These are symptoms many of us have experienced. In my four years of medical school and one year of residency, I’ve learned that these common symptoms can at times signal serious underlying pathology. However, very often they have simple, reversible causes that can be easily addressed.
Insert self-assessment. Here are four tips that I used myself to develop this skill:
- Trust Yourself: You know your body best. There is not another human being alive that knows you like you do. If something feels off, trust your instincts and explore further.
- Check In with Your Body: When you notice a new symptom or feel malaise, here are a few questions you can ask yourself: When did I last exercise or otherwise intentionally move my body? How do I feel after physical activity? When did I last eat? Was it satisfying and nutritious? What can I eat now to boost my energy? How much water have I had today? Was it enough? How well have I slept in the last three days? How many hours am I getting, and how can I improve this?
- Seek Medical Attention if Needed: If, after you have addressed these basic needs your symptoms suddenly worsen, seek medical attention immediately. However, if your symptoms subtly persist over 1-2 days, schedule an appointment with a primary care physician. Several medical conditions such as viral illnesses, vitamin deficiencies, and metabolic disorders, can affect our overall sense of wellbeing. We can use basic laboratory tests to identify these conditions and guide the next steps in your care.
- Be Mindful of Stress and Mental Health: A large body of research supports how stress and mental health issues can manifest as physical symptoms. Sometimes that ache in your abdomen is your gut-brain axis signaling you are in fight, flight, or freeze mode. That tension in your chest could be your heart or lungs, but it may also be your chest wall muscles tightening in response to stress. If, after self-assessment and medical consultation, your sense of wellness does not improve, it may be time to seek mental health support.
That’s all for now. Keep those self-assessments coming! So, how are you really feeling?