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How to know whether you need to worry about these common conditions.
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Scary Symptoms that Are (Usually) Harmless
How to know whether you need to worry about these common conditions
By Linda Melone, CSCS for Next Avenue
January 22, 2015
Credit: Thinkstock
After 50, aches, pains and the occasional muscle twinge become a fact of
life. But some symptoms that may seem frightening or serious turn out to be
far less than they appear.
While you should always see a doctor if you experience something out of the
ordinary, these signs generally are more smoke than fire:
A Bloody Nose
Nosebleeds can be particularly frightening due to the suddenness in which
they occur and the sometimes large amount of blood involved.
“People worry that it’s internal bleeding, but almost every time it’s not,”
says Dr. Carlo Reyes, emergency room physician and vice chief of staff at
Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. “Bloody noses are most often
due to bleeding of the anterior septum, where the blood vessels are near the
surface of the skin. It’s alarming but usually goes away with pressure or
packing.”
High blood pressure, allergies and a natural propensity for nosebleeds all
contribute to an increased risk of nosebleeds. Interestingly, they’re most
common in young children ages two to 10 and adults ages 50 to 80.
Sign to see a doctor right away: If the bleeding does not stop after five to 10
minutes of pressure. “Ninety percent of nosebleeds are anterior,” Reyes says.
But posterior nosebleeds, from deep inside the nose, cannot be stopped by
packing and require a physician’s care.
Bell’s Palsy
The sudden loss of muscle control on one side of the face makes it easy to
mistake Bell’s palsy for a stroke, though it’s not nearly as serious. A stroke
occurs when a blood clot cuts off the blood supply to the brain; Bell’s palsy
results from inflammation of a facial nerve that causes weakness or paralysis
of the face.
“It’s a simple diagnosis but can be missed by an ER doctor who doesn’t
have the training,” Reyes says.
In Bell’s palsy, only the face is involved and there isn’t confusion or
weakness in an arm. In addition, Bell’s palsy involves the entire side of the
face. A Bell’s palsy patient won’t be able to close one eye, the mouth droops
on the same side of the face and he won’t be able to wrinkle his forehead on
that half of the face.
Sign to see a doctor right away: “A droopy mouth without the other
symptoms is more likely a stroke,” Reyes says. See a doctor right away in
either case for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Broken Blood Vessel In An Eye
It’s frightening to see a splotch of blood in the white of the eye, but it’s
usually not cause for alarm. A broken blood vessel in the eye can occur from
heavy lifting or sneezing or for unknown reasons.
“Known as a ‘subconjunctival hemorrhage,’ this occurs when a blood vessel
breaks in the mucous membrane covering the white part of the eye,” says Dr.
Sandy T. Feldman, eye surgeon and medical director, ClearView Eye &
Laser Medical Center in San Diego, Calif.
“Other causes include certain conditions such as high blood pressure,
diabetes, blood-thinning disorders or medications which cause the blood to
thin,” she says. Broken blood vessels don’t usually require treatment other
than over-the-counter artificial tears if irritation is present. It typically clears
up on its own within a couple weeks.
Sign to see a doctor right away: “It is a good idea to see your eye doctor if
this occurs,” Feldman says, “especially if it’s not the first time.”
Heart Palpitations
Feeling your heart skip a beat or experiencing sudden powerful heartbeats
out of the blue isn’t usually worrisome, says Dr. Brian C. Kolski, internist at
Interventional Cardiology, St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, Calif.
“Palpitations can be a nuisance, and very frequent in many pre- and postmenopausal women,” he says. Changes in estrogen and hormone levels can
trigger flushing, palpitations and hot flashes. Rarely, palpitations can be a
sign or symptom of more serious cardiac problems, Kolski says.
“Palpitations that occur while lying down for sleep or sitting quietly also
tend to be a more benign variety, and hyperawareness at these calm states
can fuel serious anxiety,” he says.
Signs to see a doctor right away: Go to the ER if you experience fast
irregular or regular pulse rates, usually 150 to 200 beats per minute sustained
over several minutes; palpitations accompanied by chest, jaw or left arm
pain and the feeling of almost passing out or complete collapse associated
with palpitations.
Cat Scratch Fever
Swollen lymph nodes have frightened people who have cat scratch fever into
thinking they have lymphoma, a type of cancer. About 40 percent of cats
carry a type of bacteria in their saliva, Bartonella henselae, at some point in
their lives. And although you can get cat scratch fever after being bitten or
scratched by a cat, fur can also harbor the bacteria, which may then be
spread through petting a cat and rubbing your eyes.
“Swollen lymph nodes may be the only sign,” Reyes says. Other symptoms
include fatigue, headache, a low-grade fever and a bump or blister at the site
of the bite or scratch.
Signs to see a doctor right away: Fever and chills, persistent fatigue,
unexplained weight loss, itching, night sweats and loss of appetite.
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2015. All rights reserved.
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