’t ignore them and see a doctor right away:
- Changes in bowel movements
- Unexplained weight loss
- Chronic fatigue/exhaustion
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Lumps on the body
Cancer, in particular, can be treated more successfully when it’s discovered early and hasn’t spread. For instance, breast cancer has a survival rate of 99%-100% when found in the early stages.
What to do if you think you might be ill
Whether you have a common cold, the flu, or something more serious, seek treatment from a licensed medical professional first. Be cautious about Googling your symptoms because there’s no guarantee the information you find will be accurate. Google is an excellent resource for just about everything you might want to know, but don’t take medical advice from random websites. If you Google your symptoms, don’t act on any advice until you’ve discussed the matter with your physician.
When you do figure out what’s going on, listen to your doctor’s advice. If you don’t like the treatment they recommend, get a second or third opinion. Doctors don’t always know every option available, so it helps to get input from other medical professionals, especially when they have expertise in a certain condition.
You don’t need to run to the emergency room every time you sneeze but pay attention to your body. If you notice something’s wrong, have it checked out as soon as possible. The earlier you treat an illness, the more likely you are to have a desirable outcome.