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Raise your hand if you’ve ever made the mistake of googling your symptoms and instantly assumed the worst. If you’ve managed to avoid that so far, that’s pretty impressive. For the rest of us, even the smallest unfamiliar sensation can send the imagination running wild.
Our bodies do all sorts of strange, unexpected things, and when something feels even slightly off, it’s easy to spiral, much like when your car makes a sound you’ve never heard before.
But in many cases, that fear is simply an overreaction. On Reddit, medical professionals pulled back the curtain on the most common issues people tend to panic about far more than they need to. Take a look below, and as always, trust a qualified doctor over a search bar when something truly worries you.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Lots of people tend to get nervous when they can't eat for several days during an acute illness. "Everything I eat I vomit." Stop eating. You can survive for a long time without food. Let your body heal itself and then introduce bland basic food slowly. When you vomit you are throwing off your pH balance and loosing water. So if you keep vomiting when you eat, stop eating. The most important thing to do is keep drinking. Sip small amounts of water continiously. If you can't keep liquid down then you need to go to the emergency room / a&e asap but don't worry about food.
Jaya 3 days ago
It's always so strange to me how my body goes insane from hunger and fatigue, if I don't eat enough. And then when I'm ill, all of a sudden my body can go without any food for 3 days, with no problem. I get that you need less food when you just lay around, but that doesn't explain why the difference is sooo huge.
Tropical Tarot 2 days ago
I would drink apple juice in little sips too. But that depends on what you can tolerate.
Wendy Hamilton 1 day ago
I had some mysterious flu bug awhile back. I couldn't eat for 18 days. I tried to drink as much water as possible. But I threw that up too. I threw up hundreds of times. Went to my primary doctor every other day for a saline drip. Had a few tests in the hospital, everything was fine. Just very slowly I started eating again.
Peeka_Mimi 3 days ago (edited)
That was not my experience. I ignored DKA for 3 months until it became severe. I thought I had the flu and went into the ER, ended up in the hospital for 4 days, three of those days it was the ICU. Lord have mercy don't tell people to ignore their instincts. They know their body, you don't.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
That's absolutely NOT what this one is saying. 🙄 If you have the stomach flu don't eat anything because you're just going to throw it up. They're not telling you to blatantly ignore the symptoms of diabetes. 🤷♀️
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RELATED:
#2
Some people, including myself, randomly get a sharp pain when breathing in (typically on the left side of the chest). It's really scary at first but it only lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes at most and episodes can happen daily, weekly, or monthly. It's called precordial catch syndrome and is completely harmless aside from the few seconds of pain.
Tropical Tarot 2 days ago
Oddly enough that's a out where my pulmonary embolism was located. Like im the pic. No symptoms just a low oxygen level at a dr visit.
Nik Odongray 6 hours ago
Thank you! I’ve always had this and figured maybe it was from my asthma or anxiety, but always wonder how I’ll be able to know if I’m having a heart attack or something since I already get that pain and assume it’s probably no big deal
LookASquirrel 2 days ago
This is so crazy. I have had something similar as long as I can remember but never told anyone. My dad had heart problems young, his dad died early 40s heart attack. But I, female ate a much healthier diet with raw veggies and fruit. Even my mom has high cholesterol. But all my physicals and blood tests (unrelated surgeries) are good except an occasional low iron.
#3
After you eat beets everything comes out red. Looks like blood but really... It's just the beets.
Tropical Tarot 2 days ago
Azo pills an over the counter UTI supplement turns it orange. And really dark chocolate cake like the over the hill ones and turn stool black. Sometimes barbeque can make your urine smell for a while.
WindySwede 2 days ago
And blueberries can make #2-thing darker. I dont really know other things that can make pee turn other colours though.
UnclePanda 2 days ago
Elderly Sophie had been admitted to the nursing home the night before, so my introduction to her the next morning was when I raced down the hall in response to shrieks of blue murrder. Sophie was an early Alzheimer's patient and had forgotten they told her the evening before that they'd given her a pill that turned her urine cobalt blue. It was a tracer related to her medical treatment. I did not blame her for screaming at all.
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ILoveMySon 2 days ago
My friend's skin took on an oranges hue. He cut down the number of carrots in his breakfast smoothies.
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Bored Trash Panda 8 hours ago
Like certain cereals! First time that happened I freaked out, then remembered I ate colorful cereal lol. Can't remember what one it was. I think Captain Crunch berries or something.
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#4
I always hear people complain about getting a flu shot. Saying "I don't get the flu shot anymore because everytime i get it i end up getting sick right afterwards anyway!" And i must explain, yet again, that the vaccination they recieve is a severely depletex version of the virus, and the "sick " feeling they get is their body recognizing and reacting to it, developing antibodies and inflammatory protiens in order to better react to the virus in the future. It FEELS just like being sick, because that's what happens when you get sick. But you're not sick, your body is just reacting AS IT SHOULD to the attenuated virus.
TL;DR flu shots don't make you sick.
Historyharlot93 3 days ago
I came down with a whopping case of flu the year I missed my shot. I didn’t know a person could get so sick and miserable. I make sure to get the shot, and nag my family to get it too. Don’t FAFO
CatD 2 days ago
I still wear a mask. Never had COVID and I don't get the flu or colds anymore either.
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Daisydaisy 2 days ago
Flu is not "just a bad cold" - it's a horrible and serious illness. I'm happy to have flu and Covid shots every year - I never get sick
Huddo's sister 2 days ago (edited)
My stepdad says this! Not only can you get side effects from the injection, it takes (iirc) two weeks to be fully potent, so you can catch the flu in that time. That's why you should get it early in the flu season.
#5
I had a patient who we put on blood pressure medication. When I checked his blood pressure it was 124/78. He started freaking out that it was not right, that it's usually over 140. I then proceeded to explain to him that's why we put him on blood pressure medication and how it works.
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
No, just not informed. One is a thinking (processing) skill missing, the other is data missing. Different.
