Hundreds of diseases and disorders go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed every year, which can have devastating results. That’s why it’s increasingly important that we raise awareness about medical misdiagnosis as well as encourage everyone to be more conscious of the issues their bodies are experiencing.
Although there are many common medical conditions that go undiagnosed every year, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and more, the following three health issues are most commonly misdiagnosed.
Cancer
Cancer is harder to detect than you might think because the symptoms of it are the same for many other medical conditions. As a matter of fact, misdiagnosis is one of the more common medical mistakes that occur.
For example, lumps and swollen glands are signs of numerous types of cancer but they can also be cysts or benign tumors. Moreover, doctors tend to suspect you’re suffering from a more prevalent condition like the flu, a stomach virus, anemia, or another medical condition that you’re more likely to have than cancer.
Heart Disease
One of the reasons heart disease is misdiagnosed is that it’s another health issue that can be mistaken for other conditions. The signs of a heart attack, such as pain or burning in the chest and nausea, are common side effects of numerous illnesses like acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, viruses, and much more.
What’s even more worrisome is that when heart disease is left untreated it can cause permanent damage to organs and put you at risk for many other health problems.
Celiac Disease
Another disease that is regularly misdiagnosed is celiac disease , which causes the lining of the small intestines to become inflamed when someone with celiac disease eats gluten.
Celiac disease also stops your body from absorbing vital nutrients and can result in malnourishment. The symptoms of celiac disease include stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating in the stomach, and anemia just to name a few.
However, these are also side effects of several other health conditions many of which are temporary and minor, so misdiagnosis is common..
Heart disease and cancer cause permanent issues when they’re undetected, including damage to organs and in some cases death. Moreover, treating both is critical to preserving the quality of life and even prolonging life.
While celiac disease is rarely life-threatening, it can be painful. As a result, you should always speak with your doctor about new and prevalent symptoms and tell them if you have concerns about any medical conditions.
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