Have you ever felt a strange twinge or mild symptom and wondered if it’s worth a doctor’s visit? Modern life, with its stress, long work hours, and sleepless nights, leaves many of us with small niggling complaints. Most of these issues are minor and are mostly harmless. However, a couple that appear small can be the first sign of something far worse, and a physician will be trained to spot these.

1. A mole that doesn’t look “like the others”

Dermatologists live by a mnemonic that’s saved a lot of lives: ABCDE: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variegation, Diameter, Evolving. Any one of these can be a nudge to book a skin exam, and “E” (evolving change in size, shape, colour, itch, or bleed) is the heavy hitter. Melanomas(a dangerous form of cancer that starts in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour) can be smaller than a pencil eraser when caught, so “tiny” isn’t a free pass.

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Here’s the kicker for darker skin: dangerous lesions don’t always show up on sun-exposed areas. Acral lentiginous melanoma often appears on palms, soles, or under nails; easy to miss if you’re not looking. Bob Marley dismissed a dark streak under his toenail as a football injury; it turned out to be melanoma and killed him at 36. The lesson isn’t celebrity trivia; it’s location. Check the nail beds, too.

Quick check: Does a mole look odd compared with its neighbours or the way it used to? If yes, stop watching it like a stock chart and let a dermatologist look. 

Related story: Ask A Dermatologist: What Is The Secret For Healthy, Glowing Skin?

2. A cough that lingers past two weeks

A “regular” cough usually recedes with time. When it doesn’t, for two weeks or more, doctors are trained to think tuberculosis until proven otherwise. That doesn’t mean you have TB. It means you should test, because early treatment protects you and your family. The Government of India’s own FAQ spells it out: a persistent cough of two weeks is a red flag, and testing/treatment under the National TB Elimination Programme is free at public facilities.

WHO says to seek care for prolonged cough, fever, and unexplained weight loss, the trio that often travels together. In a country with a high TB burden, ignoring that combo is the exact opposite of brave.

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3. Jaw, back, or upper-back pain 

Cardiologists know heart trouble doesn’t read the textbook. Women in particular may show up with pain in the jaw, neck, back, or upper abdomen, sometimes with shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat, or fatigue. The American Heart Association lists these as legitimate heart-attack warnings. Gut check: If pain above the waist is new, odd for you, or paired with breathlessness, cold sweat, nausea, or dizziness, don’t self-negotiate. Get help.

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4. One calf suddenly hurts or swells 

Most exercise twinges fade. A single leg that’s swollen, warm, tender, or hard to bear weight on, especially after a long flight, surgery, hormonal meds, or pregnancy, pushes doctors to think deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Why they don’t ignore it: a clot can break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). ER teams treat this fast because it’s treatable and deadly when missed.

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5. Flashes, new floaters, or a “curtain” across vision

The eye doesn’t do alarms; it does clues. New flashes of light, a sudden burst of floaters, or a grey curtain sweeping across vision can signal a retinal tear or detachment. It’s painless, urgent, and time-sensitive. Sudden floaters and flashes can indicate immediate eye care. Ignore it, and you risk permanent vision loss. (Your future self will not thank you.)

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6) Weight that slips off without trying

The number on the scale moves for a hundred harmless reasons. In older adults, the American Family Physician review (2021) links that threshold to higher illness risk; cancer accounts for up to a third of cases, but non-cancer causes are actually more common. The point is not to panic; it’s to evaluate. >5 per cent in 6–12 months warrants a conversation with your clinician. Pair that with night sweats, fever, or prolonged cough, and you’ve drifted into the TB/other-infection territory.

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Two questions to ask yourself: Did clothes get loose without lifestyle changes? Has appetite shifted for no clear reason? If yes, write down rough dates and amounts; that timeline helps your doctor.

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None of this is about catastrophising. It’s about pattern recognition. Doctors don’t have superpowers; they respect certain patterns and act early. You can do a lighter version of that at home:

• Skin: Scan once a month. ABCDE. Check nail beds. Photograph anything evolving
• Cough: hit day 14? Test, especially with fever or weight loss.
• Heart: Jaw/back/upper-back pain with breathlessness, swear, or nausea? Don’t bargain; get help.
• Leg: One-sided swelling/pain? Think DVT until ruled out.
• Eyes: New flashes/floaters/curtain, do same-day ophthalmology.
• Weight: Unplanned >5 per cent in 6-12 months? Book a visit.

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The truth is, most of the time those little aches, spots, or shifts are nothing to lose sleep over. But once in a while, they’re the body’s way of sending up a flare, asking you to pay attention. Doctors are trained to catch patterns early, to see danger in the details we brush aside. You don’t need a medical degree to do the first step; just notice, keep track, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. Think of it less as being alarmist and more as being a good listener to your own body. After all, catching problems early isn’t just about adding years to your life; it’s about adding life to your years.

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