Load More Replies... #6
Had a young man come to the ED saying he noticed his heart beating really fast for the last three days. I asked if he had changed anything in his diet or was taking any supplements.
"Yes. Actually I started taking this pre-workout supplement three days ago."
A quick google search showed me that this stuff was giving him about 500mg of caffeine in each serving.
Lesson 1: if something new is bothering you, think about what changed right before your problem started.
Lesson 2: read ingredients.
Lesson 3: 500mg of caffeine is WAY too much.
Judy Reynolds 2 days ago
And I don't react to caffeine at all. At least not in any way I can detect.
#7
Their daughter's first period. Wayyyy more often than you would hope, we have mothers bring their young daughters in with complaints of "abdominal pain and blood in urine" ....didn't you go through the exact same thing yourself at one point?
Peeka_Mimi 3 days ago
Yes and it was bleeding cysts and endometriosis. I wish I hadn't been ignored.
Upstaged75 3 days ago (edited)
It took me over 10 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis. I wish nothing but bad luck and chronic diarrhea to all the medical professionals who dismissed me or told me I was being dramatic. I'm literally riddled with the stuff and it destroyed my tubes among other things.
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quentariel 2 days ago
To be honest, periods can be very different from person to person. So if mom's have even a slightest worry that it might be something more severe than a normal period, they could and should bring their daughter to the doctor. And even if doctors have seen a bunch of overworried parents, they should still not dismiss them without actually bothering to check.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Girls should have a thorough and unbiased exam at their first periods. It is a perfect time to catch many severe cases. Any doctor who discounts this is a s******d, religious fanatic, or both.
#8
Infants (newborns especially) commonly have an irregular breathing pattern. We get a lot of ER visits from new parents who are convinced something is wrong with their baby.
I would 110% rather tell parents "your kid is just fine" than the opposite, so I don't mind at all when parents bring their kids in to be seen.
Marianne 2 days ago
This is real! I could have slept a lot more as a new mum, but I lay awake next to my sleeping child, because his breathing was so irregular that I was afraid he would stop breathing all the time.
BrownEyedGrrl 2 days ago
Same. My daughter was born 7 weeks early & stayed in the hospital for a month. She slept in a bassinet, next to my bed, with my hand on her at all times.
Load More Replies... #9
All the things that happen right after having a baby. Yes, you will be bleeding for, on average, a week, with some spotting for up to 6 weeks. No, the cramping doesn't stop when the baby comes out. Your gigantic uterus (dubbed a baby bag by a patient) needs to work it's way back to being the size of a fist. Babies cry. You will not go back to your pre-baby body by the time you are discharged, bring sweatpants and flip flops, especially cause you're gonna be puffy from the fluids. Breastfeeding doesn't magically happen, you gotta do work. Also, it hurts at first, but that goes away.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
This is the fault of the media, movies, the birther cult, and deliberate ignorance. Child birth is a serious and damaging event for women. No matter how loved and desired the infant might be.
Daisydaisy 2 days ago
I was shocked (every time!) by how painful it was when a newborn started latching onto my breasts for the first few times. Didn't last long but bloody hell it hurt! Nobody warns you about that! (Or maybe these days they do - I had mine pre-internet!)
Motivated sloth 2 days ago
I felt like she was sticking razor blades through my nipples. I had worked with a doula and midwife and hadn’t been prepared for that.
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Charl Marx 2 days ago
I like to think I'm pretty clued up in this department, however, I genuinely never knew about the bleeding after birth until I had my daughter. 3 weeks of continuous bleeding for me. I still think things like this aren't spoken about enough.
JB 2 days ago
If you're in Canada, there are lots of supplies in the birthing suites, like the striped baby blanket and such. But the best are those absorbant blue pads they slid under you for the birth and your first night of observation. All that stuff in the suite is for you: take it. Bring an extra bag for all that unofficial birthing swag you are going to permanently borrow.
#10
A lot of 45 year old patients come in concerned that they are having trouble reading not realizing that everyone needs reading glasses eventually. That usually makes them feel old.
UnclePanda 2 days ago (edited)
Standing before the Big Reading Glasses display for the first time, I realized that it was a monument to failure and an altar to making the difficult life decision to give in, admit that my arms aren't long enough anymore, admit the need, get over myself, and get reading glasses. I briefly explained this to the reluctant woman next to me, her husband hovering supportively in the back, as she, too, faced her mortality in the middle of CostCo. She chuckled and he gave me a subtle thumbs up.
Tropical Tarot 2 days ago
I never had to do that myself because I have worn glasses since the age of 12. I was there when my 42 yo wife had to admit defeat. Then she had to get glasses a month later. .
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Little Bit 2 days ago
I'm 47 and now need three pairs of prescription glasses (one pair for distance, one pair for reading and sunglasses). I feel old.
UnclePanda 2 days ago
Wait until you find yourself wearing all three at the same time. It's the same pain, but it cuts with a much finer edge.
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Papa 1 day ago
I have been wearing glasses for distance vision since I was around 12 years old. I had to go to bifocals when I was in my 40's because my arms got too short (if you don't understand, I had to hold the reading material further and further away to be able to read it, until I couldn't hold it far enough away).
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
This is such an odd realization to me. I'm 43 and have been wearing glasses for literally longer than I can remember (I was 16 months old, barely walking and talking!). Corrective lenses are such a part of my ability to function at the most basic level that I can't imagine not completely embracing getting them when you need them!
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
I bet your schoolmates were not kind to you about them, though.
Load More Replies... Bored Trash Panda 8 hours ago
I turn 40 in a couple month, I have needed glasses since i was 21 so nothing new to me.
#11
I've had a few black families bring their child into my dental office worried that their gums are dark and possibly infected. No, that's normal pigmentation...like your skin.
Betty Spaghetti 2 days ago
Medical illustrations reeaally should come in the full spectrum of skin colors
Kirsten Kerkhof 2 days ago
Perhaps because you never see (or at least I haven't) any pictures of teeth and gums that aren't of white people. Light pink gums are the norm when it comes to what 'healthy teeth and gums' look like in pictures. So if your gums are darker because your skin is dark, it may feel like it's concerning.
