When patients cite a particular ten-word phrase, experts say they often identify a possible “serious illness” diagnosis.
Accessing medical knowledge and professional guidance has never been more practical with the explosion of sites like TikHub and Instagram. While they cannot replace a consultation with your General Practitioner (GP), these expert-led films can offer helpful guidance and highlight possible warning signs or symptoms you might be having.
Many doctors have used sites like Reddit and X (previously Twitter) in the past to post a specific line they have often come across that might point to major medical concerns for their patients.
During a recent provocative conversation on the r/medicine subreddit, a medical practitioner offered a “clinical pearl,” a piece of advise that is quite valuable. Designed for medical professionals, this forum included a discussion of a certain phrase that frequently serves as a major warning indicator of major health concerns.
Other users’ observations suggest that following the mention of this important statement, disorders like myocardial infarction, sometimes known as a heart attack, and even cancer have been found.
What then is this statement that captures a doctor’s attention? You might be startled to learn: “I feel fine, but my wife made me come in.” For doctors, this ten-word sentence has shown a significant predictive power.
Using his platform to warn the public about serious medical emergencies, emergency room physician and social media educator Sam Ghali has connected with this feeling.
When patients claim, “My wife made me come in,” Dr. Ghali said in 2023, “something is really seriously wrong until proven otherwise.” “Trust me on this one,” he said in a brief post.
Although this sentence definitely calls for doctors to be suspicious, it is not the only one. Another healthcare professional cautioned in the same Reddit thread, “Be wary of the sweet elderly lady who says she ‘doesn’t want to be a bother, but…'” “Once took a phone consultation with an elderly woman enduring hours of chest pain,” another user said. She said she simply “didn’t want to worry us”.
Medical practitioners also highlighted the ability of a “mother’s intuition” to spot major problems. One person related a period when they realized they shouldn’t discount this instinct: “Last week was the last time I doubted a mother’s intuition.” (Sic) “She expressed that her college-age child, without any prior health issues, just seemed ‘off.’ There were no signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, yet, the person suffered a stroke just as we were ready to send them home.”
If you have health issues, always consult a doctor; but, if your mother or wife tells you to, you might want to pay attention to their cautions.