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SYMPTOMS |
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DIAGNOSIS |
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SELF-CARE |
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| 1. Do you have
a fever, aches, chills, cold symptoms, nausea,
vomiting or diarrhea? |
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It's likely you
have the flu, a bad cold or a stomach virus. The
medical terms for these problems are
INFLUENZA, UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT
INFECTION, and GASTROENTERITIS. |
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Use
over-the-counter medicines for cold symptoms,
flu symptoms or for diarrhea. |
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| 2. Do you have
a severe headache, stiff neck and vomiting, and
does normal light hurt your eyes? |
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You may have
MENINGITIS, a serious infection around your
brain and spinal cord, or SUBARACHNOID
HEMORRHAGE, bleeding inside the brain. |
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EMERGENCY
See your doctor or go to the emergency room
right away. |
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| 3. Have you
injured your head or been knocked out recently? |
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You may have a
serious problem called SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, caused
by blood pushing on your brain, or a less
serious bruise of the brain, called a
CONCUSSION. |
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URGENT
Call your doctor right away. |
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| 4. Do you have
numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms and
legs, and a history of high blood pressure? |
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Your symptoms
may be from bleeding or possibly a blood clot in
the brain. Both
STROKE
and BLEEDING are dangerous possibilities. |
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EMERGENCY
See your doctor or go to the emergency room
right away. |
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| 5. Do you have
pressure around your eyes, or do you have thick
nasal discharge? |
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Your symptoms
are likely to be from a sinus infection,
SINUSITIS. |
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If a 48-hour
trial of cold medicine doesn't help, or if you
have a persistent fever or severe pain, see your
doctor promptly for testing and treatment. |
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| 6. Does your
pain feel like a vise, squeezing both temples
and extending into your neck, or do you get
headaches after working in one position for
hours or after driving a car, or do you find
that your headaches are related to stress or
anxiety? |
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MUSCLE TENSION
is probably the cause of your headaches. |
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Relax. Apply a
warm compress to your head. Analgesics can help
the pain. |
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| 7. Do you have
intense, throbbing, one-sided headaches often
with nausea or vomiting, and is the pain
preceded by seeing flashing lights or spots? |
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These are
symptoms of
MIGRAINE headaches. Often there's a family
history of migraines. |
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Make an
appointment to see your doctor. A number of
prescription medicines can be used to stop these
headaches before or after they start. |
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| 8. Do your
headaches occur after you read or watch a video
screen closely? |
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These headaches
may be related to EYE PROBLEMS. |
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See an
optometrist or ophthalmologist for an eye exam
to see if you need glasses. |
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| 9. Do you get
headaches, weakness or shakiness if you miss a
meal? |
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Your headaches
may be from HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar). |
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Eat six small
meals a day and avoid foods containing a lot of
sugar. |
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| 10. Are you
trying to cut down on caffeine, alcohol or some
other drug? |
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WITHDRAWAL
headaches will usually last a few days. |
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Use simple
analgesics for the discomfort. The symptoms
should fade. Don't restart your habit. |
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| For more
information, please consult your doctor. If you
think the problem is serious, call right away. |
