People today are much more concerned with their health than in the past. Despite the increased emphasis on health, there are still common health issues that people can miss. It is also important to realize that while much of the discussion is around physical health, maintaining a healthy mental state is just as important.
Sometimes it is difficult to diagnose a condition because the symptoms are similar to another condition, or the symptoms are generalized, such as headaches, or a feeling of fatigue.
There are a number of conditions that are frequently missed or misdiagnosed. Irritable bowel syndrome is often misdiagnosed because there is no test for the condition. Coeliac disease is also commonly missed. Common symptoms are joint pain, itchy skin, headaches and reflux. Rheumatoid arthritis is a difficult condition to diagnose because the symptoms are very similar to other conditions characterized by aching joints. Hypothyroidism is frequently mistaken for a natural age-related problem, because in its early stages the symptoms are subtle. Symptoms include muscle aches, dry skin, weight gain and forgetfulness.
Irritable bowel syndrome is only likely to be diagnosed if a patient displays symptoms for at least three days in three consecutive months. Other conditions can be diagnosed using blood tests or tests such as an MRI scan. [Read more…]
