The Top 10 vital signs your doctor might miss out.
SOME MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN BE MISDIAGNOSED OR COMPLETELY MISSED, SO IT'S VITAL TO KNOW ABOUT MORE UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS.
1 Ovarian cancer
THERE are 4,000 deaths from ovarian cancer in the UK each year, according to the charity Cancer Research UK. If it's detected early, survival rates can be up to 80 per cent. But, tragically, in 60 per cent of women, the condition isn't diagnosed until in its advanced stages.
Recent research reveals that symptoms appear earlier than once thought but are often mistaken for minor conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. So be extra vigilant if you have a personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancers, are post-menopausal and you've never had children.
Watch out for: Stomach pain, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, back pain, tiredness and needing to pass water more often than usual.
Check it out: See your GP as soon as possible. You should be given an internal examination and possibly diagnostic scans. If you have a family history of the disease, ask about screening.
2 Underactive thyroid
THIS affects one in 50 women and one in 1,000 men, and may be hereditary or triggered by stress, infection, pregnancy or medication. Symptoms are often put down to depression, especially postnatal depression, or other hormonal problems.
"Confusion arises when thyroid hormone levels test normal but the body can't use them properly," says Professor Nadir Farid, of London's Welington Hospital.
Watch out for: Tiredness, weight gain, mental fatigue, dry skin, thinning hair, depression, constipation, heavy, irregular periods and sensitivity to the cold.
Check it out: This is easily controlled with medication but if not diagnosed it can lead to heart disease, infertility and anaemia. See your doctor for a blood test. If results are normal but you still have unexplained symptoms, ask for a referral to a hormone specialist.
3 Whooping cough
FAR from being an "extinct" disease, a recent Oxford University study found that 40 per cent of children visiting their GPs with persistent coughs showed signs of the disease. And, according to the Health Protection Agency, one in four youngsters admitted to hospital didn't receive correct treatment.
Watch out for: A persistent cough with a whooping sound and possibly vomiting.
Check it out: Make sure your baby is fully vaccinated as whooping cough is most dangerous in children under a year old, potentially leading to pneumonia and death. Vaccination protection isn't life-long so if you or your child gets the above symptoms, ask your doctor for a blood test.
4 Carbon monoxide poisoning
LEAKS from faulty gas appliances, fires and central heating result in 30 carbon monoxide poisoning-related UK deaths a year. "You can't hear, see or smell it and the symptoms of mild poisoning may be similar to cold viruses," explains GP Dr Rob Hicks.
Watch out for: Headaches, nausea, dizziness, sore throat and dry cough, followed by tiredness, confusion, difficulty breathing, memory loss and co-ordination problems.
Check it out: Poisoning can be confirmed by a blood test. Prevent leaks with a carbon monoxide alarm and have chimneys, flues and gas appliances checked every year by a CORGI registered fitter.
5 Hepatitis C
THE symptoms of this potentially fatal liver disease often don't show for years. According to the Hepatitis Trust, 500,000 Brits are infected but only one in seven know it.
It's passed on through infected blood so you could be at risk if you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, I injected drugs, had a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture with dirty instruments. You can also catch it from unprotected sex.
Watch out for: Tiredness, sore muscles, headache, nausea or loss of appetite. Around a third of the patients develop cirrhosis of the liver up to 20 years after the virus has been caught, leading to liver failure.
Check it out: If you're at high risk, get a blood test. Drugs cure 60 to 80 per cent of sufferers.
6 Heart disease in women
WOMEN complaining of chest pain - a key heart disease symptom - are less likely to be given investigative tests and more likely to die of the disease than men, according to a study by University College London.
It's traditionally thought of as a male ilness despite the fact that it is responsible for the deaths of one in four women, whose symptoms can be mistaken for stress or depression.
Watch out for: Dull chest pain and feeling generally unwell are more common in women. Men are likely to get the "classic" sharp chest pain and pain down the left arm. Other signs include breathlessness, nausea and anxiety.
Check it out: "See your GP for a heart health assessment if you have a close relative who suffered from heart disease before 55 if a man or 65 if a woman," says cardiac nurse specialist Michaela Nuttall.
"Other risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, drinking, fatty diet, inactivity and stress."
Seek medical help if you experience symptoms listed above.
Treatment may involve drugs or a procedure called an angioplasty to widen blocked arteries.
7 Parkinson's disease
FIVE to 10 per cent of patients with this degenerative disease of the nervous system, are misdiagnosed with other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or frozen shoulder, according to medical journal Neurology. And the Parkinson's Disease Society claims that only one in four GPs has any expertise in the condition. Risk factors include age and exposure to pesticides. It's also more common in men and can be hereditary.
Watch out for: Trembling on one side of the body, such as the hand when at rest, stiffness, stooped posture, difficulty walking, poor sense of smell and depression. However, 30 per cent of sufferers may not experience a tremor.
Check it out: Ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist for a definite diagnosis. If the symptoms don't improve with medication, get a second opinion.
8 Multiple Sclerosis
MULTIPLE sclerosis destroys nerves and damages the brain's messaging system, affecting movement, speech, sight and memory.
There are 85,000 UK sufferers and diagnosis is difficult as symptoms may come and go. There's also no definitive test and it's often confused with other auto-immune diseases (where the body attacks its own tissues) or chronic fatigue syndrome. If a close relative has MS, your risk may be slightly higher.
Watch out for: Blurred or double vision, fatigue, tingling, dizziness, lack of co-ordination, tremors and concentration problems, typically between the ages of 20 and 40.
Check it out: Early treatment can slow the disease's progression. You should be given an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan and be referred to a neurologist.
9 Polycystic ovarian syndrome
UP to one in four women have, polycystic ovarian syndrome - multiple cysts on the ovaries - but it only causes problems in 15 per cent. The condition is due to a hormonal imbalance that sometimes prevents ovulation, reducing fertility. However, it's often missed because it tends to start in teenage years and many of the symptoms are common in puberty.
Watch out for: Weight gain that's difficult to shift, irregular periods, acne, infertility, excess body or facial hair.
Check it out: Correct diagnosis through blood tests and ultrasound is important because PCOS can increase the risk of miscarriage, coronary heart disease, diabetes, depression and fatty liver.
According to Prof Farid: "The contraceptive Pill is often prescribed to control symptoms but it doesn't address the real problem, which is insulin resistance. If sufferers lose weight, they'll lessen this resistance and the drug Metformin can further lower` it."
10 Meningitis
BACTERIAL meningitis causes inflammation of the brain and may lead to blood poisoning. It's easy to miss because early symptoms are similar to flu - prompt treatment is vital. Children under one or young adults aged 15-19 are most at risk and it's more common in winter.
Watch out for: High temperature, fever, vomiting, headaches and tiredness. Babies may make a high-pitched moan, have a blank expression, blotchy complexion or bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the head). Children or adults may have a stiff neck, aches and pains, confusion and dislike of bright lights. Another possible symptom is a rash that doesn't go when you press on it with a glass. Check it out: Go straight to your nearest accident and emergency department if you're concerned. If you've seen a doctor and are still worried, don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion as the condition can be fatal. Emergency treatment with antibiotics and hospital visits are vital.
source: mirror
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