How to Use This List
The honest rule of thumb
This guide can't replace clinical judgement, and it isn't trying to. If something feels seriously wrong, trust that instinct over any guide — including this one.
When in doubt, get checked. The cost of an unnecessary appointment or emergency visit is consistently lower than the cost of a missed one — this asymmetry should bias your decision toward checking, not waiting.
Note exactly when a symptom started, particularly for anything in the emergency tier — for time-sensitive conditions like stroke and heart attack, the exact onset time directly affects which treatments are still available.
A normal result is not a wasted trip. Ruling something out is itself valuable information, not a failure of judgement for having checked.
The honest rule of thumb
This list is not exhaustive, and it can't replace clinical judgement. When in doubt, get checked.