Misdiagnosed: 10 diseases doctors often get wrong

When you experience strange pains, mysterious indigestion, or other seemingly disconnected symptoms, your first hope is that a trip to the doctor will solve your health woes. However, doctors are human, and humans make mistakes.

"A lot of symptoms are nonspecific and variable, depending on the person," says Dr. David Fleming, president of the American College of Physicians and a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri. "On top of that, many diagnostic tests are expensive and aren't done routinely, and even then they don't always give us a black and white answer."

The following 10 conditions are notoriously difficult to pin down according to Health.com.

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Some conditions, like IBS, don’t have any sort of real test to prove their existence; rather, they require a "diagnosis of elimination," says Fleming, as doctors rule out all other possibilities. IBS is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation. According to diagnostic criteria, IBS can’t be taken into consideration unless symptoms persist for at least six months. Discomfort should typically be present at least three days a month before being diagnosed with IBS.

2. Celiac disease

There is a lot of confusion around celiac disease -- an immune reaction to gluten that triggers inflammation in the small intestine. It can take an average patient 6 to 10 years to be properly diagnosed. Those with celiac would have digestive problems when eating gluten-containing foods like diarrhea, cramping indigestion, weight loss, itchy skin, headaches, joint pain, and acid reflux or heartburn. All of the above symptoms can also be attributed to something else. The good news: a blood test can diagnose celiac disease regardless of what symptoms are present, and an endoscopy can determine any damage that's been done to the small intestine.

3. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, involves "medically unexplained symptoms" -- a term doctors use to describe persistent complaints that don't appear to have an obvious cause. When doctors can't find a root cause for a patient's chronic pain and fatigue, they often end on this diagnosis. This may involve seeing a variety of specialists to rule out other diseases, says Dr. Eugene Shapiro, deputy director of the Investigative Medicine Program at Yale University. "There are studies that show that people with certain symptoms who show up at a rheumatologist will be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but if the same patients show up at a gastroenterologist they'll be diagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome."

4. Multiple sclerosis (MS)

This autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body's own nerve cells and disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Some of the first symptoms of MS are often numbness, weakness, or tingling in one or more extremity, but that's not always the case.

"Multiple sclerosis can be episodic; the disease waxes and wanes," says Shapiro.

Depending on the number and location of lesions in the brain, signs and symptoms may be more or less severe. Once a doctor does suspect MS, however, a sample of spinal fluid or MRI imaging can help confirm the diagnosis.

5. Endometriosis

Like appendicitis, vague stomach pain can go unnoticed. However, women with endometriosis (in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus) often report pelvic pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding that are far worse than usual. A red flag: this bleeding gets worse over time. A pelvic exam can sometimes detect endometrial tissue or cysts that have been caused by it. In other cases, an ultrasound or laparoscopy is required for a definite diagnosis.

6. Appendicitis

Typical appendicitis symptoms include nausea, pain and tenderness in the abdomen, and possibly a low-grade fever. These symptoms are vague, and especially easily to go ignored in females.

"Some people have an appendix that points backward instead of forward in the body, so the symptoms present in a different location," says Shapiro. "And sometimes people do have pain, but then the appendix ruptures and the pain is relieved so they think they're fine." In this case, he says, intestinal fluids can leak into the entire abdomen and cause a potentially life-threatening infection -- but it can take days or even weeks before these symptoms appear.

7. Lyme disease

You probably know to look out for tick bites and the characteristic rash that can form if a person is infected with Lyme disease. However, not everyone develops this rash and tick bites can be hard to spot. Lyme disease's other symptoms of fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and flu-like symptoms can also easily be confused for other conditions.

A blood test can check for Lyme disease, but the test usually doesn’t show positive until a few weeks after infection when more antibodies are present in the blood. If you do find a tick and/or tick bite on yourself or a loved on, it's important to remove the tick immediately and see a doctor right away. Quickly removing a tick can possibly prevent the transfer of dangerous bacteria. Moreover, antibiotics for Lyme disease are most effective when given immediately.

8. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

There are primarily two types of IBD: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both cause inflammation of the digestive tract, as well as pain, diarrhea, and possibly even malnutrition. There's no one test for IBD, and again it can appear as vague stomach pain.

"If a patient comes in with severe abdominal pain, we might first think it's their gallbladder," says Shapiro. "If he comes in with loose stools, we might think it's an infection. So we go through a litany of tests -- imaging, blood tests, assessments -- and sometimes we finally come down to the fact that we've ruled out every other possibility, so this is what we're going to treat you for and we'll see if it works."

9. Cluster headaches

A rare headache disorder that's often extremely painful and extremely misunderstood—cluster headaches currently affect less than 1 million Americans. Cluster headaches tend to occur close together and last on average 30 minutes to three hours. Scientists aren't sure why, but cluster headaches tend to occur when seasons change or during periods of high stress.

10. Diabetes

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes may be diagnosed later in life. If left untreated, it can cause life-threatening damage to major organs. Before signs of diabetes develop, says Fleming, adults can have diabetes for years without knowing it.

"There are a lot of people out there with elevated blood sugar levels who aren't getting to the doctor regularly, so they aren't getting checked for it," he says. "They won't realize it until it gets severe enough that they start developing side effects, like problems with their vision or numbness in their feet or hands."

Watch for earlier symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination (particularly at odd hours of the night), sudden weight loss, and fatigue.