Load More Replies... #12
EX-EMT here.
Arrived on the scene, guy says he thinks he is having a heart attack because his left arm is hurting. Vitals all looked great.
He was sore from exercising at the gym. He actually said "yeah but my left arm hurts worse than my right arm." To which the paramedic (basically my boss) was like "Well did you work your left arm more than your right at the gym?"
"Uhh, actually yeah."
"Well that's probably why."
2nd day on the job. As we were leaving he was like "yeah we get a lot of this. And half the time it's right when you're trying to eat dinner.".
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
Once, per ailment, per person. Moderation in all things - and, know yourself !
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#13
"My newborn baby wants to feed every 2 or 3 hours"
Even before being a health professional I knew this was normal.
Roni Stone 2 days ago
Oh, that sweet sound they make when they are determined to enjoy that feast, and the exercise induced euphoria that goes with it. And that milky grin. There is nothing more beautiful in the world.
Bored Birgit 19 hours ago
And me. Would literally like to eat all the time with little pauses to do things.
Load More Replies... Child of the Stars 1 day ago
I was worried when my oldest was constantly eating but not gaining a whole lot of weight. When I mentioned it to the pediatrician, he checked their chart. Turned out my kid was putting all that growing energy into growing longer instead of heavier. They're now 12 and in the low 20% for weight but 90% for height. Just like their super tall and skinny father.
#14
A lot of people come to the ER for a cough, scratchy throat or runny nose. I can be sympathetic about this, but I ask them when it started "Just this morning". You probably have a cold, and at most should be in urgent care instead of the ER, but really should just be at home resting. Also a lot of people don't realize that colds last on average about 2 weeks (not 3-5 days like most people seem to think). The first week is when you feel the worst, the 2nd week is when you feel better but your sinuses and airways are still clearing but you feel hella congested, then the cough and draining can continue well into the 3rd week and the scratchy throat is from the cough and sleeping with your mouth open.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Many folks in the US have no choice. Most urgent care require specific insurance or cash up front. ER will take your regardless
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Nikki Sevven 1 day ago
Colds are viruses. The ER can't do a thing for you. Stay home so you don't get everyone else sick.
Motivated sloth 2 days ago
I get this but I am also aware that if you have a virus such as the flu or Covid, you’ll only be prescribed antiviral meds within the first two days. If you’ve been horribly sick with a virus, missing that window seems like a terrible idea.
Kelly Scott 2 days ago
If I got a cold and had to work, it lasted a week and a half. The one time I got a cold on my vacation, it was gone in 5 days because I was able to rest.
Mreoww 2 days ago (edited)
To be fair, I waited two weeks when I had a sore throat, and it turned into pneumonia.
Parmeisan 2 days ago
And I got prescribed penicillin for a sore throat which the doctor assumed was strep. It caused my kidneys to shut down (unlucky side effect) and I was in the hospital for 19 days. It wasn't even strep. I'm not sure what the lesson is here, it's just a funny contrast. When we're worried we should ask the doctors and hope they don't make mistakes (they can, they're human). A sore throat shouldn't last that long - even if the cold does, it cycles through symptoms - so I guess we just pay attention and if it feels wrong, get it checked.
Load More Replies... #15
Myoclonic jerks: that sudden muscle spasm, especially when you are falling asleep and suddenly your whole body jerks. Absolutely normal as part of your brain realizes you are about to fall asleep and wakes you up.
Brian Droste 2 days ago
It also be could be be cause you are tensed up and as you fall asleep and relax, your body releases the tension through jerking motion. This is what I noticed with me in the past. Especially when I used to work. Now that I am retired and have less stress, this happens way less often.
#16
A couple of years ago I had to get vaccinated for school. Afterward I keep feeling this wetness under the bandage, it's really weird. It wouldn't go away even an hour or so later, so I get slightly worried. Nothing like this had ever happened before and I've never heard about such a reaction, so it has to be something weird. Maybe the vaccine leaked out?
So I go back and ask the nurse is she can check it out. Here's where it gets embarrassing. After she carefully peels off the bandage she informs me they used a non-alcohol based antiseptic that doesn't dry as quickly.
Also, I'm a medical student.
#17
Ear wax consults. I've said it once, I'll have to say it a million times. Ear wax is NOT your enemy. It protects your ears - it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is adsorbent. Not a week goes by without a consult for blood in the ear due to a Q-tip, or a ruptured drum from puncturing it with a foreign object, or a thermal injury from ear candling. It is NOT DIRT.
StrawberryCyxnide 3 days ago
Still gotta clean some of it out (don't shove a Q-tip in your ear)
WindySwede 2 days ago
The Q can do both harm to eardrum and often just push earwax further into the ear.
Load More Replies... Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Ear wax can be a particular problem for those with the dry type ear wax as it can compact. The more liquid, oily type is not as much of a problem. But, both types should be cleaned
Lee Gilliland 1 day ago
Supposedly you can put a candle near your ear it softens the wax and melts the earwax. It doesn't work.
Load More Replies... #18
This isn't as exciting as the other comments, but it happens so often it's hard not to mention! I am always surprised when patients are very worried about minor constipation. If having a bowel movement once every 2-3 days is normal for you, that's okay! You are not "unhealthy". There are some exceptions, especially in acute situations, but generally if you aren't experiencing any discomfort then there is no reason to stress!
Roni Stone 2 days ago
The bowels rule the body. At least they think they do. I was regular every couple of days, then I was regular every day, then twice a day, back to every couple of days... Our diet, our schedules, our hormonal load - all affect our bowel patterns. Get your colonoscopies when due, and stay on top of your MD if you have concerns. Oh, and look up the p00p chart. Yep, there's a chart. Tells you almost everything you never wanted to know about your p00p. LOL
Little Bit 2 days ago
It's probably because there are so many scaremongering stories in the media about bowel and colon cancer, and you are urged to go to your doctor at the slightest change in your bowel habits.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
That's the thing though. A change in bowel habits can be a serious red flag. But it should be a thing that's noticed over a period of time and when you've ruled out things like a change in diet/hydration or routine.
