The 3 deadly diseases that doctors tend to misdiagnose - here's how to identify for yourself - voila! health

Up to 10 percent of all diagnoses - False/ShutterStock

Diagnostic errors are a well-known phenomenon in the medical field, and in many cases can have tragic effects. Studies conducted in high-income countries indicate that in a year, almost five percent of its adult citizens experienced errors in medical diagnosis. Based on this information, scientists believe that more than half of these misdiagnoses can lead to serious harm. Moreover, there are strong reasons to believe that 5% of all misdiagnoses out of all patients in high-income countries are highly underestimated and the rate of misdiagnoses in low-income countries may be much higher.

Other estimates speak of higher percentages of misdiagnoses – about 10 percent of all diagnoses. When this happens, patients can suffer serious health damage, from which they may suffer until their last day at best, or even die.

The types of misdiagnoses are multiple and complex, since an incorrect diagnosis occurs due to a variety of factors. Misdiagnoses fall into three main categories:

• Striped diagnoses:For example, a diagnosis of missed cancer, despite its symptoms (for example, colorectal/rectal cancer that is missed as a diagnosis when a patient reports blood in the stool.
• Erroneous diagnoses that are treated:When the patient is informed of one diagnosis, even though there are findings of another disease
• Delay in receiving the diagnosis: when abnormal test results indicate the presence of cancer, but no one immediately notifies the patient or forwards it for further treatment to the appropriate doctor.
• Delay in receiving the diagnosis: when abnormal test results indicate the presence of cancer, but no one immediately notifies the patient or forwards it for further treatment to the appropriate doctor.

Diagnoses can often occur over time, rather than at a specific point in time, including initial evaluation, performing and interpreting diagnostic tests, monitoring diagnostic information, referral-related communication and coordination, and patient behavior, adherence and engagement. And not surprisingly, diagnostic errors can occur at any of these points of a patient's complex health journey.

Because of their wide range of symptoms, doctors tend to make mistakes in diagnosing three very common medical conditions: Parkinson's, heart attack, and stroke. And it can cost lives. This way you can identify simple signs of these three conditions and receive urgent medical attention, if, of course, the signs you have identified are indeed indicative of the medical condition you are in.

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Misdiagnosis of Parkinson's

Tremor, stiffness, loss of sense of smell. Maybe it's Parkinson's?/ShutterStock

Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the world. It is a disease in which a very high percentage of misdiagnoses usually occur, despite being so common.

A recent study found that 26 percent of patients are mistakenly diagnosed with a different medical condition before receiving the correct diagnosis of Parkinson's. Nearly half of these patients (48 percent) received the wrong treatment, while 36 percent received unnecessary medication and 6 percent underwent unnecessary surgeries or procedures.
Of the patients who received unnecessary treatment, more than a third (34 percent) reported that as a result of unnecessary treatment, their health condition worsened.

It should be noted that when it comes to Parkinson's disease, diagnosis time is critical. There are currently treatments available to help reduce the symptoms of the disease, and the earlier they are administered, the better their effect. Early diagnosis increases patients' chances of receiving effective treatment and achieving a higher quality of life.

How to Identify Parkinson's Symptoms Parkinson's
is usually associated with tremors, stiffness and slow movement, sleep problems, loss of sense of smell and feelings of depression or anxiety.

You may also notice that your handwriting is smaller—something you may notice when taking notes.

Misdiagnosis of heart attack

Chest pain, pressure that doesn't go away, that spreads to the arms or neck? Maybe it's a heart attack?/ShutterStock

The overall survival rate for people who experience a heart attack is seven out of 10, and rises to nine out of 10 for those who receive rapid treatment. However, symptoms can be vague and can often be explained as heartburn or digestive disorders.

Studies conducted in England showed that almost a third of people who experienced a heart attack received an incorrect initial diagnosis. The same study, conducted at the University of Leeds, found that 29.9% of patients had a different initial diagnosis than their final diagnosis.

How to Identify Heart Attack Symptoms
A heart attack has a wide range of symptoms, but the most common sign is chest pain or discomfort that occurs suddenly and does not go away. It may feel like chest tightness that doesn't go away.

The pain may spread to the left or right arm or spread towards the neck, jaw, back or abdomen. It can also be accompanied by sweating, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Misdiagnosis of stroke

Difficulty speaking, uneven smile, weak arm. Maybe it's a stroke?/ShutterStock, metamorworks

A stroke, also called a stroke or stroke, occurs when the blood supply to a specific part of the brain is impaired. A stroke can cause permanent damage to brain tissue or, alternatively, temporary damage due to a temporary decrease in blood flow to an area of the brain.

A study from the British Medical Journal found that doctors tend to miss about 14 percent of strokes. Such misses are more common in patients suffering from non-specific symptoms such as dizziness and nausea.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off—without blood, brain cells can die or suffer damage.

About 38 percent of people who suffer a stroke die. Of those who survived a stroke, many will live with various disabilities due to the damage caused to the brain.

One in eight people who have had a stroke dies within 30 days, so it is essential to get medical help as soon as possible. The sooner the patient receives treatment, the more likely he is to survive.

How to Identify Stroke Symptoms The FAST
method – which stands for face, arm, speech, and time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of a stroke:

• F = Face:Face drooping - If one side of a person's face drops, ask them to smile. If the smile is uneven, you should seek immediate and urgent help.
• A = Arm:Arm weakness - If one arm is weak or not moving at all, ask the person to raise both hands. If one arm drifts down, seek urgent medical help.
• S = Speech:Difficulty speaking - If a person's speech is vague and unclear, it could very well be a symptom of a stroke. Seek urgent help.
• T = Time to Call: Call MDA quickly.

• More on the subject:
• Disease diagnosis
• Medical Malpractice