The Sweet Tooth Struggle

Donuts, cakes, cookies, lollypops, and popsicles. My mouth waters just thinking of these sugary snacks. Turns out there's actually a good reason for it:

"The rationale behind it is that sugar stimulates the brain to produce certain “feel good” hormones such as serotonin, which relieve stress and anxiety. Although it provides a temporary relief, but eating large amounts of sugar is linked to myriad health problems, including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and other disorders." - Beat Your Sugar and Starch Addiction at iControlmyhealth.com

Short Term Effects
High blood sugar levels can result in fatigue, the inability to concentrate, or blurred vision. If levels spike into dangerous levels even for a short time, it can result in what's called "Ketoacidosis" or a diabetic coma. This requires emergency medical treatment.

Long Term Effects
Long-term consequences of untreated high blood sugar levels can have devastating. See the video called, "What Diabetes Can Do" to the right. Health effects and include:

• Heart disease - Heart disease and stroke are the number one cause of death and disability in people with type 2 diabetes

• Kidney disease - Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure

• Nerve and blood vessel damage - About half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve damage

• Blindness - People with diabetes are at an increased risk for eye complications that can lead to blindness

• Gum disease - People with diabetes, especially those with poor blood sugar control, are at a higher risk for gum problems

​​

For more information, helpful videos and delicious recipes that are diabetic friendly, visit the Healthy Now and Later food and recipes tab. 

5 Silent Heart Symptoms You Should Know

You may know the well-publicized signs of heart attack. But are other forms of heart disease creeping up on you or a loved one?

"When we think about heart disease, most people jump right to heart attack -- waking up clutching the chest with chest pains. But that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to heart disease," says cardiologist Lawrence Phillips, MD, assistant professor in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.

It's a myth that all symptoms of heart disease are obvious. The following stealthy symptoms might seem far from your heart, but they way warrant a trip to your doctor.

1. New Aches and Pains

You've probably said to yourself, "I used to be able to....(fill in the blank), but now I have to stop because I get (fill in the blank)." Though this sounds benign, this could be your body's way of telling you something.

A change in function from what's normal for you is one of the key symptoms of heart trouble. Look at it this way: Your heart is your body's engine, pumping blood to fuel all your movements. If you notice a different reaction to an everyday activity, consider it like a warning light on your car dashboard, but in this case a sign of something potentially amiss with your heart's valves or electrical system.

Next steps: Don't dismiss a change in your response to physical exertion by saying, "Oh, I'm getting old" or "I must be out of shape." Find out for sure what the cause is. Especially if you see a pattern, get a physical exam. "There has to be a reason for the change," says Dr. Phillips.

2. Erectile Dysfunction

Trouble getting an erection is often blamed on age or disinterest. Often, however, the problem is an issue of adequate blood flow. Men who have this symptom are far more likely to have another kind of artery problem concerning the heart.

In 2013 a study done in Australian tracked more than 90,000 men. The study found that the worse the erectile dysfunction, the more heart disease and risk of early death a man had. Even those with mild or moderate erection problems were found to be at greater risk of heart attack or early death. Other studies have echoed this: Men with erectile dysfunction are twice as likely to also have cardiovascular disease or to die of a heart attack, according to a study of more than 1,500 men published in the journal Circulation in 2010.

"Arteries are arteries -- problems with blood vessels can affect blood flow to the heart as well as the penis," says cardiologist Lawrence Phillips.

Next steps: Don't be shy about getting erectile problems checked out by your doctor. Viagra treats the symptom but doesn't resolve the underlying issue. (Women: Unfortunately there is less research on sexual response and heart health.)

3. Holiday-Heart Syndrome 

Many people notice a sudden jump in heart rate during exercise, which is normal. However, have you ever had that feeling of a fluttery heart following a bout of drinking? So-called "holiday heart syndrome" -- overdrinking, overeating, and getting too little sleep -- can lead to atrial fibrillation or an irregular heart beat. 

"You might feel it that same evening, or within the next 12 hours," Langone Medical Center's Lawrence Phillips says. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can cause fluttering in the chest and dizziness that lasts more than a few seconds.

Next steps: If you notice this happening repeatedly, mention it to your doctor. Try to find a pattern of when the symptoms start and report that to your doctor as well. 

4. Swelling Feet and Ankles 

Notice puffy ankles and feet after a long day at the office? Do your shoes seem tighter than they were earlier in the day? The accumulating fluid is an excess that is being pushed out from your vessels and into the skin.

While the swelling can be a temporary problem caused by things like hormonal changes (including pregnancy), a salty diet, or medications, it may also reflect faulty pumping action of the heart. When blood can't be pushed forward, it tends to back up into the veins. Gravity then brings it to the legs.

Next steps: Keep an eye out. If swelling is a change for you and you aren't sure why, get it checked by your doctor. People with diabetes should take special caution; since diabetics are at increased risk for heart disease.

5. Dizziness

While feeling dizzy can happen for many reasons, heart disease is actually close to the top of the list. An irregular heart beat or more advanced valve disease may be the cause. The valves of the heart need to open and close to move blood, however when calcium deposits narrow the aortic valve it can't open more than a crack. This lack of sufficient blood to the brain can lead to feeling light-headed.

Some people feel especially feel dizzy when they stand up (a rapid drop in blood pressure called "orthostatic hypotension"). People with orthostatic hypotension are more likely to develop heart disease, according to research in the journal Hypertension in 2012.

Next steps: Pay close attention to whether you're also having these other symptoms along with your dizziness. Things like shortness of breath, feeling faint with physical exertion, passing out, or having chest pain. Although a one time bout may not be any cause for worry, an ongoing pattern is worth a visit to the doctor.