Symptoms You Shouldn't Live With

Welcome back to my weekly health column here in Glasgow. Today I want to talk about the small complaints we choose to ignore. How many times have you told yourself that a persistent cough is just a common cold? We've all been guilty of brushing off tiredness after a long week at work.

However, some signs are true red flags. A patient of mine recently came in with a swollen lymph node and severe fatigue that had been going on for weeks on end. She had simply put up with it because she was too busy running her own bakery in the city center.

When we checked her chest X-ray and analyzed her sputum sample, we found a chronic condition that needed immediate attention. If she had waited another month, the acute infection could have become much harder to treat with standard medication.

Why do we ignore these warnings? Often, it is because the onset is so gradual that we don't notice how much our health has deteriorated. We adapt to feeling unwell and treat fatigue as our new normal. That is a dangerous game to play with your life.

This exact scenario happened in my own family last year. My father, James, has always had a long-term condition, but he never complained about his health. He developed a hoarse voice and unexplained weight loss, but he kept telling everyone it was just allergies.

Olivia, my sister, finally noticed how much weight he had lost during a Sunday family dinner. She insisted on booking an appointment with our local clinic, looking closely at his recent drug history and social history before making the referral.

It turned out he had a serious chest infection combined with an aggravating factor from the old dampness in his house. The doctors started treatment just in time, and today he is doing much better, enjoying his retirement in Edinburgh.

So please, don't wait until it is too late. If you have been coughing for weeks, or if you notice any sudden changes in your body, see a doctor. Listen to your body and take care of yourselves and your families.

Read again and choose the right answer

Why did the baker ignore her swollen lymph node and fatigue?

• She was too busy running her bakery.
• She was afraid of hospitals.
• She thought it was a cold.

What tests did the doctor use to find the chronic condition?

• Blood test and MRI scan.
• Chest X-ray and sputum sample.
• Heart monitor and allergy test.

Who noticed James's weight loss during a family dinner?

• His son, the columnist.
• His doctor in Edinburgh.
• His daughter, Olivia.

What was the aggravating factor in James's illness?

• Old dampness in his house.
• His heavy workload at the office.
• A bad reaction to new medication.

Sources: photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels