What are you feeling?
Most people do not know the name of what they have. Start from the symptom: what it could mean, the signs that say get help now, and what you can do in the meantime.
Do not wait with these.
If a symptom below is severe or has come on suddenly, call for an ambulance first and read afterwards.
34 symptoms
Whole body
- FeverAlso called High temperature, Raised temperatureA fever is a body temperature higher than normal, most often because the body is fighting an infection. This page is for adults: most fevers settle in a few days, but some need a doctor the same day.
- Night sweatsAlso called Sweating at night, Sweating during sleepSweating at night is normal if your room or bedding is too hot. If it keeps happening, wakes you, or comes with fever, a long cough or weight loss, it is worth having checked.
- Swollen legs and anklesAlso called Oedema, Puffy feet, Swollen feetSwollen legs and ankles often come from standing for long, hot weather or salty food, and settle in a few days. Swelling in one leg, sudden swelling, or swelling with breathlessness needs medical care quickly.
- TirednessAlso called Fatigue, Feeling weak, Low energyTiredness is very common and is usually caused by poor sleep, stress or a busy life. If it lasts a few weeks or comes with other symptoms, have it checked, because a cause such as anaemia, diabetes or a thyroid problem can often be found.
- Unexplained weight lossAlso called Losing weight without trying, Unintentional weight lossLosing weight without trying, about 5 per cent of your weight over 6 to 12 months or less, is a reason to see a doctor. The causes range from low mood and diabetes to TB and cancer, so the cause should be found, not guessed.
Head and nerves
- DizzinessAlso called Feeling faint, Light-headedness, GiddinessDizziness can mean feeling light-headed, unsteady, or as if the room is spinning. It is common and usually not serious, but sudden dizziness with weakness, trouble speaking, vision changes or chest pain needs emergency care.
- FaintingAlso called Blackout, Passing out, SyncopeFainting is a short loss of consciousness, usually from a brief drop in blood flow to the brain. It is often not serious, but everyone who has fainted should see a doctor, and fainting with chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, or during exercise, needs an ambulance.
- HeadacheAlso called Head painMost headaches are not serious and ease with rest, water and simple pain relief. But a sudden, extremely painful headache, or one with weakness, trouble speaking, confusion or a stiff neck and fever, needs emergency care.
- Memory loss and confusionAlso called Forgetfulness, Trouble thinkingEveryone forgets things at times, and stress, poor sleep and low mood can make it worse. But sudden confusion is an emergency, and memory trouble that is getting worse or affecting daily life needs a doctor.
- Numbness and tinglingAlso called Pins and needles, Burning feetPins and needles often pass in minutes, but numbness or tingling that keeps coming back can point to a nerve problem, diabetes or a vitamin lack. Sudden numbness on one side of the body is a possible stroke and needs an ambulance.
Eyes, ears, nose and throat
- Blurred visionAlso called Cloudy vision, Difficulty seeing, Sudden loss of visionBlurred vision is often due to a need for glasses, but it can also signal a serious eye or brain problem. Sudden loss of vision, even if partial or brief, is an emergency.
- EaracheAlso called Ear pain, Pain in the earEarache is often caused by an ear infection, and most earaches get better on their own. Pain from the throat, teeth or jaw can also be felt in the ear. See a doctor if it lasts more than 2 to 3 days or comes with discharge or hearing changes.
- Red eyeAlso called Painful red eye, Bloodshot eyesMany red eyes are minor, such as conjunctivitis or a small burst blood vessel. But a red eye with pain, a change in sight, light hurting the eye, an injury or a chemical splash needs emergency eye care.
- Sore throatAlso called Painful throat, Throat painMost sore throats are caused by a virus, such as a cold, and get better by themselves. See a doctor if it has not improved after a week, and get emergency care if you struggle to breathe or cannot swallow.
Chest and breathing
- Chest painOften an emergencyAlso called Chest tightness, Chest pressure, Chest discomfort, Pain in the chestChest pain has many causes, from a pulled muscle to a heart attack, and you cannot tell which at home. Sudden pain that does not go away, or comes with sweating or breathlessness, needs an ambulance straight away.
