Know When to Call the Doctor

Everyone gets aches and pains or feels ill from time to time. Many people don't like to go to the doctor so they'll just wait it out -- and often your body will heal itself. But there are times when waiting to call your doctor is the worst thing you can do.

Here are some tips from physicians on how to tell when home care isn't working and it's time to call your doctor:

• If you have a fever of 101 degrees that isn't better by morning, call your doctor. Long or high fevers can harm the brain. Even low-grade fevers, if they persist, can indicate infection or pneumonia.
• If you are ill or have a wound that isn't getting better, or that gets worse after a couple of days, call your doctor. Not healing can indicate infection, undiagnosed diabetes or skin cancer.
• If you are short of breath or wheezing, particularly if it's a new condition, call your doctor. If you're struggling to breathe, call 911 immediately. Breathing problems can signal a heart attack, panic attack, pneumonia and other serious problems.
• If you become hoarse for no reason, particularly if you're a smoker, call your doctor. And until you get a diagnosis, stay away from alcohol, coffee and soft drinks which will only make things worse.
• If you have an incapacitating headache and you're not prone to migraines, call your doctor. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting or pain in one spot can signal a stroke, brain tumor or onset of a migraine problem.
• If you have an earache that is so painful you can't hold your head up, call your doctor. Earaches are often symptoms of more serious problems. They can also be caused by foreign objects like insects or water in your ears.
• If you have face pain, call your doctor. It may be a sinus infection that requires antibiotics or it can be the sign of a stroke.
• If you have pain in a muscle, joint or bone that doesn't respond to heat and ice or is too painful to use, call your doctor. You may have broken a bone or have a severe strain or sprain.

When it comes to your health, there's no reason to play the hero. It's much better to call your doctor's office and talk to the nurse about your symptoms than suffer in silence while you let a little problem grow into a big one. Use common sense, but be smart. If you're not sure about something, or if you're a little worried about a symptom, make the call. Better safe than sorry!