Medical professionals suggest that when they hear a particular ten-word sentence from their patients, it often signals an impending diagnosis of a ‘serious illness’.
The advent of platforms like TikTok and Instagram has made it incredibly easy to access medical advice and expert opinions through video content.
Although these videos featuring experts should not replace an in-person visit to your General Practitioner (GP), they can provide valuable advice and highlight potential warning signs and symptoms you may be experiencing.
In the past, doctors have turned to Reddit and X, formerly Twitter, to share a sentence that frequently indicates trouble for their patients.
One doctor described their observation as a ‘clinical pearl’ in a post within the r/medicine thread on Reddit.
The Reddit community, known as a ‘subreddit for medical professionals’, featured a doctor outlining a key phrase they hear that carries a ‘positive predictive value for serious illness that is close to 100%’.
Diagnoses following this phrase have allegedly included myocardial infarction (MI), commonly referred to as a heart attack, and cancer, as noted by others on the Reddit thread.
The sentence that raises alarm? It’s rather unexpected.
“I feel fine, but my wife made me come in,” is the ten-word sentence that immediately alerts a doctor.
This piece of advice is supported by emergency room doctor and Twitter user Sam Ghali, who educates his followers about medical emergencies on social media.
In 2023, Dr. Ghali concurred that when a patient says ‘My wife made me come in’, it indicates that ‘something is really f**king wrong until proven otherwise’.
“Trust me on this one,” he emphasized in his brief yet impactful post.
While that is one sentence that alarms doctors, it’s not the only one that can trigger concerns.
In the same Reddit thread, another doctor commented: “Along the same lines: beware the sweet little old lady who ‘Doesn’t want to be a bother, but…'”
Another added: “Once took a phone consultation in GP from an old lady with hours of chest pain. She said she just ‘Didn’t want us to worry’…”
Medical professionals also pointed out that a ‘mother’s intuition’ can be a strong indicator of issues, as shared in the Reddit thread.
One user detailed: “Last week was the last time I questioned a mothers intuition.” (Sic)
“She said her college-aged child with no preexisting conditions just seemed to be off. Child showed no signs of depression or suicidal ideation and just as we were about to discharge them he stroked.”
If you’re experiencing health issues, it’s crucial to seek help immediately. However, if your wife or mother insists, it might be wise to heed their advice.