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#19
Subconjunctival haemorrhage. It's basically when a small blood vessel bursts in your eye and the white goes partially or completely red. It looks super dramatic but if it's painless and doesn't affect your vision then it's harmless and will eventually go away by itself.
Also, the leaflets in medication often cause a bit of panic. I've had patients who got a sore stomach after taking their antibiotics and were convinced it was liver failure, or that their tiny rash was definitely the beginnings of toxic epidermal necrolysis.
On the other hand there are things that people are less concerned about than they should be, and coming from a pharmaceutical point of view one of the biggies is paracetamol (aka acetaminophen, aka Tylenol). It's very safe if you stick to the max dose, but I have lost count of the number of my patients who have taken like 20 tabs in 24h because they had toothache or a sore head. Straight to hospital for all sorts of blood tests!
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Exactly. And the people who need it the most are often the ones most easily damaged by it. Taking enough on a regular basis to treat migraines or other chronic pain can k**l.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 2 days ago (edited)
Twelve aspirin a day (combination acetaminophen and aspirin) every day for 30 years because of headaches. I saw over 40 doctors during this time. If it's so bad for me, why the f**k did the doctors just pat me on the head and say "I don't know. Run along now" with absolutely no concern whatsoever? So don't go screaming at me now for taking all that aspirin. The time to be concerned was then, not now. You guys had your chance and you decided it wasn't serious, remember?
#20
Before I ever went to nursing school I went to the doctor for this strange, firm nodule in my right groin, near my bikini line. It had been there for awhile and I was paranoid... What if it was cancer or something?
He felt it and then asked me if there were any others. (He must have been amused at this point.) I said, "Actually, I can feel another on the other side, too." It turns out, I had located my inguinal lymph nodes. They were perfectly normal, but most people don't notice them unless they happen to be thin and can feel them under the skin.
#21
Concussion symptoms can last a long time and everyone is different on how they react to them. Just because your friend had a concussion and was doing his return to play stuff in a week and a half doesn't mean you're going to recover the same way. Also just because you didn't black out or lose consciousness doesn't mean you aren't concussed, it just means you have 1 less symptom for us to check.
Edit: I'm really glad that this has caused such a discussion with so many experiences/inputs. This has been a topic that I've been passionate about for a while. I've done an undergrad research project on it and hopefully I can get on board with some of the bigger research studies going on so we can reduce the concussion rate in young athletes and prevent a lot of the long term effects. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, educate your kids, athletes etc. Talk to your Athletic Trainers at school (if you have one, that's another thing I'm trying to work on for the future) to talk to your kids and coaches. You would much rather be safe and have them sit out for a game or two than have them sidelined for life.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
I've had a few (I'm a horseback rider) but I usually bounced back quickly. Until the one time I got Post-Concussion Syndrome. That really sucked. I didn't even get knocked out - just had a hard fall. Got back on and finished riding, but a few hours later it got really bad. The symptoms stick around longer than normal if you get PCS.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
If you get a concussion, get cko’d by a competent doctor. Not one employed by your sports team or military unit.
yeeyee 2 days ago
KO'ed on a jump, thrown into Humvee and taken to on post hospital. Out of there in less than three hours, driving around town because my memory hadn't came back and I didn't remember where I lived. Eventually came back too me, that was 2011. I am on P&T, my conversations are limited to short talk because I can't remember much past that.
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 1 day ago
I was very pleased my son refused to play football. His dad actually played pro and what it did to his body was awful.
Kelly Scott 2 days ago
Concussions are weird. I got one when a horse backed over me and knocked me over, but the way I remember it is, I got up off the ground first from behind the horse and then he backed over me.
#22
Getting more aches and pains as they age. So many people are on medicine for minor issues. I know there are a lot of people out there that need them for chronic problems, but the amount of people who lay in bed complaining of pain 10/10 in their back astounds me. The best thing for getting rid of back pain (in most cases) is to get up and get moving.
And I'm talking about the ones that have no signs or symptoms of discomfort. They can move, they don't guard or have facial grimacing. They just need those percocet every 4 hours, and if you encourage getting out of bed they look at you like you just kicked a puppy. Most people get aches and pains as they age, some people just really don't handle it well.
Becky Samuel 3 days ago
The rule with backs, joints and muscles is "Use it or lose it". If you don't put a joint through its full range of motion regularly, then expect to lose that range of motion. If you don't get down onto the floor and back up again, then one day when you fall you'll find that you can't get up.
CatD 2 days ago
If course prescribing Tylenol for chronic back pain from failed back surgery doesn't help the patient either. You have to deal with the patient on a case by case basis.
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Kelly Scott 2 days ago
This is the kind of person I just want to slap across the face - hard. I have scoliosis and severe arthritis, plus a compressed disc in my back. I can't stand unaided for more than 30 seconds anymore and when I do walk, after a couple of steps, I have to walk bent over because of the pain. For someone to tell me to "move more" is like asking a legless man to run a marathon. It makes me wish someone would dump a carload of pain on them and see how THEY handle it. Meantime, if you want me to move, help me to alleviate the pain. How hard is that to understand?
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
If you actually read it, the OP acknowledged that chronic pain due to underlying conditions is an exception.
Load More Replies... #23
Pain response to surgery. It doesn't matter how well you prepare some patients, they will always act shocked that they need analgesics (pain meds) after their procedure. Everyone wants to act tough (I'm looking at you men aged 25-55) but having your chest cracked open is no picnic and chest tubes hurt like hell. It's normal and you're not pathetic for crying.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
I had just had a drain put in my chest to remove fluid from around my heart, and when I got to the ICU one of the nurses asked me "why are you crying?". I wanted to stab her in the chest so she could find out, but all I could manage was "why do you think?". If she couldn't figure that out then she has no business being a nurse. 🙄
Lee Gilliland 1 day ago
On the other hand, last time I had surgery the doctor forgot to order pain med and I was in agony for more than an hour.
