Doctors, Dentists, and Other Medical Professionals Share Things Patients Often Ignore or Skip (But Shouldn't)

The doctor's office can be a very stressful place, and there are times when a patient may ignore, neglect, or leave out things about their symptoms, medical history, medical studies, or anything else that might lead them to seek professional care.

I recently asked the medical experts of the BuzzFeed Community: What are the common things people tend to dismiss that could mean something worse? Most of the answers are worth taking notes on.

However, it is important to note that the advice I include in this post is not intended to replace medical advice – if in doubt, consult your local doctor or healthcare professional.

1.“Preventive screening is very important. Don't ignore it. Colorectal cancer screening, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, and other tests and screenings are all ways for patients to stay healthy and are the best way to get a serious diagnosis early. A life-changing diagnosis found early equals a potential outcome. better for most people If health care providers remind you of these things, they do so because it can mean the difference between living a long, healthy life and not writing down their recommendations because you think they annoy you, you don't have time, or you don't have symptoms.”

-Anonymous

2.“Find out what's normal about pooping, and pay attention to what's off. Don't be afraid to talk about poop. Everyone poops.”

— Kindness32

3.“I see many patients confuse sudden and unexplained weight loss. If you suddenly drop 20 pounds or more in a few months without trying or changing much, it could be a sign of something more.”

-Anonymous

4.“Please teach your children good dental habits at an early age. Instead of asking your child to brush their teeth and assuming they do it, make sure they do it by helping them. If they can't write their name correctly, they don't.” have the ability to brush their teeth properly and Teach them the importance of floss A small cavity as a child turns into a larger one when they grow up – which does not last forever and will need to be replaced. Ultimately that means a crown and/or root canal, and in some cases, pulling the tooth completely. get more dental work as adults Much dental work can be avoided if preventative measures are taken at home at an early age.

5.“We need to know everything [patient] medications whether prescribed, over the counter, or even those you take only as needed or once in a while. It is common for prescription and OTC medications to interact with other medications. Please don't forget to tell us about your vitamins and supplements, too. When we ask you if you drink, we're not asking you if you're an alcoholic – and, some medications don't interact with alcohol. Please don't get angry when we ask this question.”

– kathycatkitty

6.“Doctor here. Although I do not agree with medical advice on the Internet, our job is also to inform and prevent. The test has never hurt anyone. This is my main symptom that deserves a test: fatigue. Fatigue. It does not always mean that you are very stressed or lazy. A blood test can tell us a lot about this. and hopefully it will get you back on track to feeling better in the short term.

– gonzalesvictoria

7.“I'm not in the medical field yet, but I'm in grad school to become a PA and I'm almost certified as an EMT. One of my EMT teachers shared a story about asking a patient about their important medical history, especially high blood pressure. The patient responded that he didn't have high blood pressure, but later we said that we took blood pressure medication, we were right because we did not have high blood pressure at that time (because the medication was there to control it), but they have high blood pressure Fortunately, it did not affect the treatment at the time, but if that was not mentioned, then certain medications could be very dangerous for the patient in short: If it is a condition that you are taking medication for or have been diagnosed with, even if it is well controlled, tell your medical professional In good condition too much, no matter the situation, it can kill.”

-Anonymous, 20 year old student

8.“Don't go to the ER with your eye problems. Most doctors spend about two weeks in med school learning about eyes and usually just give you antibiotics and send you on your way. Always see an optometrist or ophthalmologist to make sure it's not serious!”

9.“Gum disease. Once you have it, you have to treat it before it gets worse. Many times when patients find out they have gum disease and treatment is recommended to reduce the severity, they don't do it because they don't.” How bad gum disease can be is the main reason people lose their teeth, not just cavities, and gum disease is linked to heart disease, joint disease, cancer, and premature birth (in pregnant patients). So, if your dentist or hygienist recommends treatment for your gum disease – do it!”

—Dentist

10.“I once had a patient of mine with a painless lump on his neck. He said it appeared after helping to clean up the floods, so we realized it was some kind of disease from exposure to bad water. His sister begged him to be examined, so he came in to appease him to stop bothering me about it.” The lump was about the size of a hazelnut on exam. After a scan and a subsequent biopsy, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma a little effort and it can save your life every time.

-Anonymous

11.“[While pregnant]whenever you feel the fetal movements decrease, you and your baby need to be checked. You should feel (at least) the same number of movements each day, or the number should increase. If the number ever drops, notify your doctor immediately. Google 'fetal kick calculator,' and follow the instructions – it shows you how to monitor movement at home.”

– Labor and delivery nurse

12.“Swelling of a leg or an extremity. If your legs are swollen after walking all day, that's one thing. But if you notice it every day without much walking or standing, that could be a sign of something more.”

— ICU nurse

13.“Chest pain. I can't count how many times we've gotten messages through an online patient portal about someone having chest pain, or they just talk about it during their appointment. Every time we hear those two magic words, we need to stop what we're doing and do more tests to make sure that your heart is right don't ignore the chest pain, even if you think it's not important or it might be nothing.

-Anonymous

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