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Every year, thousands of people risk their lives because they ignore symptoms they think are minor. Many emergency room visits could be avoided if these common symptoms were treated before they became desperate emergencies. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your health care provider for guidance.
A cough that will not go away.
It is easy to treat congestion and a cough with over-the-counter medication, but if your cough persists more than four days, you should seek treatment. A simple respiratory infection can be cured with a round of antibiotics. Untreated, it can turn into pneumonia, eventually leading to septic shock.
A very painful sore throat.
While a sore throat is very common, it is not something that should be ignored. A sore throat that gets worse over several days could be leading to epiglottitis, a rare and sometime deadly inflammation of the flap of tissue that covers your windpipe. If throat soreness is affecting your ability to swallow or breath, or you've felt the pain more than two days, it is time to seek medical attention.
Sudden body aches or pain.
Whether it is from an injury or other medical condition, sudden onset of body pain should not be ignored. If it is from a sprain or a broken bone, continuing to use that part of your body can result in lasting damage. Sudden abdominal pain can be caused by appendicitis or an ectopic pregnancy, both of which can be life-threatening. While back pain can result from everyday strain, sudden pain in your back can have causes that range from injury to pulmonary embolism to kidney infection.
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Healthy Living Tip 
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Researchers for the YMCA found that 70 percent of exercisers who set specific goals stuck with their programs for an entire year. Over 75 percent of those who did not set goals dropped out. One easy way to set and keep your fitness goals is to use a training log. Be sure to keep it simple to ensure success. At each exercise session, make note of the number of sets and repetitions you do and the amount of weight you use. You can also record they type and duration of your cardio sessions and your total exercise time.
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