6 SIGNS THAT YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR

It's easy to ignore these symptoms-but you shouldn't!

- ARRICCA ELIN SANSONE

Maybe your chest feels tight after you climb a flight of stairs. It's those extra pandemic pounds, right? Or perhaps you have a flaky area on your arm that won't clear up-surely it has to be just dry skin? If you're like many of us, you occasionally shrug off symptoms that should be checked out. There are probably many reasons you haven't seen your doctor yet: You're too busy; it's too embarrassing to talk about; you don't want to hear bad news; you don't want to ruin the weekend (yes, doctors say they've heard all of these!).

But it's critical not to shrug off any nagging symptom. "Many times when we find things early, we can treat them successfully," says Gabriela Chaviano, M.D., an internal medicine physician at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. "Sooner is always better than later when it comes to diagnosis and treatment, so a minor issue doesn't become major. Sometimes it really is nothing, but you won't know that if you don't get it evaluated." If you're not comfortable talking to your doctor, this may be a sign that you need to find one who's a better fit for your communication style and personality. "You should feel like you can say anything," says Dr. Chaviano. "The number one most important thing is to build a relationship where you feel you can be honest without fear. Your health should be a partnership with your doctor." If you've been ignoring any of the following symptoms, do yourself (and your family and friends!) a favor and make an appointment today.

1 Chest tightness or pressure