| s we all experience occasionally are rarely cause | | | | * Constipation: Usual causes are insufficient fiber |
| for concern. Yet even mild symptoms may be | | | | or water in the diet. Sudden constipation or |
| signs of serious illness. | | | | alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation may |
| Dr. J. Edward Hill, president of the American | | | | signal colon cancer. Call your doctor. |
| Medical Association and faculty member at the | | | | * Fatigue: Inadequate sleep and bad diet are |
| Family Medicine Residency Center in Tupelo, Miss., | | | | typically to blame for tiredness. Significantly more |
| provides the following guidelines as to when | | | | fatigue than usual in the absence of any lifestyle |
| common symptoms may be dangerous. | | | | changes could indicate heart disease. Schedule a |
| * Abdominal pain: The usual causes are gas, | | | | checkup immediately. |
| stress, viral or bacterial infections, such as food | | | | * Headache: Fatigue or emotional stress can cause |
| poisoning. But abdominal pain that lasts more than | | | | headaches. Yet anyone who gets them more |
| a day or two, causes severe cramps or is | | | | than once a month or is incapacitated by a |
| accompanied by nausea or vomiting could be | | | | headache needs a complete medical workup |
| appendicitis, gallbladder disease, gallstones, ulcers | | | | immediately. Headaches that increase in |
| or stomach cancer. Call your doctor. | | | | frequency, are unusually severe, or are |
| * Back pain: Call your doctor if pain from muscle | | | | accompanied by other symptoms, such as |
| pulls or spasms does not improve after a week. | | | | nausea, slurred speech or vision changes, could be |
| Pain accompanied by fever, tingling, numbness or | | | | a sign of stroke, an infected or a ruptured brain |
| shooting leg pains may indicate a spinal infection. | | | | blood vessel, meningitis or a brain tumor. Call 911. |
| See your doctor or go to an emergency room | | | | * Heartburn: Common causes include indigestion - |
| immediately. | | | | often from eating fatty or spicy foods - and |
| * Chest pain: Physical overexertion is usually the | | | | gastroesophageal reflux disease. But if this |
| reason for chest pain. Suspect a heart attack if | | | | condition occurs more than once a week, it can |
| the pain is accompanied by a pressing or crushing | | | | damage the esophagus and is linked to esophageal |
| sensation, radiates from the chest to other parts | | | | cancer. If you need antacids more than twice a |
| of the body or is accompanied by heavy | | | | week, see your doctor. |
| sweating, nausea or vomiting. Call 911. | | | | |