The many types of commonly misdiagnosed conditions

If you’re dealing with any type of medical concern it’s important to receive professional treatment as soon as possible. Even if you think the issue is minor, you’ll never know for sure until you consult with a medical professional.

Unfortunately, there’s something else you need to know: It’s possible that a medical professional could misdiagnose your condition, thus leading you down a more challenging path.

Here are several of the most commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions:

• Heart attack. If your doctor isn’t careful, it’s easy for him or her to mistake a heart attack for indigestion, the flu or another less serious ailment. Doing so, however, can be the severe detriment of the patient.
• Cancer. Cancer is commonly misdiagnosed, as the symptoms are often associated with many other medical concerns. Delayed diagnosis errors are most common in colorectal, breast and lung cancers, but can happen with any type.
• Pulmonary embolism. A serious health concern, the symptoms of this problem are similar to those of pneumonia, asthma or a common chest cold.
• Stroke. The primary symptoms of a stroke include poor coordination, confusion, difficulty speaking and weakness. When a stroke comes on slowly it’s easy for a medical professional to make a misdiagnosis.

As a patient, you need to take action to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment. For example, if your doctor isn’t taking you seriously, find another medical professional who will. Also, follow these tips:

• Keep track of all your symptoms
• Be 100 percent honest with your doctor at all times
• Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion, as it’s better to be safe than sorry
• Follow up with your doctor if your medication doesn’t seem to be providing relief

It’s important to put your trust in your medical team, but that doesn’t mean you should blindly listen to everything they tell you. No one knows your body better than you.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a medical misdiagnosis make sure you immediately find a doctor who can review your past and provide a better plan moving forward. Also, don’t hesitate to learn more about your legal rights and how to protect them.