For a lot of people, experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, lumps, or muscle twitching can be very alarming, even downright scary. Being able to use the internet to look up different symptoms also added to more people getting more paranoid and feeling that they have a wide variety of life threatening diseases, when there’s really nothing to worry about.
Here are 10 harmless symptoms that people think are serious:
1. Chest pains
While it’s true that a heart attack causes severe chest pain, there are quite a number of other reasons that can cause chest pains, such as heartburn, tight muscles, etc. People who experience heart attacks usually experience “referred pain”, or pain to the other parts of the body such as the left arm, left shoulder, or the lower jaw.
So don’t freak out if you experience some chest pain, it could just simply be heart burn or possibly a pinched nerve.
2. Lumps
Noticing strange lumps in your body can really be alarming, and most people quickly jump to the conclusion that it might be because of a sarcoma or a tumor.
In reality however, it’s usually a sebaceous cyst, a benign fatty tumor, or a non-cancerous growth. However, you should still get it checked by a doctor if you find that it’s growing, or if there’s some pain when you touch it. But you shouldn’t lose any sleep over an unexplained lump in your body.
3. Muscle twitching
For some people, muscle twitching means that it’s an early sign of ALS, however muscle twitching is actually pretty normal for a lot of people, and not necessarily a sign of anything major.
It’s usually because of overexerted muscles, dehydration, or just plain anxiety. However, it can also be a sign of BFS, or benign fasciculation syndrome which sounds scary, but it’s really more of an annoyance rather than a life-threatening condition.
Go to the next page for more harmless symptoms!
4. Sudden weight loss
Unexplained weight loss accompanied by weakness and fatigue are just a few of the symptoms of HIV, so it’s not surprising that people might suddenly get scared because of sudden weight loss. However, if you haven’t had unprotected sex, then there’s really nothing to worry about.
However, if you’ve had unprotected sex recently, then it’s best to get yourself tested. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
5. Forgetfulness
It’s actually pretty normal to become forgetful as we grow older, it’s not always a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease goes beyond forgetfulness since it deteriorates your brain. People suffering from Alzheimer’s usually forget simple things like how to drive, how to use their phone etc.
So don’t worry if you start being more forgetful. It’s not always a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
6. Headaches
When some people get headaches, they automatically think that they might have a brain tumor. However, there’s a whole list of reasons why people get headaches, and a lot of them are pretty harmless and not really life-threatening.
The chances of getting a brain tumor in your lifetime is about 1%. You’d have a higher chance of being in a car accident rather than getting a brain tumor, so don’t worry about your headaches too much. If anything, it might mean that you’re just too stressed out or lack sleep.
7. Cramps
People who experience cramps sometimes automatically think that it’s multiple sclerosis. However, the most common reason is actually dehydration. Making sure that you’re always hydrated is very important. You can also try drinking a sports drink or eating a banana so that you can get hydrated.
Go to the next page for more harmless symptoms!
8. Swollen lymph nodes
Swollen lymph nodes are usually means that your body is fighting an infection. And while it’s true that they can be a sign of lymphoma, the chances are extremely low. It’s much more common to have a swollen lymph node due to an insect bite or a throat infection. However, if you’re really worried, there’s nothing wrong with telling your doctor about it.
9. Shakiness
Feeling ‘shaky’ isn’t always a sign of Parkinson’s disease. In most cases, a lot of people feel shaky because they haven’t eaten. It also happens when you’re nervous or if you have an iodine deficiency, B12 deficiency, etc. It’s really nothing to be worried about, so don’t get too stressed when you experience shakiness.
10. Phantom smells
Phantom smells are one of the symptoms of stroke since a stroke cuts off blood supply to the brain, which can cause neurological symptoms such as phantom smells. However, they’re actually not the most common symptom of a stroke, so it’s nothing to be worried about.
However, it can be due to nasal polyps, sinus infection, or anxiety.
READ: 5 Nail symptoms that you should never ignore
Sources: scarymommy.com
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