#24
30% of people have methane-producing bacteria in their bowels. These are the people who can light their farts on fire.
Roni Stone 2 days ago
Now this doesn't really seem harmless. Especially if they *do* light them on fire!
#25
Blepharospasm or eye twitch, it's usually due to caffeine, stress, fatigue, etc very rarely indicates something more complicated but I had patients wondering if they are having a stroke.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
Happens to me when I get really tired and have spent too much time in front of a screen.
quentariel 2 days ago
I get one too for staring sonething too intently, usually screen but can also be an art project or book, especially if the light is bad.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 2 days ago
I used to get this all the time (knew it was fine), I presume the reason I don't much now is I'm on magnesium daily.
StrawberryCyxnide 3 days ago
Has happened to me quite a few times, never thought I was having a stroke
#26
Recently had a diabetic patient complain that her blood sugar was dangerously low...checked it once and it was 148. Checked it again because she was determined to convince me it was too low and she needed soda and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Level was the same.
Good, normal blood glucose parameters for a diabetic patient are 80-149.
Kristiina Männiste 2 days ago
Must be different units... I was told normal was 4,1-5,9 mmol/L.
#27
Kids and fevers. People worry about febrile (fever) seizures if the fever is too high but it's not how high it gets, it's how fast it gets there. Please give your kid some Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen) before coming to the ER, we believe you that your kid has had a fever of 103F (39.4C), I don't actually need to see it. Fevers can also last anywhere from 2-7 days so rotating meds will help little ones feel better.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
Bring your kid in if the fever doesn't get better AFTER you give them meds. That's all the ER is going to do at first anyway.
Historyharlot93 3 days ago
My 11 month old son had a febrile seizure—started foaming at the mouth even. It was terrifying to watch, and we called an ambulance right away. Turns out he had RSV and was hospitalized for 3 days. There’s a vaccine for RSV now—use it parents! You don’t know how lucky you are!
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
Our pediatrician told us that the 2 most important fever flags are behavior and response to medication. If they're running a fever of 102°f but acting normally, let the fever do its thing; if they're lethargic with the fever, get it down. Then if it responds to the meds, that's a good sign (even if it jumps back up when the meds wear off), but if they're lethargic and the fever isn't responding to medication (even if it's a low grade fever), get them in ASAP. That bit of advice came in handy frequently with my kids.
#28
Canker sores. So many foods, herbs, and medicines can cause them. They aren't contagious, but look like herpes. If you've never had one they can make you panic.
Ace 2 days ago
It's a mouth ulcer, apparently. Never knew the Americans used a different term for them.
Kim Kermes 2 days ago
And stress. stopped having them after I got out of school, and into the Army, to give you an idea of the stress
Maya_D 2 days ago
No, cold sores are different. This is talking about mouth ulcers, which are not contagious like cold sores are. Or
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#29
Headaches. Yes, it COULD be an aneurysm, tumor, or stroke. But it could just be a simple HEADACHE! Try some Ibuprofen and water before deciding you are on your deathbed!!!
Kristiina Männiste 2 days ago
Or antidepressants. I honestly tried everything except morphine (would have tried that too but nobody believed how bad the headaches were) but finally getting antidepressants took away 90% of my headaches. Alltho, I must say that Ibuprofen and water does only work BEFORE headaches - swallowing a small pill or keeping anything down can get impossible if you have a full-blown headache
Bruce Mardle 2 days ago
Interesting. I know a couple of people who used to get migraines often but not so much after they started on an antidepressant.
Load More Replies... Becky Samuel 3 days ago
All fine and dandy, and then tomorrow we'll read about a patient who would have died if their headache hadn't been checked out. If it is an aneurysm or stroke, we don't have time to wait around to find out, and permanent disability and brain damage aren't appealing.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
That's not what they're saying. A stroke or aneurism has much different symptoms than a typical random headache. Anything unusual should be checked out. But if everyone went to the ER every time they had a minor headache that would be chaos.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 2 days ago
I used to have tremendous headaches all the time. I felt like I had every headache in the world - cluster, headache, migraine, tension, they all hurt like hell. The one time I got a headache that didn't feel that bad, I just put it off and took a couple of aspirin. That one turned out to be an aneurysm. Yes, it came on suddenly but compared to my regular headaches - pfft. Not nearly as painful.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Lots of ignorance in the above. If you have chronic headaches, neck pain along with them, sharp pain, aura, sinus pain, vision issues, etc, etc get them cko’d ASAP. Sure, a headache with a cold or after a stressful event can be treated with OTCs. This is just bad advice.
Mreoww 2 days ago
I agree. I got an absolutely horrible headache once with excruciating pain in my left eye and aura. It turned out to a good thing I got that checked out.
Load More Replies... Child of the Stars 1 day ago (edited)
Water, protein and/or carbs, a nap, and ibuprofen (in that order) will do the trick for me 9/10 times.
#30
Allergies to meds. I can't count the number of pts I've ask "Are there any medications you're allergic to?" and they can't answer it. They either don't know the difference between an allergy and a side effect, or don't know the name of the medication they're allergic to, and don't bother to wear a medical alert bracelet or anything. It's almost like they don't care.
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
I'm afraid it's a question of "FI,FO" - "follow instructions, find out". Those paper comments that come with your medications aren't there just to waste trees ...
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Tim Douglass 3 hours ago
One of the problems is that there is seldom an option for "d***s that I have had bad side effects from". I list two meds as "allergic". One may actually be a mild allergy, the other is just a very unpleasant side-effect that means they should use any one of dozens of suitable alternatives. Listing it as an allergy also means my insurance will approve the other, more expensive, options.
#31
I work in lab. People freak out if there's a bruise. Somehow this bruise can only ever be my fault. Maybe I went through the vein. Maybe I used too large of a needle. Maybe I jammed it in too quickly. It's never your fault because you bled around my needle or were on blood thinners and no amount of post-draw pressure could prevent the bruise.
