Neurologists have outlined eight different symptoms you should never ignore and should schedule an appointment with a doctor if you are having them.
When it comes to your health, there are quite a lot of things that can go wrong.
It is only by some miracle that most people don’t have to deal with the many debilitating conditions that can arise, so something to be grateful for at least.
But when it does come to something feeling a little bit off, many people simply ignore their body and assume it is something that will go away on its own or is just a part of getting older.
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While that is often true, a group of neurologists, who spoke with Time, have insisted there are eight symptoms that people shouldn’t take this approach with.
Double vision in one eye
Dr Luis Cruz-Saavedra, a neurologists with Memorial Hermann Health System said people should take this symptom seriously ‘immediately’.
He added that one common symptom that people often overlook is double vision in one eye, and while there can be a number of potential causes, it is important to get it looked at.
Some of the potential causes include, multiple sclerosis, stroke, aneurysm, myasthenia gravis, brain tumor or brain infection.
Weakness in one hand or leg
This one can be considerably more easy to spot and should be something worth getting concerned about if there are no clear explanation for it.
If you notice you are dragging your leg behind your, limping or having difficulty picking up things or writing with you dominant hand, scheduling a doctor’s appointment might be a key next step.
Transient unresponsiveness
Dr Cruz-Saavedra also warned that this symptom is serious, but it can be spotted in other people. Sometimes people with neurological issues will go blank for a few seconds and then return to their normal selves, but have seemingly no recollection of what just happened.
This is commonly associated with temporal lobe seizures. These happen in the parts specifically responsible for short-term memory and processing emotions, according to the doctor.
Problems with speech
If you have never had problems with your speech, developing one seemingly out of the blue may be cause for concern.
Dr Enrique Leira, the director of the division of cerebrovascular diseases at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, said a person should seek care urgently if they notice having problems with speech.
It could be a symptom of a stroke, that often appear abruptly and can involve a lack of function stemming from a brain injury.
Problems with speech might mean trouble speaking, slurring their words, speaking slowly or difficulty finding the correct word to use.
Sudden headache during physical efforts
Dr Leira admitted that headaches are particularly a pain for neurologists to evaluate because there can be such a multitude of causes.
While some may be nothing to worry about, some causes require fast attention.
The doctor noted: “[A headache could raise suspicions of a stroke] if [it’s unusually strong and sudden [and] if it doesn’t build up over minutes or hours.
“And if it strikes when your doing some physical efforts, that’s enough of a concern that if should be checked out right away.”
Numb feet and fingers
Dr. Andrew Dorsch, the division chief for general neurology at Rush University System for Health and a neurologic rehabilitation specialist, said it was important to note there is a difference in tingling, a prickling sensation, to numbness.
When it comes to numbness, he said the first step is figuring out which nerves are dysfunctioning, what is causing the problem and how to treat it.
He said seeing a doctor is recommended because it could be something as simple as diabetes or something more complex like their immune system attacking their nerves.
Difficulty getting out of a chair on a regular basis
As we get older, it is normal to develop some stiffness and tightness in the body, but that could also be symptom of some neurological condition.
Dr Dorsch noted that it might be worth booking a doctor appointment if you regularly struggle to get out of your chair.
He said: “Sure, there could be some joint issues, but we really want to take a look and make sure you don’t have an issue with your muscles or your nerves or your spinal cord.”
He added that checking for things like Parkinson’s or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are things he would want family members to get checked out.
A sense of déjà vu
While many people at any age can get a feel of déjà vu, it can sometimes be a health issue.
For those unfamiliar, déjà vu is the uncanny sense that something has happened before or you have experienced something before.
While some people get it now and again, according to Dorsch, if you have it too regularly it could be another warning sign of a temporal lobe seizure.
The doctor recommended getting it checked out if that is the case and said he has even treated a patient who was ‘having recurring episodes every week, or every couple of weeks, which is not how often people usually get it.’
Topics: Health, Mental Health, Life, Community, NHS, Science
Gerrard Kaonga