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If You're A Medical Professional, Tell Me Some Of The "Little Things" Patients Might Ignore That Can Actually Mean Something More Serious

The people need to know!

If you're anyone like me, you might find yourself Googling symptoms anytime you feel pain somewhere or if something in your body feels a little bit off.

an animated blonde woman typing on a computer

Any medical expert will probably advise against doing that — but sometimes the temptation gets the best of you.

two male nurses standing next to each other

And sometimes you might be overthinking things going on in your body — but other times there might be something that seems minor but is actually a big deal and means something more serious than you thought.

a doctor saying, "i'm sorry, i have some bad news"

So I'm turning to the medical experts of the BuzzFeed Community to ask: what common things do people often brush off that might actually mean something more serious?

Maybe you're an OB/GYN and you frequently have patients mention that they have painful, heavy periods that cause them to miss school or work — but that's "it's nothing" and they're "used to it." However, you know that's it often not nothing — so you're quick to ask tailored followups.

a female doctor looking shocked

Or maybe you’re a dental hygienist or nurse who has to routinely ask if there have been any changes in someone’s medical history since their last visit. You’re stunned at how often patients say “no changes” — only for you to later find out about a recent surgery, a severe allergy, or several new medications — all of which are vital for your team to know about.

a stressed-looking doctor

Whatever the common little ~things~ are that people often ignore, omit, or gloss over — I want to hear about them. Share them with me in this anonymous form or in the comments below!

Some responses might be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.