Still go to the doctor
“Just take it to the doctor, he doesn’t mind!” You may have heard that statement. It is of course completely correct, but there are embarrassing ailments with which you may prefer not to knock on the door of your doctor. When is it wise to get over your hesitation?
1. Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swelling bodies that are too swollen and therefore start to itch and irritate. They are located on the inside of the intestine, just in front of the anus, but can also sink out. When hard stools have to pass, they rub open, leaving you with bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl.
Some people get there by adjusting their diet and bowel habits from. In addition, the drugstore sells suppositories and creams that relieve itching and burning. If they are persistent or very painful, a visit to the doctor is recommended. If necessary, he or she will refer you to a specialist who can relieve you of your hemorrhoids using various methods. Even if you have blood in the stool or feel a bulge in the anus, but are not sure whether a hemorrhoid is the culprit, you should see your doctor. That can rule out whether something more serious is going on.
2. Erectile Dysfunction
About 14 percent of all Dutch men suffer from erectile dysfunction. The older you are, the greater your risk of erection problems: Almost a third of men aged 50 to 70 have it. Despite being so common, only 4 out of 1000 doctor visits are about erectile dysfunction and men wait an average of 2 years before going to the doctor.
Erection problems do not go away on their own. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day is the only thing that can help, according to research. Quitting smoking and losing weight if necessary can also improve blood flow, but you can’t do anything about it yourself. Waiting for it to ring is just counterproductive. The symptoms often increase as you get older. In young people, any fear of failure can become progressively worse. The doctor can help you, there are several treatments available.
3. Flatulence
Everyone has gas in the gastrointestinal tract. When you swallow, you swallow some air, but also when processing undigested food residues in the large intestine, many gases are released. They also have to be removed and that is why we have an average of ten winds a day. If you eat a lot of legumes, cabbage, onions, fruit, chewing gum, diet products or bread, or if you like to drink carbonated soft drinks, you may suffer from extra gas formation.
Flatulence can be a sign of constipation, an irritable bowel, lactose intolerance or a bowel disease. You often suffer from abdominal pain and bloating. There is not always an explanation for flatulence.
4. Vaginal Yeast Infection
Itching, redness and white, sometimes crumbly discharge that does not smell strongly point to a vaginal yeast infection. If you have suffered from it before, you will immediately know what time it is if you have such a fungal infection again. Sometimes it goes away on its own. If not, you can buy a cream or tablet that kills the fungus at the drugstore or pharmacy.
Not sure whether your symptoms are the result of a fungal infection? For example, are you unsure whether it is a STD is? Or do they just not pass? Then the GP can advise you and possibly prescribe other anti-fungal agents.
5. Warts
As many as a third of primary school-aged children have had warts at one time or another. However, it turned out a market research that 22 percent of parents are ashamed of their child’s warts.
Warts will eventually disappear on their own, but that can take one to two years. If you do not have much patience, there are liquids and ointments that you can use to tackle the warts. You can find these at the drugstore.
If you have warts near the genitals, you do need to see a doctor. It is also a good idea to have your doctor look at the warts if they are very persistent or if they itch, bleed or change color or size.
6. Fungal nails
A quarter of the population walks around with fungal nails or fungal nails. They have nothing to do with a lack of hygiene: washing the feet with soap actually encourages fungal nails. Drying your feet well after washing does help.
Fungal nails are very contagious and you can easily catch them in public places such as the swimming pool and the gym. They are harmless in themselves, but because they don’t look that nice, many people find them a bit embarrassing. Immediately good care, a lot of patience and in the worst case a pill cure from the doctor you can try to fight them.
7. Unwanted urine leakage
Whether you lose a few drops when you sneeze or laugh or suddenly have to urinate so badly that you can’t make it to the toilet: unwanted urine loss is very annoying and probably not something you would flaunt.
Despite the fact that a quarter of women sometimes have to deal with it – but many men too – it is still a bit of a taboo. But half of the people with urinary leakage seek help! A shame, because all kinds of treatments are possible. Sometimes a few sessions with a physiotherapist are enough to pelvic floor muscles to train. In addition, depending on the type of urine loss you are experiencing, surgery and medication are possible.
