Why One Symptom Isn’t the Full Story

Reason #3 Not to Take Random Influencers' Advice:

A Symptom Without Context Means Nothing

Continuing on in our series of reasons why you shouldn’t take random supplements you learned about on TikTok, we come to this one—you can’t just look at one symptom to diagnose. It’s important to look at the big picture. In this case, you as a whole person

Case in point is my teacher friend Sarah*. Sarah had severe leg cramps that kept her up most nights. She’d been shuffled between orthopedics, neurologists and vascular specialists. She’d tried CBD, magnesium supplements and massage. Nothing helped. She was venting about this over breakfast one day when I asked her if she was perhaps dehydrated.

She said “Yes of course I am, I’m a teacher. We don’t get bathroom breaks and I can’t leave my classroom so I just don’t drink anything until I get home at the end of the day”. 

This was Sarah’s actual problem. Dehydration.

No amount of magnesium was going to solve that. My friend needed to drink some water - and stop her people pleasing and advocate for proper bathroom breaks- but that’s a topic for another blog.

*I checked, Sarah is okay with me telling this story