Reddit Health Professionals Flag 19 Symptoms People Should Never Ignore
Updated
Updated · BuzzFeed · Aug 1
Reddit Health Professionals Flag 19 Symptoms People Should Never Ignore
3 articles · Updated · BuzzFeed · Aug 1
Summary
Doctors and nurses on r/AskReddit highlighted 19 often-dismissed warning signs that they said warrant prompt medical attention rather than months of waiting.
Blood where it should not be—rectal bleeding, black stool, blood in urine or coughing up blood—appeared repeatedly, alongside unexplained weight loss, persistent swollen lymph nodes, new lumps and nonhealing skin lesions.
Several replies stressed time-critical emergencies: sudden vision changes can signal retinal detachment, while stroke symptoms and the “worst headache” can point to stroke or aneurysm and need ER care within hours.
Other red flags included shortness of breath on flat ground, severe constipation, toothache that can spread systemically, mental changes in older adults that may reflect UTI, and escalating alcohol dependence tied to untreated anxiety or PTSD.
A recurring takeaway was that any persistent symptom lasting weeks or months—especially in older adults—should be evaluated early, with clinicians also urging routine screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms.