Men's Health: Clear Cut Symptoms
Sept. 15 -- When you go to the mechanic, you talk mechanic language.
You say your engine has a ping, a sputter, a rattle, or a grrrrch. Then you beg the guy not to steal all your money. We say, do the same thing when you go to the doctor. We asked a bunch of M.D.’s how to describe symptoms so they’ll know what the hell you’re talking about.
Chest Issues
“Deep, aching pain, and pressure......like I’m wearing a heavy X-ray vest.My left arm feels as if it’s fallen asleep.”
Possible problem: A heart attack. A blocked artery has cut off blood to your heart. Chew an aspirin tablet and call 911. The aspirin will prevent a fatal clot; chewing it will make it work faster, says Richard A. Stein, M.D., a spokesman for the American Heart Association. Don’t wait to see if it works before calling an ambulance.
“It hurts to breathe, like I’m stuck at the bottom of a dogpile.”
Possible problem: Asthma. Smoke or some other trigger has caused your airways to swell and the muscles to contract around them, making it hard to breathe. Grab a cup of coffee on the way to the doctor. The caffeine will open your bronchial passages by relaxing the muscles that surround them.
“Burning pain behind my sternum, as though I’d barfed and it only came halfway up.”
Possible problem: Acid reflux. The muscle that lets food into your stomach and keeps acid from leaving has improperly opened, allowing gastric juice to shoot into your esophagus. Pick up a pack of Juicy Fruit — gum helps you produce saliva, your body’s version of Pepto-Bismol. And stay away from peppermint, which aggravates the condition. See your doctor if you suffer frequently, since chronic reflux can be a sign of esophageal cancer.
Stomach
“A wicked stitch in my right side......that’s getting worse.Some jabs take my breath away.”
Possible problem: Appendicitis. A virus has infected your digestive tract, causing inflammation, or the tube connecting the large intestine and the appendix is blocked by trapped stool. See a doctor — the only treatment is surgical removal. But before you get there, avoid taking painkillers or laxatives. Tylenol or aspirin can mask your symptoms, and laxatives can create pressure in the digestive tract, bursting the appendix.
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