November 2008
When to see a doctor
Marvin M. Lipman, M.D. an internist, is certified in endocrinology and metabolism. He is Consumers Union's chief medical adviser.
Few of us have the time or patience to seek medical attention for every little health problem. And yet, how can we tell if
we really need a professional opinion?
Pain is an indisputable sign that something is wrong and is one of the most common reasons for patient visits to physicians. But some symptoms are subtle and might not arouse suspicion.
I recently saw a patient with a long-standing condition who thought that he had just "more of the same." The patient, a 58-year-old postal worker, had hemorrhoids that bled off and on for many years. He refused surgery several times. His last bout of bleeding didn’t arouse his suspicion until it had persisted for more than six months. He came to the office because weakness left him unable to walk his mail-delivery route. Not only was he severely anemic from blood loss, but the source of his bleeding was a large rectal cancer, not hemorrhoids.
Symptoms usually attributed to one problem might in fact signal something more serious. For example:
Itching is usually assumed to be caused by an allergy. But itching that does not respond to over-the-counter creams can be a symptom of a thyroid disorder or an internal malignancy.
Vertigo, a dizzying, spinning sensation usually caused by a benign inner-ear disorder, can also be a symptom of a brainstem stroke or near-stroke.
Stretch marks on the belly are often caused by rapid weight gain. But when they’re reddish-purple, they can be a symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, an adrenal disorder.
Weight loss attributed to dietary changes or ill-fitting dentures can actually point to a serious underlying disease.
Fatigue and forgetfulness, often ascribed to aging, can be caused by potentially reversible disorders that range from a vitamin deficiency to an underactive thyroid gland.
This doesn’t mean you should run to the doctor for every little ache. It’s true that most minor problems clear up on their own. But to be safe, heed symptoms that fit one of the six categories above.
Pain is an indisputable sign that something is wrong and is one of the most common reasons for patient visits to physicians. But some symptoms are subtle and might not arouse suspicion.
I recently saw a patient with a long-standing condition who thought that he had just "more of the same." The patient, a 58-year-old postal worker, had hemorrhoids that bled off and on for many years. He refused surgery several times. His last bout of bleeding didn’t arouse his suspicion until it had persisted for more than six months. He came to the office because weakness left him unable to walk his mail-delivery route. Not only was he severely anemic from blood loss, but the source of his bleeding was a large rectal cancer, not hemorrhoids.
Symptoms usually attributed to one problem might in fact signal something more serious. For example:
Itching is usually assumed to be caused by an allergy. But itching that does not respond to over-the-counter creams can be a symptom of a thyroid disorder or an internal malignancy.
Vertigo, a dizzying, spinning sensation usually caused by a benign inner-ear disorder, can also be a symptom of a brainstem stroke or near-stroke.
Stretch marks on the belly are often caused by rapid weight gain. But when they’re reddish-purple, they can be a symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, an adrenal disorder.
Weight loss attributed to dietary changes or ill-fitting dentures can actually point to a serious underlying disease.
Fatigue and forgetfulness, often ascribed to aging, can be caused by potentially reversible disorders that range from a vitamin deficiency to an underactive thyroid gland.
This doesn’t mean you should run to the doctor for every little ache. It’s true that most minor problems clear up on their own. But to be safe, heed symptoms that fit one of the six categories above.
