5 common symptoms that are safe to ignore

Some symptoms as you age may seem frightening or serious when in fact they are harmless.

We’ve outlined five common conditions that you can stop worrying about…these symptoms are safe to ignore so you can stay out of the doctor’s waiting room.

With that being said, nothing beats a medical practitioner’s advice, so if you are truly concerned, it is better to be safe than sorry.

1. Bloody nose

Nosebleeds can be quite alarming when they occur but can usually be handled fairly easily. There are two types of nosebleeds: anterior (90% of all nosebleeds) that come from blood vessels at the front of the nose and are easy to control, whereas, posterior nosebleeds are less common and the blood comes from an artery in the back of the nose. Posterior nosebleeds are harder to control and cannot be stopped by pressure or packing. Though more often than not, it will be an anterior bloody nose. If the bleeding does not stop after 5 to 10 minutes of pressure, you may require a physician.

2. Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy is a paralysis or weakness of muscles on one side of the face. This damage to your facial nerve causes that side of your face to droop and is typically caused by inflammation. The condition can come on suddenly and is often mistaken as a stroke. Indeed a stroke can cause facial paralysis but there is no link between the conditions. With Bell’s palsy there is no weakness in the arm or confusion, instead only the face is involved.

3. Broken blood vessel in an eye

A broken blood vessel in your eye, also known as subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually a harmless condition and clears up within one to three weeks. The condition is not painful and there is no change in vision. It is typically caused by heavy lifting or even sneezing. However, if the broken blood vessels are persistently occurring it is a good idea to consult your doctor.

4. Heart palpitations

Heart palpitations is the feeling when your heart is beating too hard, skipped a beat or fluttering. It can be a frightening experience but they usually aren’t serious or harmful. Typically, they are related to stress or anxiety and go away on their own. They are also a frequent symptom in many pre and post-menopausal women. If it happens more than a few times however, the heart palpitations can be a sign of a more serious heart condition.

5. Cat scratch fever

Cat scratch fever is usually a benign infectious disease caused by bacteria, following a scratch or bite from a cat within about a week. Symptoms include a tender, swollen lymph node near the site of the scratch or on the neck. Many people with swollen lymph nodes misdiagnose this and think they have lymphoma (a type of cancer). However, most people who get cat-scratch disease will not become very ill and will get over the infection without any specific treatment.

Have you ever worried about any of these conditions and it turned out to be nothing serious? Share with us below.