It's a bruise. It goes away.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
I would never blame them for bruising me. It just happens sometimes. Especially if you have pale skin.
Anyone-for-tea? 2 days ago
It is 100% their fault if you get a big bruise! I have my blood done way too much and the variation in how they do it is astounding. Some are so heavy handed, I’ve had a bruise for a good couple of weeks after blood, but if it’s a bad cannula it might last for longer.
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Cathy Jo Baker 2 days ago
I recently got major bruising at a blood draw that was 100% the fault of the phlebotomist. She was in training and did not listen to the instructions of her superior.
ILoveMySon 2 days ago
Exactly. I give them two tries then ask for another tech. Because I have a terminal illness, I get poked and prodded a lot and know the inexperienced, sometimes fearful, phlebotomists.
Load More Replies... Bored Trash Panda 7 hours ago
I bruise EVERY TIME. Doesn't matter how gentle the person is that is sticking me. Just happens.
#32
I saw a patient who was convinced a tumor was growing on the back of their head. After examination it was just their external occipital protuberance, a normal bump on the back of the skull. It must've been the first time they actually felt the back of their skull.
Kim Kermes 2 days ago
My brother has an actual occipital bun. Lots of Neanderthal genes in our family
Kristiina Männiste 2 days ago
Im guilty of that. In my defense I was 15 and had history of a fall (from a kiiking swing - those things are no joke) and constant headaches.
#33
Regular heart beat isn't.
Speeding up when breathing in and slowing down when breathing out is utterly normal.
Palpitations aren't anything unusual or bad. Sometimes it's just easier to consciously feel the heart at work, usually at night, then people freak themselves out over it, which makes it worse... not a heart attack.
Extra-systoles are also pretty common and while there are illnesses that produce more of them, totally healthy people have them from time to time too. It feels like the heart is skipping half a beat, followed by an extra strong thump.
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 2 days ago
I used to be a huge hypochondriac when I was a kid. I used to get extremely anxious if I could hear my own heartbeat- still kind of do. And of course, my anxiety only made my heartbeat speed up, which in turn made me more anxious...
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
It's when you *stop* hearing your heartbeat that you should worry ;-)
Load More Replies... Chich the witch 2 days ago
I've a slight irregular heartbeat. Not a worry unless you get treated with arsenic trioxide which is how I found out about it. So many EKGs.
RamiRudolph 2 days ago
Yeah, I have those extra systoles. Got my heart checked out, nothing wrong with it. Or I often get triggered by the vagus nerve that just FEEL like something wrong with my heart. Still scares me, no matter how harmless it is.
#34
I work in ophthalmology, and the award goes to floaters, the little black spots that you sometimes see floating around your vision.
In rare cases of a ton of them appearing suddenly they may be symptomatic of a more serious issue like a retinal tear or retinal detachment, but 99% of the time they are COMPLETELY benign. And people FREAK. **OUT** when they see them. I had a lady insist on seeing the doctor as an emergency for floaters and she was basically histrionic in the waiting room because she was afraid of going blind between her arrival time and her eye exam with the doctor. I once told another borderline-hysterical woman that I had had floaters my entire life, and she stops crying, stares at me wide-eyed, and says, "You DO? Oh my GOD, how do you LIVE?"
(manly grimace) I just take it day by day...try to keep putting one foot in front of the other...
Roni Stone 2 days ago
Wait until you see the flashing lights from the periphery. Whew! I stopped driving with those because it the flashing lights were so distracting. Turned out to be vitreous detachment, or the shrinking of that jelly part of one's eye. Normal with aging, and soon fixed itself. It was a bit weird until it went away, however.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
This is one where I'm the exception. I have extreme myopia, which puts me a high risk of several serious conditions. I have to pay attention to things like how many floaters I have because they can early indicators of a serious problem.
Lee Gilliland 1 day ago (edited)
If you're wondering, you have many more veins and arteries as a child and once you've grown they dissolve because they've done their duty, and the floaters in your eye are there because your eye doesn't have the ability to remove them. Sometimes asking questions of your doctor means you learn interesting things.
Huddo's sister 2 days ago
Those floaters are nothing compared to when you get a vitrectomy! They scrape the vitreous humour back from the retina and insert gas (I think that's correct) and then you get big floaters that feel really weird for days afterwards as the gas escapes.
#35
Foot cramps. If you're all alone when you first get one you may think this is the end.
FlamingoPanda 2 days ago
Wait until you get plantar fasciatis. That is way worse than foot cramps. Even worse than foot cramps while driving.
#36
Had a patient come in to be checked for the plague because he was running a fever, bit didn't treat it with anything and was now fine. The concern was that they lived in the mountains and around squirrels.
Clanker Detector 2 days ago
Thank you for contributing absolutely nothing
Load More Replies... #37
Indigestion.
Oh, your tummy started hurting a little after you scarfed down a bunch of McDonalds? Exactly which part of this strikes you as an *emergency*?
BrownEyedGrrl 2 days ago (edited)
A man in the ER just KNEW he was having a heart attack. When asked what he'd eaten that day, "THREE Sonic double cheeseburgers." He let out the stinkiest, longest fart in history & was OK.
#38
Astigmatism. I have patients coming in telling me in the same revered, hushed tones that they'd say 'cancer' that the reason they can't see well is because they have a bad "stigmatism / stigmata / stickaticka / stigma"... My spiel, "A-stigmatism is a technical word that describes how your eye focuses light. You can replace words like near-sighted, far-sighted, and astigmatism with just 'out of focus'. It's not a disease: a camera, a telescope, and an eye can have an astigmatism".
Upstaged75 3 days ago
And you can be magically "cured" of it by wearing glasses. 😁 Although even with the glasses I still see starbursts from lights at night. Somehow I manage to survive.
Kristiina Männiste 2 days ago
I have actually caused a small crash because the starbursts were especially bursting that night... Turned in front of a car I did not see. Night+rain+astigmatism s***s
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 2 days ago
I'm going to announce to my eye doctor that I have "stickaticka" and see what he says (I actually do have astigmatism, though).
