Thanks to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and other video-sharing apps, it’s become much simpler to come across advice from doctors and health experts right from your phone.
Of course, while watching these expert-driven videos is no replacement for actually seeing a doctor in person, they can offer helpful tips. Sometimes, they can highlight signs and symptoms that might be worth taking seriously.
One doctor even described it as a real “clinical pearl” when they shared it on the well-known r/medicine subreddit.
This online community, which is dedicated to discussions among medical professionals, featured the doctor’s explanation of how hearing this specific phrase gives them what they described as a “positive predictive value for serious illness that is close to 100%.”
So, what is the sentence that grabs doctors’ attention so quickly? It’s surprisingly simple.
“I feel fine, but my wife made me come in,” is the ten-word phrase that gets doctors to stop and take notice right away.
“Trust me on this one,” he added, emphasizing just how often this phrase turns out to be a major warning.
But while this particular sentence is a red flag, it’s certainly not the only one that makes doctors sit up and take notice.
Another shared their experience by adding: “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’…”
Some doctors mentioned that a parent’s gut feeling — often referred to as “mother’s intuition” can also be a powerful clue that something might not be right.
“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 feeling unwell or something just doesn’t seem right with your health, it’s always a good idea to get it checked out. But if someone close to you — especially a wife or mother is urging you to go, it’s probably wise to listen.