Author: Olivia Brookes

We all get minor health problems from time to time. A cough here, a sneeze there — minor health issues happen all the time, and are often no cause for concern.

However, sometimes these symptoms can be signs of something more serious. But how do you know when you should seek a specialist about an otherwise minor health problem? Read on to discover what to spot and when you should see a doctor.

You have a continuing high fever

A fever is your body’s way of combating a high infection. However, if your fever lasts for more than three days in a row, then it could be a sign of something serious.

Similarly, if your fever is more than 39 degrees Celsius, this is also indicative of a more pressing concern. You might have a bad infection that warrants specialist help.

Sudden weight loss

Unexpected and dramatic weight loss is another sign that your minor health problem is something worse. If you suddenly lose a lot of weight without an obvious reason, this is a sign of something more serious going on.

Sudden weight loss could be a sign of diabetes, depression, an overactive thyroid, liver disease, or something else. If you lose a lot of weight in a short period of time without an obvious cause, see a specialist immediately.

Changes in urination or bowel movement patterns

Noticeable changes in the pattern of your urination or bowel movement patterns could be a sign of a more serious condition. Obviously, these patterns vary from person to person, so don’t compare yours to others.

Things to look out for include black or bloody faeces, constipation, diarrhoea, or frequent trips to the toilet. If you experience any of these, speak to your doctor ASAP.

Mood swings

Sudden mood swings or periods of confusion can be indicative of a range of serious conditions, both mental and physical. You might have an infection, or a medication you are taking might be interacting with another medicine.

If you feel more anxious than usual, have trouble sleeping, or find it hard to focus, consult with a specialist to make sure nothing else is going on with your body.

Sudden pain

Sudden pain in your pelvis, abdomen, or chest is often a warning sign that lets you know something is wrong. This pain is often very intense, coming out of nowhere or lasting for a long time.

If you experience pelvic, abdominal, or chest pain, you might have a serious health condition such as cardiac issues or a kidney infection. Always check with your doctor if you experience this type of pain.

Bright flashes in your vision

People suffering from migraines often report bright flashes or flashing spots in their vision. These are unpleasant but normal. But if you experience these symptoms and you do not suffer from migraines, it might mean you have a more serious health condition.

Bright flashes or spotting might you have a detached retina. This is a major condition that needs specialist treatment as soon as possible to fix it. If you experience these symptoms, speak to a medical professional immediately.

It’s normal to have a minor health problem, and these will often pass without specialist treatment. But sometimes these problems can be symptoms of something worse. If you experience one or more of the symptoms listed above, it might be time to speak to a specialist.

Many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS), experiencing physical discomfort and emotional turmoil in the weeks running up to their period. PMS can make you feel depressed in the run up to your period, and women may feel sad, anxious, or irritable as a result.

Cortisol

Research shows that women who have depression experience higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that occurs naturally in the body. While cortisol plays an important part in our body, regulating everything from blood pressure to our immune system, in large doses it can potentially wreak havoc with the body.

Cortisol levels increase when we are under stress. This in turn affects the rest of the body, preventing the hypothalamus in our brain from letting your ovaries know they should release an egg. This results in a late period.

High levels of cortisol can also cause a condition known as hypothalamic amenorrhea. This can delay your period or, in some cases, stop it from coming entirely.

Prolactin

Prolactin is a natural hormone that plays a number of roles in the body, from reproductive functions to immunoregulation. High levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) is known to cause menstrual abnormalities.

In studies, women with high levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) have also been shown to experience increased feelings of depression and anxiety.

Cortisol and prolactin

While both cortisol and prolactin play a role in depression and the menstrual cycle, they each work in different ways.

For example, depression and stress result in higher levels of cortisol, which subsequently causes period delays and irregularities as a secondary effect.

In contrast, high levels of prolactin causes irregular periods, however it can also be the cause of feelings of depression and anxiety in sufferers.

How can I treat it?

While there is no set treatment recommended by doctors for treating depression during premenstrual syndrome, there are several changes and medicines you can try to help alleviate it.

Monitor your symptoms

Keeping a diary of your menstrual cycle and its associated symptoms is a great way of staying on top of your PMS-related depression.

Make a note of how you feel and how your body is reacting during your period. This will help you confirm whether your depression is linked to your cycle, or if it is symptomatic of something bigger.

There are many period-tracking apps available online that can help you effectively monitor the symptoms of PMS. These also help you predict when your period is likely to come. However, simply making a note in a diary is just as effective.

Hormonal birth control methods

Hormonal birth control methods such as the pill, patches, or implants are very effective at regulating the symptoms of PMS. Many women find hormonal birth control methods prevent sore or tender breasts, bloating, or irregular sleeping patterns.

Hormonal birth control methods can also be great at regulating emotional problems associated with premenstrual syndrome, including depression. But this is not an absolute, and some women find these methods of birth control exacerbate the condition.

