Certain health issues cause mild symptoms that at first may be barely noticeable. Because of that, you might be tempted to just ignore them. However, as time goes on, symptoms can intensify, lead to complications in other parts of your body, or seriously impair your quality of life. It’s important not to ignore the first signs of more serious problems.
Mental Health Issues
Early signs of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression may include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or changes in eating or sleeping habits. You may have mood swings or feel unable to cope with situations in your life. Untreated mental health issues can interfere with your work and daily life and cause conflicts with loved ones. Symptoms can worsen over time and develop into serious complications such as thoughts of self-harm, so it’s important to seek help as soon as you realize you’re struggling. Your primary care physician can screen you for mental illness, give you options for treatment, or refer you to a mental health professional.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause mouth pain and other problems, especially when they are impacted. If you don’t remove impacted wisdom teeth they could result in flu-like symptoms. They can also damage adjacent teeth, develop cysts or infections, and cause gum problems. Impacted wisdom teeth will never resolve on their own. Most dentists will recommend that you have them removed as soon as possible. It’s a common procedure among teens and young adults, but can be performed at any age. Oral surgery is usually needed, and recovery takes about a day or two.
Acid Reflux
If you experience frequent heartburn, it could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. This happens when the acid in the valve in your stomach forces stomach acids into your esophagus. In addition to heartburn, you may experience problems swallowing or a cough.
Untreated GERD can lead to inflammation and bleeding of the esophagus. You can also develop strictures, a narrowing in the esophagus that can cause food to get stuck. In rare cases, cancer can develop. GERD can be treated with medication, so see your doctor if you start to experience any such symptoms.
There are many health issues that can lead to serious complications if you ignore the symptoms. Consult with your healthcare professional to see if your problems need care or intervention. Early treatment can often save you from more serious problems later on.
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