There are some things in life it’s okay not to be sure about. Where to go on vacation this year, or what insurance policy you need to take out. Things like this take time, and if you don’t make the right decision on the first attempt, you always have a chance to rectify it later. One thing that you don’t get a second chance at, however, is your health. Some people hate going to visit the doctor so much that they tend to ignore any niggling health ailments, only taking action when they are coerced into it by others. There are a few different reasons why so many of us put off health checks even when we’re feeling ill – for some, it’s down to the feeling of being a ‘nuisance.’ For others, it is a genuine phobia of the doctors or a case of sheer denial. But whatever the reason is, ignoring your ill health won’t make it go away. In some cases, you could be opening yourself up to medical complications or a serious condition that gets worse with time. By the time you finally end up getting checked out, you could be passed a certain stage in your illness, with potentially devastating consequences. Of course, no one is asking you to visit the doctor with every little ache and pain you get – this is known as being a ‘hypochondriac‘ and your doctor’s patience will probably end up wearing thin! With all this in mind, there are some things you can do to get the medical answers you need about whatever it is that’s troubling you.
Online doctors
We all know the perils of asking the Internet what’s wrong with you. You type in symptoms of the common cold and the next thing you know, a search engine has told you that you’ve got a stage four tumor, dementia and a suspected broken leg. Okay, so we are exaggerating a little here. But nevertheless, looking for healthcare advice on the Internet can usually be a little bit perilous. That is, of course, unless you are visiting somewhere such as https://www.onlinedoctorvisit.com. These types of serviced allow you to speak to a qualified physician at a time that suits you, without the need for an appointment. If you really do need peace of mind but don’t want to resort to Google, this is a great option for you and your family.
Lifestyle change
If you are suffering from a suspected allergy or some other kind of adverse (but non-threatening) reaction such as eczema, you can try out some home remedies before going to see your doctor. With things like allergies, they tend to be difficult to pin down unless you have already made some changes to your lifestyle – removing one controlled factor from your environment or consumption and tracking whether it makes a difference or not. For example, if you are suffering from dry, itchy skin on the backs of your arms, it could be a sign of a potential gluten intolerance. Therefore, remove gluten out of your diet for a number of weeks and see if this improves the condition. Make sure you keep a detailed record, so you have proof of your test to show your health professional. If you don’t see any changes, you know it was not the case, and then you can visit your doctor with your findings.
Look back at what may have caused it
Eaten anything strange recently? Not been getting enough sleep for days on end? Changed your shower gel? All of these things can result in unexpected health problems that probably look worse than they are. Before you go rushing to your physician, make a mental note of anything you think could have caused a negative physical reaction. These kinds of things usually clear themselves up within a few days, so be kind to yourself and see if things get any better.
Go anyway
There are some occasions where you just can’t risk it. Although you may be tempted to stay at home and just wait it out, if you have a history of the disease in your family or if you are in acute pain, always visit your doctor or the emergency room. Nine times out of ten it won’t be anything serious, and you will be able to come straight home – but it’s really not worth the risk of just waiting to see. Severe chest pains, a suspected broken bone and dizziness/loss of vision are all examples of when you definitely need to see a doctor imminently.