Experiment with different methods, carefully noting the effects of each. Always discuss your symptoms with your doctor before embarking on a new method.

Natural treatments

There are plenty of over-the-counter remedies available that can help alleviate the symptoms of PMS and depression.

Calcium in particular has been known to help with premenstrual syndrome-related depression, among other symptoms. You can take calcium supplements, or you can find it naturally in milk, cheese, or yoghurt.

Vitamin B-6 has also been known to relieve the symptoms of PMS. As with calcium, you can take supplements for this vitamin, or you can find it in foods such as turkey, chicken, fish, or fruit.

Change your lifestyle

Exercise is one of the best ways to prevent depression, whether it’s PMS-related or not. 30 minutes of brisk activity once a day can do wonders for your mood. Even a fast walk on your way home can have a noticeable impact on your mood.

Sleep is also a crucial factor in regulating your mood. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night, particularly in the two weeks running up to your period. Avoid using your smartphone or tablet at least two hours before bed, as the blue light emitted from these devices affect your body’s natural rhythm.

Finally, make a concerted effort to regulate your stress levels. When you feel stressed, your body reacts accordingly, exacerbating depression and other PMS-related symptoms. Experiment with mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to relax.

Prescription medication

If all else fails, consult with your doctor about starting a course of antidepressants.

The most commonly-prescribed type of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include medicines such as sertraline, citalopram, and fluoxetine.

Antidepressants should be a last resort, and should only ever be taken after discussing all other options with your doctor.

Depression is a common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. If you are feeling depressed, sad, or anxious in the run-up to your period, speak to your doctor. It may be indicative of a bigger problem, or it may simply be a symptom of PMS. Whatever the cause, there are things you can do to treat it.

When we are sick we may think our illness it’s a priority that must be cured ASAP. However, in an ER there are so many cases being treated simultaneously that we must consider if we really are a priority and try to help in doctors’ work. Being honest about the intensity of your sickness could be the best medicine to heal your body and mind.

Keep In Touch With Your Doctor

If you suffer of a particular or chronical sickness or condition, it is well recommended to have a doctor that keeps following your medical record then you can contact him instead of going into an emergency room to be treated.

Don’t Be Quiet

Rejecting the idea of calling to the emergency even when you’re feeling sick, and even if it worsens, just because you don’t like going to the hospital, it’s a pretty bad decision. If you don’t have a particular doctor to take care of you, then it’s time to take care of your health by yourself with help of specialized professional prepared to do so.

Don’t Go Out Without It

As some medicines and drugs could provoke side effect on you, if you’re not feeling good don’t forget to bring them once you go to the consultation, perhaps, the main origin of your pain or sickness starts with them.  Moreover, in case you have to wait to be seen in a hospital

Waiting for a Healing

Once you’re in the hospital waiting to be seen, try to measure your discomfort. It means that if it becomes worst you must alert somebody that you’re not feeling well. Therefore you could be seen sooner and avoid a more painful experience.

Don’t Lie

As it has been said at the beginning of this article, being honest it’s something we must take into account when visiting an emergency room. It is pretty bad that you pretend to be into a more painful state than it really is, just to be seen faster. It could make you receive a wrong prescription and even worst it could make someone else in worse state waits a lot more.

ERs are places in which everyone works a lot to keep life saved so if you want help to have this goal done try to think of those tips and help to make this happen.

Respiratory diseases can be a more common problem than we imagine in our society. Sometimes they’re inherited, others are because we are very exposed to some toxic environment, and one of the most serious is smoking. Here we leave some types of pulmonary diseases we must be careful of:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

It’s one of the most delicate since it makes it difficult for you to breathe or exhale. Even many people don’t detect it at the moment because the symptoms confuse them with other mild respiratory diseases. People who smokes are the ones most exposed to this type of disease and it’s not a good thing, trust me.

Asthma

It’s one of the most common, some cases aren’t so extreme, but you have to be careful with it.

Breathing is difficult because the airways are inflamed. They’re sensitive to an allergic reaction, infection or exposure to toxic environments, just as this type of thing can also cause asthma too.

Emphysema

It’s a COPD too, but at an advanced level, it’s also very common in people who have smoked for many years as it damages the lungs.

For patients coming from this illness, the use of oxygen is even required to help breathe, and although it’s something that isn’t cured, it can be treated and controlled by professionals, with due care the patient must have.

Cystic Fibrosis

This disease isn’t one of the most common, but it’s one of the most serious. It’s caused by some defective gene which affects your system by mucus that generates and affects the respiratory passages. It’s even very exposed to bacteria or infections.

Lung Cancer

Very common for people who smoke, and in many cases, it’s not so easy to detect for the place where they located in the lungs. It’s one of the most common cancers suffered by people and this prevents the lungs from working properly.

The lungs are one of the most vital organs of our body, which is why we must provide great care and avoid anything that may affect them in the short or long term.