Sally Moen 2 days ago
People with astigmatism have pointy eyes, more than everyone else, whose eyes are more rounded.
#39
The xiphoid process is the little bit of cartilage/bone right in the centre of the chest towards the bottom of the breastbone, and around fortyish years of age it starts to harden and protrude (usually in men)
Lots of the guys come to the ER thinking it's cancer.
Andrew Keir 1 day ago
Well, at least they're aware of their body and prepared to ask about it. Too many people die of embarrassment or procrastination.
#40
Therapist here. Depression. I can't tell you how many people think a depressive disorder is the end of the world and that once they cross the magical line of being diagnosed they're going to be miserable forever because now it's "official". There's nothing to be ashamed about. Depression is a lot of things but it's never a flaw of character. I can't tell you how much time is spent in early sessions with a client where they want nothing more but for me to write them some kind of note to the psych saying "he was having a bad day when you diagnosed, he's happy really!".
FlamingoPanda 2 days ago
Had chronic depression my whole life. Some days I am super down and some days I am happy. Most people though will go through a depressive episode and recover with therapy and or meds and then never have another episode.
My O My 2 days ago
Hi dear stranger, nice to meet someone living with the same condition! Cheers from bavaria
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 2 days ago (edited)
I've found the only thing that really helped my depression was the original Prozac. Not the generic. I've heard that sometimes in the generic, the shell of the capsule can be too thick or too thin, so it doesn't dissolve at the correct time to deliver the medication. And also, the "filler", the packaging around the actual medication in the capsule, may not be as good as it could be and cause some people to have problems with it. At any rate, I did just fine when I could get the original Prozac. Now, of course, that costs a small fortune and Medicare won't cover it so all I can get is the generic, which I finally quit because it wasn't doing anything.
#41
Nearly everybody that fills out a form before speaking to me thinks he bruises easier than others...wich COULD be a sign for different deseases but nearly never is...
Roni Stone 2 days ago
I can sincerely say I bruise easily. Blood thinners. I look like trump's hand half the time. .
Huddo's sister 2 days ago
I'm not on blood thinners but bruise easily, as does my mum. She actually had her doctor asking if her husband was abusing her because of them! Since then she has been put on blood thinners, so it's even worse.
Load More Replies... BrownEyedGrrl 2 days ago
My dad wanted me tested for leukemia when I was little because I was always covered in bruises. I was just a really clumsy kid.
Sally Moen 2 days ago
I can not be concerned about bruises, especially on my legs, because I ride a bicycle, and getting bumped by the pedals is a regular occurrence.
#42
Lipomas. Common, harmless and show up almost anywhere as small lumps. The most common place i see them is on backs and in the inguinal region. They are just a group of fat cells. Atypical lipomas can turn into liposarcomas but this is extremely rare.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
But they do sometimes impinge on nerves and hurt. They also can get infected over time. It’s best to mention them to a doctor.
#43
The flu. Please don't call 9-1-1 for the flu unless it's absolutely necessary. Most of the time there's nothing that can be done to help you and you're putting everyone in the ER at risk. Call your doctor and see if they even want to make an appointment with you. Most of the time they don't because you'll put their patients at risk as well. 99% of the time the best thing to do is rest and hydrate.
Becky Samuel 3 days ago
Excess deaths attributed to the flu in the UK range between 3,000 and 15,000 a year depending on the current strain. The flu is not a trivial disease.
Historyharlot93 3 days ago
No it’s not, esp for the elderly. ER for sure if you’re really sick, but an ambulance ride is unnecessary.(Except in extreme cases) Besides, they tie up emergency resources and are expensive to boot!
Load More Replies... Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Decent doctors will prescribe an antiviral after a phone consultation.
#44
The bump along your c-spine/neck region. One vertebra has a bump the protrudes more than the others, and anyone falling on their back/neck thinks they broke their neck when they feel it.
#45
You would be suprised if you found out how many people that gets an head MRI because they felt a little dizzy the other day, and they freak out about it and think they have a brain tumor.
We actually had a lady that had a referral along the lines of:
Passed out in the shower. I wish to do an MRI.
I feel like GPs a powerless against certain types of patients.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
Passing out in the shower or anywhere is worthy of a doctor visit and possible ER one
Papa 1 day ago
I agree. Getting dizzy is one thing; passing out should be investigated.
Load More Replies... #46
I'm a Dermatologist. People freak out about seborrheic keratoses. 90% of the time when someone comes in with "new changing mole concerning for melanoma" it is one of them.
Family doctors get so little dermatology training that many have no clue what they are, and so they refer their patients to me for these. It's nice to give reassurance, but it's just getting ridiculous at this point.
Upstaged75 3 days ago
I just googled this, and based on the pictures I'd probably think they were cancer as well. Better safe than sorry!
Kirsten Kerkhof 2 days ago
Exactly! The public is warned to keep an eye on changing moles and have them checked for cancer so any melanomas are caught early. And then, when they do have them checked, apparently they are 'ridiculous'. Make it make sense.
Load More Replies... Cathy Jo Baker 2 days ago
Why are you complaining? Those "ridiculous" people are keeping you employed. I'm really glad the two dermatologists I see are more compassionate than you. Doctors complain patients aren't proactive about their health yet when they are they're labeled ridiculous. SMH
FlamingoPanda 2 days ago
I see a dermatologist every year for a mole mapping because of this. The average person cannot easily tell a cancerous mole from one of these. So I rather get my back checked to ensure nothing is getting out of hand.
Kelly Scott 2 days ago
Well, jerk, what do you expect? Everyone has been told that if they see a new mole, or has one that changes color or shape, they should see a doctor. So they're seeing a doctor. What else do you want them to do? I have hundreds of moles on my body and they're all two-toned in color or irregularly shaped or new. I don't bother about them because it's the attitude by doctors like you that keep me from getting any of them checked.
