Doctors, dentists and other medical professionals are sharing what patients often ignore or overlook (but shouldn’t)

The doctor’s office can be a stressful place, and sometimes patients may ignore, dismiss, or omit information about their symptoms, medical history, course of treatment, or any other information that might prompt them to seek professional care.

I recently asked medical professionals in the BuzzFeed community: What common things do people often overlook that could actually mean something more serious? Many responses are worth recording.

However, it’s important to note that the advice I provide in this article is not meant to replace medical advice – if in doubt, please consult your local doctor or healthcare professional.

1.“Preventative screenings are extremely important. Don’t ignore them. Colorectal cancer screening, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening and other preventive tests and screenings are all ways patients can stay healthy and are the best way to catch critical diagnoses early. The best way to live a long, healthy life.

-anonymous

2.“Learn what’s normal for pooping and watch for anything unusual. Don’t be afraid to talk about pooping. Everyone poops.”

—Gracelie 32

3.“I see a lot of patients who shrug off sudden and unexplained weight loss. When you suddenly lose 20 pounds or more in a few months without trying or changing much, it’s probably a sign of something more. .

-anonymous

4.“Please teach your children good brushing habits from an early age. Don’t ask your children to brush their teeth and assume they will. Instead, make sure they brush their teeth by helping them. If they can’t write their name neatly, they won’t. Brushing. Or root canal treatment, or in some cases, even a complete tooth extraction. Many adults come in and say that when they were growing up, the importance of brushing and flossing wasn’t something they had to get. A lot. A lot of dental work can be avoided if preventive measures are taken at home from an early age.

5.“We need to know everything [patient] Whether it’s a prescription medication, an over-the-counter medication, or something you take only as needed or occasionally. It’s common for prescription and over-the-counter medications to interact with other medications. Please don’t forget to tell us about your vitamins and supplements. When we ask you if you drink alcohol, we are not asking if you are an alcoholic—also, some medications cannot be taken with alcohol. Please don’t get offended when we ask this question.

——Kathy Cat

6.“The doctor is here, and while I don’t agree with the medical advice on the Internet, our job is to inform and prevent. Checking has never hurt anyone. Here are my main symptoms worth checking for: Tired. Tired.” Not always. means you’re stressed out or just lazy, a simple blood test can tell us a lot about this and hopefully get you back to normal in no time.

——Gonzalez Victoria

7.“I’m not in the medical field yet, but I’m in undergrad preparing to become a PA and almost certified as an EMT. One of my EMT coaches shared a story about asking a patient about their medical history, specifically a history of high blood pressure. The patient responded: They don’t have high blood pressure but then say they take medication to lower their blood pressure, so at best it doesn’t matter, but at worst it doesn’t matter. Can be fatal.

——Anonymous, 20-year-old student

8.“Don’t go to the emergency room with eye problems. Most doctors will spend about two weeks in medical school learning about the eyes, usually just prescribe antibiotics and then send you away. Be sure to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist , to make sure it’s correct.

9.“Gum disease. Once you have gum disease, you need to treat it before it gets worse. Many times, when patients are diagnosed with gum disease and are advised to take treatments to reduce the severity, they do not do so. , because they don’t” Gum disease is not just tooth decay, it’s the leading cause of tooth loss in people! Additionally, gum disease has been linked to heart disease, joint disease, certain cancers, and premature birth (in pregnant women). So if your dentist or hygienist recommends treating your gum disease, go for it!

–dentisit

10.“I once had a patient come to me with a painless lump on her neck. She said it appeared after helping to clean up floodwater, so she thought it was some kind of infection from exposure to dirty water. After a scan and subsequent biopsy, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and she’s doing well with treatment and is in remission, but she might not have been so lucky if she’d waited for the painful lump. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, but getting it checked out could save your life and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

-anonymous

11.“[While pregnant]you and your baby need to be evaluated whenever you feel a decrease in fetal movement. You should feel (at least) the same number of movements each day, or the number should increase. If the amount decreases, tell your doctor right away. Google ‘fetal movement count’ and follow the instructions – it will show you how to monitor fetal movements at home.

— Labor and Delivery Nurse

12.“Swelling of the legs or limbs. If your legs swell after standing all day, that’s one thing. But if you continue to notice it on days when you don’t do a lot of walking or standing, it could be a sign of something else. “

——ICU nurse

13.“Chest pain. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve received messages through our online patient portal about someone experiencing chest pain, or they casually mentioned it in the middle of an appointment. Every time I hear those two magic words, We all need to stop what we are doing and get multiple tests to make sure your heart is OK, even if you think it doesn’t matter or might be nothing.

-anonymous

If you are a medical professional and have advice to contribute, please share it with me in the comments below!