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Don't Ignore These Pains: When Aches Signal Danger
1 Feb
Summary
- Sudden chest pain lasting over 15 minutes may signal a heart attack.
- Abdominal pain can indicate gallbladder inflammation or bowel obstruction.
- Back pain with specific symptoms may point to serious nerve compression.
Most aches and pains are minor, but some can indicate serious medical issues. Dr. Ellie Cannon, a London GP, stresses the importance of recognizing when pain requires urgent medical attention.
Chest pain that is sudden and persistent, especially if lasting over 15 minutes and radiating to the arm or jaw, could be a heart attack. Sharp chest pain worsening with breathing might signal a pulmonary embolism.
Severe abdominal pain, particularly sudden upper right pain or cramping waves, could point to gallbladder inflammation or a bowel obstruction, both requiring immediate treatment. Young women with lower abdominal pain should consider ectopic pregnancy; men with sudden lower abdominal pain may face testicular torsion.
Back pain accompanied by genital numbness, bladder/bowel changes, or leg pain may indicate cauda equina syndrome. A sudden tearing sensation in the back could be an aortic dissection, a critical emergency.
While most headaches are benign, a sudden, severe 'thunderclap' headache might signal a brain bleed. Headaches with facial weakness or speech difficulty suggest a stroke, and those with fever and vomiting could be meningitis.
