Is Every Chest Pain A Heart Attack?

No, But New Chest Pressure, Heaviness Or Squeezing Should Never Be Taken Lightly. If It Is Associated With Sweating, Breathlessness, Nausea Or Pain In The Arm, Back Or Jaw, Seek Emergency Care. In Older Adults And People With Diabetes, A Heart Attack May Occur Without Typical Chest Pain.

Is Breathlessness Simply A Part Of Ageing?

No. New Or Gradually Increasing Breathlessness, Reduced Exercise Tolerance, Breathlessness While Lying Down Or Waking Up Breathless At Night Can Indicate Heart Or Lung Disease And Deserves Evaluation.

When Should A Headache After 50 Worry You?

A New Headache Beginning After 50, Particularly If Severe, Persistent Or Progressively Worsening, Should Be Assessed. Headache Associated With Visual Problems, Weakness, Confusion, Fever Or Vomiting Requires Prompt Attention.

Is Persistent Hoarseness Normal With Age?

Voice Changes Can Occur With Ageing, But Persistent Or Progressive Hoarseness Should Not Simply Be Attributed To Age. It May Result From Reflux Or Vocal-cord Disease And Occasionally May Be An Early Sign Of Cancer.

When Should Memory Loss Be Evaluated

Occasionally Forgetting Names Or Misplacing Things Can Be Normal. However, Repeatedly Forgetting Recent Conversations, Getting Lost In Familiar Places, Difficulty Handling Money Or Medicines, Or A Decline In Everyday Functioning Warrants Medical Assessment.

Is Blood In The Urine Serious If It Disappears ?

It Should Still Be Investigated. Even One Episode Of Visible Blood In The Urine Can Be Caused By Stones, Infection Or Diseases Of The Urinary Tract, Including Cancer

Should Unexplained Weight Loss Be Investigated?

Definitely. Losing Weight Without Trying, Particularly When It Continues Over Weeks Or Months, May Be Caused By Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Chronic Infection, Digestive Disorders Or Cancer. It Should Not Automatically Be Considered Part Of Ageing.

Is Blood In The Stool Always Due To Piles?

No. Although Piles Are Common, Bleeding Can Also Result From Polyps, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Or Colorectal Cancer. New Or Recurrent Bleeding After 50 Should Be Medically Evaluated.

What Does A Black, Tarry Stool Mean?

It Can Indicate Bleeding From The Stomach Or Upper Intestine. If Accompanied By Weakness, Dizziness, Abdominal Pain Or Vomiting Blood, It Requires Urgent Medical Attention.

Is Difficulty Swallowing Something To Worry About?

New or progressive difficulty swallowing, food getting stuck, recurrent choking, Recurrent Choking Or Swallowing Associated With Weight Loss Should Be Investigated. It Can Result From Several Conditions, Some Of Which Require Early Treatment.

When Should A Persistent Cough Be Checked?

A Cough Lasting Several Weeks Deserves Evaluation, Especially If Accompanied By Blood In The Sputum, Unexplained Weight Loss, Chest Pain, Fever Or Breathlessness. Smokers Should Be Particularly Cautious.

Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh

Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.