Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Nervousness.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had nervousness?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
- Is there a simple reason to explain nervousness?
Why: e.g. a certain level of nervousness is considered normal behaviour. Nervousness may be precipitated by events such as an impending exam, job interview, an overseas flight, receiving medical test results or a date with a new partner.
- Is the nervousness intermittent or constant?
Why: Intermittent nervousness may suggest the possibility of epilepsy, phaeochromocytoma, insulinoma or intermittent cardiac arrhythmia.
- Current stressors?
Why: e.g. interpersonal relationships, physical health, occupational stressors or financial worries - increased nervousness may be related to stressful life events.
- Have the symptoms followed exposure to an unusual stress?
Why: e.g. sexual assault, natural disaster, battle? - may indicate Post-traumatic stress disorder which can occur with other symptoms of anxiety and nervousness.
- Family history of anxiety?
Why: studies have shown that there is an undoubted genetic component in the propensity to anxiety states.
- Medications?
Why: some prescribed medications can cause nervousness e.g. ventolin, thyroxine, some appetite suppressants.
- Caffeine use?
Why: excess caffeine can cause nervousness.
- Alcohol history?
Why: dependence and withdrawal can cause nervousness.
- Hard street drug abuse history?
Why: both dependence and withdrawal of some illicit drugs may cause nervousness; amphetamines may cause hyperactivity, agitation and nervousness; cocaine may cause nervousness.
- Benzodiazepine or barbiturate use?
Why: dependence and withdrawal can cause nervousness.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Symptoms of anxiety?
Why: e.g. nervousness, shakiness, tremor, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration, heart palpitations, racing heart, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, lump in throat and frequency of urination - anxiety and depression are very closely related and may co-exist, however anxiety may mask an underlying depression.
- Symptoms of depression?
Why: (e.g. down mood, insomnia, poor self esteem, teary, poor concentration and attention, feelings of worthlessness) - Most people with long standing anxiety will eventually develop depressive symptoms however anxiety can also be misdiagnosed as depression as they are closely related.
- Psychotic symptoms?
Why: e.g. hallucinations , paranoia , delusional thinking) - schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be misdiagnosed or associated with anxiety.
- Panic attacks?
Why: recurrent panic attacks occur in Panic disorder and may be confused with generalised anxiety disorder or be associated with anxiety.
- Phobias?
Why: persistent, irrational fear with a compelling desire to avoid the object or situation occurs in Phobia disorders and may be confused with generalized anxiety disorder or be associated with anxiety.
- Symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Why: can cause anxiety-like symptoms and nervousness e.g. weight loss, emotional lability, agitation, nervousness, tremor, palpitations, racing heart.
- Chest pain, heart palpitations?
Why: angina and cardiac arrhythmias can be misdiagnosed as anxiety and nervousness.
- Symptoms of phaechromocytoma?
Why: e.g. discrete episodes of headache , sweating , palpitations , skin pallor , chest tightness and high blood pressure ) - can be misdiagnosed as anxiety and nervousness.
- Memory impairment?
Why: Dementia can be confused with anxiety and nervousness.
- Symptoms of insulinoma
Why: e.g. intermittent episodes of confusion, anxiety, stupor related to fasting or exercise.
- Symptoms of menopause?
Why: e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, dry vaginal, dry skin, headaches - Menopause may also present with depression or anxiety.
- Symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
Why: e.g. impulsive over activity (which can appear as nervousness), irritability, poor concentration and school learning problems.
» Next page: News about Nervousness
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