Huddo's sister 2 days ago
My doctor's clinic has a GP who used to be a dermatologist, so we go to her for skin related things. She has had to burn off a few of mum's moles because they were precancerous.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
My previous GP used to be a dermatologist too. I had 2 moles removed because he was concerned (I also have a family history, so there's that too). Fortunately, both were just benign moles, but I take all my marks seriously now.
Load More Replies... Bored Trash Panda 6 hours ago
That is literally what your job is for, why are you complaining? If a mole looks off/suspicious you go to a freaking dermatologist.
#47
Morning sickness.
Now, let me say, I am a male. But, in my line of work (Paramedic), I see lots of serious incidents downplayed by patients, and lots of minor things blown out of proportion.
Routinely, first time mothers to be think morning sickness is the end of the world. They they call for help every other day for a few months until it passes. Some do need some help, but the majority blow it way out of proportion. If I had to gander a guess, the younger the first time mother to be, the more dramatic.
Roni Stone 2 days ago
And then there are those who burn lesions in their esophagus and vomit blood. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a thing and it is bad.
Bored Trash Panda 6 hours ago
I had hyperemesis. I was in the hospital every other day because of it to get IV bags and Zofran because I couldn't even keep down water. Luckily it didn't last as long as it does in some people. It absolutely SUCKED.
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B.M. 2 days ago
"Some do need some help, but the majority blow it way out of proportion" ist what many male doctors say about women with any pain complaints as well. How about "These women suffer, but it is a natural and not dangerous cause and there is no real hell"? Ah no, of course a half-god doctor can't say that. Let's ridicule the woman instead!
Daisydaisy 2 days ago
One of my sisters was hospitalised for brutal day-long vomiting for her whole pregnancy. She was monstrously unwell
Child of the Stars 1 day ago (edited)
Dehydration can be fatal to a healthy adult, never mind a fetus. If you're experiencing morning sickness and are concerned that it might be bad enough to affect your baby, please, for the love of whatever you consider holy, get it checked out!
Nikki Sevven 1 day ago
I kept a sleeve of Saltines (soda crackers) on my night table, and ate a couple right when I woke up. It stopped the morning sickness.
#48
This kinda freaks out the alcoholics who are now sober. The human creates its own alcohol (ethanol) as a normal intermediary byproduct of metabolism. It is extremely small in concentration maxing out at 0.004 in the BAC measurement scale. The body's gut bacteria can also produce a tiny amount of ethanol during digestion depending on your gut bacteria and diet. This also gets absorbed and metabolized pretty quickly and in very low amounts.
That being said, there is alcohol in your body. You're not 0.00000000% alcohol free.
Child of the Stars 1 day ago
As an alcoholic in recovery, the only thing that freaks me out (read: infuriates me) about this is the dismissive undertone of it.
Lily bloom 2 days ago
What is this person even trying to say? Someone that says they're sober is a liar on a technicality?
Sally Moen 2 days ago
Lots of foods have alcohol produced by decomposing. I mean your sandwich has lettuce and tomato? If you leave it out for a bit, it starts to create gas, and can produce alcohol from the process. Fruit and fruit juices of course are known to quickly ferment into alcohol unless kept cold. Something to remember when you are blowing on your interlock ignition device to start your car, as it will register alcohol on your breath even if you have not had a drink.
#49
Moles. I'm not a doctor but 6 years as an Army Medic I saw more people come in for "weird mole" than nearly everything else, except common illnesses. Hey Doc this mole looks weird. "Why yes it does Specialist. It's probably cancer riddled with herpies. Now stop laying in tanning beds for hours before it actually does become a problem.".
Becky Samuel 3 days ago
Yeah. We keep coming in for 'weird moles' because you keep telling us that weird moles are going to kíll us.
Chich the witch 2 days ago
Have had two weird moles turn out to be cancerous so yeah I'll keep getting them looked at.
Kelly Scott 2 days ago
He's an Army Medic. Why would he know anything about moles anyway? That's like going in to the dentist to get glasses.
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What do you think ?
Becky Samuel 3 days ago
We are bombarded with information about people who have díed or narrowly avoided terrible ends because of minor symptoms being ignored. We have public health awareness campaigns telling us not to ignore moles, changes in toilet habits, etc. So don't blame us when we actually listen to this and act on it.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
A lot of these seem to be from medical professionals who don’t like to work. Point is don’t be a pest, but if a major pain or headache appears suddenly, get it cko’d at first. Same with moles that change or appear suddenly.
Mari 2 days ago
I don't understand why they don't teach the basic health skills in school. Just learning kids to desinfect wounds, learning about painkillers, basic knowledge of diabetes/ a cold/ flu/ stomac flu/fever/ menstruation/headaches, leaning about vaccinations and healthy eathing habits. It would help so much people. Now they have a few lessons about menstruation and eating habits but that is not enough. I wonder why health is not a subject in school.
Huddo's sister 2 days ago (edited)
We have a program in Australian primary schools called the Life Ed Van that comes to teach about these things. In high school we have health class that is the theory lesson connected with the PE program, that covers a lot too.
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Becky Samuel 3 days ago
We are bombarded with information about people who have díed or narrowly avoided terrible ends because of minor symptoms being ignored. We have public health awareness campaigns telling us not to ignore moles, changes in toilet habits, etc. So don't blame us when we actually listen to this and act on it.
Nils Skirnir 2 days ago
A lot of these seem to be from medical professionals who don’t like to work. Point is don’t be a pest, but if a major pain or headache appears suddenly, get it cko’d at first. Same with moles that change or appear suddenly.
Mari 2 days ago
I don't understand why they don't teach the basic health skills in school. Just learning kids to desinfect wounds, learning about painkillers, basic knowledge of diabetes/ a cold/ flu/ stomac flu/fever/ menstruation/headaches, leaning about vaccinations and healthy eathing habits. It would help so much people. Now they have a few lessons about menstruation and eating habits but that is not enough. I wonder why health is not a subject in school.
Huddo's sister 2 days ago (edited)
We have a program in Australian primary schools called the Life Ed Van that comes to teach about these things. In high school we have health class that is the theory lesson connected with the PE program, that covers a lot too.
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