In every day life, we all deal with minor aches and pains, from dull headaches to joint pain to sore muscles. Unfortunately, we can’t avoid pain altogether during our human experience, but luckily, most pain doesn’t signal anything horribly wrong going on beneath the surface. However, you should take the following types of pain seriously, and go to a wellness professional as soon as possible in order to get it checked out.
HERE ARE 5 TYPES OF PAIN YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE:
1. CHEST PAIN
According to WebMD.com, chest pain is most commonly caused by heart problems, but it can also signal problems with the lungs, esophagus, ribs, muscles, or nerves. Approximately 25% of the U.S. experiences chest pain not related to the heart, but you shouldn’t take any chances upon feeling a sharp pain in your chest. Pain in this area can point to a severe, life-threatening problem, such as a heart attack, coronary artery disease, myocarditis, or other serious health problems. Other common causes of chest pain include pneumonia, a pulmonary embolism, acid reflux, muscle strain, and pancreatitis.
2. MIDDLE BACK PAIN ALONG WITH A FEVER
WebMD also warns that experiencing pain in the middle of your back along with a fever, vomiting, chills, and confusion can signal a kidney infection. If the pain persists during urination, this strongly suggests a kidney infection. Because the kidneys are located in the back of the abdomen, back pain usually accompanies the infection. The kidneys filter blood, remove waste, and keep the body’s fluids and electrolytes balanced. Bacteria in the urinary tract causes a kidney infection, so if you feel middle back pain and experience fever along with it, see a doctor as soon as possible.
3. PAIN ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR ABDOMEN
Feeling a sharp, stabbing pain on the lower right side of the abdomen usually signals one thing: appendicitis. While we don’t even need our appendix to function properly, appendicitis can be fatal if not treated promptly. The appendix extends from the large intestine, and if left inflamed, it will eventually burst, leaking toxic fluids into the abdominal cavity. In turn, this can lead to the inflammation of the abdominal cavity, which can be fatal unless treated with powerful antibiotics.
If you feel pain in this area of your abdomen, along with loss of appetite, vomiting and/or nausea, a high fever, an inability to pass gas, and abdominal swelling, see a doctor immediately.
4. SPLITTING HEAD PAIN THAT COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING
We all get headaches from time to time, usually from work strain, a hard workout, not eating enough, or dehydration. These types of headaches tend to go away after we relax, take a quick nap, or take pain medicine. However, feeling an unbearable, blinding pain in your head suddenly can signal something more serious. Called thunderclap headaches, they can point to a number of severe health problems, including an aneurysm, a blood clot, meningitis, a rupture of the blood vessel in the brain, a tumor in the brain, or a tear in the lining of an artery.
If you experience this type of severe pain in your head for more than a few days, and you notice nausea, vomiting, and neck and lower back pain, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
5. TOOTH PAIN THAT WAKES YOU UP AT NIGHT
According to reports, anywhere from 50 to 96 percent of adults experience teeth grinding, or bruxism. Since it’s such a common behavior, many people think nothing of it, and choose to ignore the symptoms associated with tooth grinding. However, leaving it unchecked for a long period of time can lead to serious tooth and jaw problems, such as fracturing or total loss of teeth, as well as change the appearance of your face.
It can be difficult to find out if you grind your teeth during your sleep if it doesn’t wake you up at night, but common signs of teeth grinding include a dull headache and sore jaw upon getting up in the morning. Most of the time, tooth grinding indicates underlying stress, but you can combat this unconscious behavior by using a night guard while you sleep.
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