Have you been ignoring pains that you could take a toll on your life? If you are experiencing certain types of pains, you must immediately tend to these warning signs of your body. Find out more about the pains that could be detrimental, if ignored.
Pain is often described by many as a ‘necessary evil’. We have all experienced some form of pain in our lives and we mostly think of it as an annoying thing that will quickly die away. While it might be painful, we are quick to assume it will go away soon, sometimes even ignoring it completely. What happens when it doesn't go away, though?
What most people don't realize is some pain which may seem harmless at surface level, is actually your body giving you a warning sign that you need to take care of. While most pain is completely harmless and will, in fact, go away within a few days, others need to be treated right away. How exactly can you tell the difference? Keep reading to find out which pain is harmless and which pain needs immediate treatment.
What even is pain and what causes your body to feel it?
It is a mechanism by which your body tells you that you are experiencing an internal health problem that needs to be taken care of. Though most pains are not hazardous, there are some pains that you cannot afford to ignore. Pains that come suddenly, continue for longer than usual, and appear different than the routine pains, require immediate medical attention. Seven types of pains that you should not ignore are listed below.
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Chest Pain
A severe discomfort or pain in the chest could signal a heart attack. If you experience chest pain that lingers unusually long with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, and any unusual upper body pain, you must visit a doctor immediately. A sharp pain in the left side of the chest is indicative of a heart attack. An unusually sharp pain in the right side of the chest could be caused by angina, asthma, pulmonary embolism, spontaneous pneumothorax, gallstones, or inflammation of the liver.
The discomfort related to heart disease can be in the throat, upper chest, left arm or shoulder, jaw, or abdomen and is usually accompanied by nausea. Typical causes of chest pain that are not immediately life-threatening are inflammation of the pericardium, mitral valve prolapse, and typical disorders of the esophagus such as acid reflux and esophageal spasms.
Severe Head Pain
A head ache is one of the most commonly ignored pains. A severe head pain might be due to a migraine. A migraine is usually accompanied by symptoms such as a visual aura, nausea, vomiting, and irritability at bright lights, odors, and noise. A sudden and acute (almost unbearable) head ache could also be a signal of a condition known as brain aneurysm.
A brain aneurysm is characterized by a bulging weak area in the artery that is responsible for supplying blood to the brain. Most brain aneurysm cases go unnoticed but in some rare cases, there might be a hemorrhage in the brain aneurysm resulting in the release of blood in the brain. This might cause a stroke. Therefore, if you have an excruciating head ache, you must not ignore it. It is strongly recommended that you seek medical attention at the earliest.
Pains That Should Put You On High Alert
Sharp pain in your side
If you experience a sharp pain in your side, it could be due to appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis typically starts off with an inflammation and pain in the belly button and gradually progresses to the lower abdomen towards the right.
It is at this time that one starts to experience acute pain sensations. Other typical symptoms of appendicitis include nausea, fever, and severe inflammation. An inflamed appendix needs to be surgically removed at the earliest, else it can burst.
In women, a pain in the right side might also be due to an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts, in most cases, are fluid filled sacs and disappear on their own. However, a rupture of the ovarian cyst might cause excruciating pain. A twisted or a ruptured cyst also needs to be removed at the earliest to prevent the blockage of blood flow to the ovary.
In women, a pain in the right side might also be due to an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts, in most cases, are fluid filled sacs and disappear on their own. However, a rupture of the ovarian cyst might cause excruciating pain. A twisted or a ruptured cyst also needs to be removed at the earliest to prevent the blockage of blood flow to the ovary.
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Joint Pain
Most people tend to dismiss joint pains as a sign of ageing. However, one needs to be on the lookout for ongoing joint pains that are not caused by an injury. It is best recommended to seek medical attention. If you notice inflammation of the joint where you experience ongoing pain, it might be the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. But with timely medical attention, you can prevent it from progressing further. Pain in joints coupled with their inflammation might also signal some infectious diseases such as rheumatic fever, hepatitis, and influenza. It could also be associated with gout or osteoarthritis.
Leg pain accompanied by inflammation
If you have swelling, inflammation, and sharp pain in your leg, it might be due to a blood clot in one of the veins in the body. This medical condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood clots are typically formed in the body when blood thickens and clumps together. Blood clots are commonly formed in thighs and lower legs. At times these blood clots break off and travel all the way to the lungs and result in blockage of blood flow to the lungs. This medical condition, known as, pulmonary embolism, can be life-threatening. Typically symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include swelling along a vein in the leg, tenderness and pain in the leg while standing or walking, and increased warmth in the swollen area in the leg.
Tooth Pain
If you have a persistent tooth pain or a throbbing tooth, there is a probability that the enamel has cracked or is infected. Cavities are another cause for a severe tooth pain. The main reason for cavities is the deposition of sugars around the teeth. The sugar deposition acts as a breeding ground for bacteria that eat up the tooth enamel. Tooth pain happens when the tooth becomes inflamed as a result of which substantial amount of blood flows through the tooth. Tooth throbbing results in an unbearably sharp pain especially when excess pressure is applied on the tooth or the tooth comes in contact with very cold or hot liquids. When you experience severe tooth pain, it is important to visit a dentist to prevent any further damage in the form of an abscess which eventually requires a root canal treatment.
Severe abdominal pain
Abdominal pains are often neglected by most of us. We tend to dismiss abdominal pains as a sign of indigestion. However, if the pain is severe, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention. Some serious causes of severe abdominal pains include intestinal blockage, stomach ulcers, and pancreatitis. Abdominal pains are typically caused by inflammation, loss of blood supply to an organ, or distension of an organ.
Sources & Links
- “Deep vein thrombosis”, by Paul A Kyrle, et al. Published in the March 2005 issue of The Lancet, accessed on August 16, 2012.
- “Understanding: Brain Aneurysm Basics”, by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, accessed on August 16, 2012.
- “5 Pains You Shouldn’t Ignore”, by Dr. Wong, published on February 23, 2012 at Bel Marra Health, accessed on August 16, 2012.
- Photo courtesy of tipstimes on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/tipstimes/7256275084
- Photo courtesy of stillmemory on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/stillmemory/572651208