Nine symptoms you should never ignore, according to GPs

Jess Bacon
·Contributor
·6-min read
Mid adult woman stands up and holds her chest in agony and despair.
There are nine common symptoms that GPs recommend to get checked out if they last for several weeks (Getty Images)

We've all ignored a minor ache or pain - and most of the time they're nothing to worry about. But, sometimes these common symptoms could be a sign of a more serious health condition so it's well worth knowing which may be cause for concern.

In his first TV interview, Sir Chris Hoy explained that his prostate cancer diagnosis came as "the biggest shock of [his] life" as he’d only had shoulder and rib pain ahead of going to his GP. The Olympic Gold medalist said he had felt "no symptoms" and "no warnings".

"I assumed it was going to be tendonitis or something, and it was just going to be lay off weights or lay off cycling for a wee while and get some treatment and it'll be fine," he said.

Dr Rosie Khan says it’s important to be vigilant of any changes to your health or body. "Our bodies often signal when something isn’t right and some symptoms are clear red flags that shouldn’t be ignored," she tells Yahoo UK. "Ignoring these symptoms can lead to delayed diagnoses, which may limit treatment options. Getting checked early is crucial for conditions that are more manageable with early intervention."

Here three practising GPs outline nine common symptoms you should never ignore.

Ongoing pain could be a sign of something serious - particularly if it lasts for weeks or months without a clear cause. "This includes pain in the back, abdomen, or other areas," says Dr Deepali Misra-Sharp GP Partner at Lordswood House Medical Group. "Persistent pain can indicate a condition such as cancer. For example, back pain may be associated with bone cancer or pancreatic cancer or metastatic cancer from a different primary source."

Many of us are aware of the risks of chest pain, but chest tightness could also be a vital sign of a heart attack or underlying cardiovascular issues.

"If you get chest tightness, or a sensation of a band or heavy load on your chest, it is important to not delay and call 999 immediately," says Dr Leke Asong from Gut Health Medic.

Dr Khan adds that chest pain could also be a sign of angina, acid reflux or even a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). "Seek immediate attention if the pain is severe, lasts more than a few minutes or is accompanied by symptoms like sweating, nausea or shortness of breath," she outlines.

If there is a drastic change in your personality, or you spot someone you love change in their behaviour and tone it could be a sign of a brain tumour, especially if seizures are occuring. However, stress, anxiety and depression can all cause personality changes too, Dr Asong explains.

Any change in the frequency, colour or urgency of your bowel habits, or if you find blood in your urine or stools, should be investigated immediately. "If you suddenly get a bout of back pain and are unable to control your bowels or urine, it is important to call 999 immediately," Dr Asong urges.

It could also indicate gastrointestinal issues, irritable bowel symptoms, as well as colorectal cancer or bladder cancer. Dr Misra-Sharp adds: "Persistent changes in bowel habits (such as ongoing diarrhoea or constipation), blood in the stool, or changes in urinary habits, such as increased frequency or blood in urine should be assessed promptly. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend urgent referral for patients with alarming bowel symptoms to rule out malignancies."

Young African American man sitting on the couch at home and coughing. Suffers from an attack of asthma, allergies. He holds his chest, covers his mouth with his hand.
If your cough lasts for more than three weeks it's important to get it checked out with your GP (Getty Images)

Weight loss when steady and expected is nothing to worry about, but if there is a sudden drastic drop in weight over a short period of time it’s important to go to your GP. Dr Khan calls this a "significant red flag" as it can be a “symptom of some cancers (gastrointestinal, lung or pancreatic), hormone disorders (e.g. an overactive thyroid), infections (like tuberculosis) or gastrointestinal issues."

Dr Misra-Sharp echoes that this is a concerning sign, especially if you lose "more than 5% of your body weight without trying through diet or exercise." She adds that NHS studies have found a need for further investigation when individuals have unexplained weight loss.

If you have a new lump or spot any unexpected swelling, this could be a sign of an infection or something more sinister such as various forms of cancer such as breast and testicular. Dr Misra-Sharp says that "any new lumps or swellings in the breast, testicles, lymph nodes, or elsewhere that persist for more than two weeks should be evaluated."

The NHS states that most lumps are not cancerous, but they should be checked over by a GP if they don’t go away after two weeks.

"Changes in a mole or skin lesion, such as alterations in size, colour or shape, can be an early sign of skin cancer, including melanoma, which is highly treatable if caught early," Dr Khan says.

Skin cancer can present itself as mole, Dr Khan adds "that looks asymmetrical, has irregular edges, multiple colours or an increase in size."

"Use the ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolving) to evaluate moles. Any new or changing lesion should be examined by a healthcare provider promptly."

Many of us experience headaches in a modern busy world where we spend too much time on our screens. It can also be down to stress, dehydration, tiredness or worsening eyesight. But, it’s important to get regular headaches or an extremely painful one checked by your GP.

"A headache to the back of the head, likened to being hit by a baseball bat could signify a bleed in the brain, also known as a haemorrhagic stroke," Dr Asong adds.

Colds and chest infections are incredibly common in the winter but keep an eye on how long your cough lasts.

"A cough that lasts more than three weeks, especially if it produces blood or is accompanied by difficulty breathing that worsens over time, can be a symptom of lung cancer or other serious respiratory conditions, and they require urgent assessment," Dr Misra-Sharp says.

Read more about Chris Hoy and cancer:

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