- CoughAlso called Dry cough, Chesty cough, Long-lasting coughMost coughs come from a cold or flu and settle by themselves. A cough that lasts more than two to three weeks needs a doctor, and in India tuberculosis (TB) must be ruled out.
- Coughing up bloodOften an emergencyAlso called Haemoptysis, Blood in phlegmCoughing up blood has many causes, from a chest infection to tuberculosis or a blood clot in the lung. Any amount needs a doctor. More than a few streaks, or blood with breathing trouble or chest pain, needs an ambulance.
- PalpitationsAlso called Racing heart, Fluttering heartbeat, Skipped beatsPalpitations are the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping beats. They are usually harmless, but with chest pain, breathlessness or fainting they need an ambulance.
- Shortness of breathOften an emergencyAlso called Breathlessness, Difficulty breathing, DyspnoeaShortness of breath is a feeling of not getting enough air. It can come from the lungs, the heart, anaemia or anxiety. If it starts suddenly, is severe, or comes with chest pain, call for an ambulance.
- WheezingAlso called Whistling in the chest, Noisy breathingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound when you breathe, caused by narrowed airways. It is common in asthma and COPD, but wheezing with severe breathlessness, blue lips or swelling of the face or throat is an emergency.
Tummy and digestion
- Blood in the stoolAlso called Rectal bleeding, Black stools, Blood when passing motion, Bloody stoolsBlood in the stool can be bright red, dark red or black. A little bright red blood after a hard stool is often from piles, but any blood needs a doctor, and a lot of blood or black, sticky stools needs emergency care.
- DiarrhoeaAlso called Loose stools, Loose motions, Runny stools, Watery stoolsDiarrhoea is passing loose or watery stools three or more times in a day. It is usually caused by an infection and settles in a few days, but the danger is losing too much fluid, so drink plenty and use oral rehydration solution.
- HeartburnAlso called Burning in the chest after eating, Indigestion, Acidity, Acid indigestionHeartburn is a burning feeling in the chest or throat, often after eating, caused by stomach acid coming back up. It is common and usually harmless, but chest pain can feel like it and may be a heart attack, so do not assume.
- Nausea and vomitingAlso called Feeling sick, Being sick, Throwing up, VomitingNausea is feeling that you are about to be sick, and vomiting is being sick. Both are common and usually pass in a day or two, but vomiting that goes on can lead to dehydration, and blood in the vomit needs emergency care.
- Tummy painAlso called Abdominal pain, Stomach ache, Belly pain, Stomach painTummy pain is very common and is usually not serious, but it can also be a sign of a problem that needs treatment quickly. Sudden, severe pain, or pain with vomiting blood or black stools, needs emergency care.
- Yellow eyes and skinAlso called Jaundice, Yellowing, Yellow eyes, PeeliyaYellow eyes or skin (jaundice) means a yellow substance called bilirubin has built up, often from a liver, gallbladder or pancreas problem, so see a doctor within a day. With severe tummy pain, fever or confusion, get emergency care.
Urine and kidneys
- Blood in the urineAlso called Haematuria, Red urineBlood can turn urine pink, red or dark brown. Even a small amount, and even if it does not hurt or happens only once, needs a doctor to find the cause, because it can be a sign of stones, infection, an enlarged prostate or cancer.
- Burning when passing urineAlso called Painful urination, Dysuria, Burning urineBurning or stinging when you pass urine is most often a urinary tract infection, which a doctor can confirm with a urine test. It is usually not an emergency, but fever, back pain, blood in the urine or confusion need prompt care.
Muscles, bones and joints
- Back painAlso called Backache, Lower back pain, Pain in the backMost back pain comes from a strained muscle or ligament and improves within a few weeks. A few signs point to something serious: loss of control of the bladder or bowel, or numbness around the genitals or back passage, needs emergency care.
- Joint painAlso called Aching joints, Painful knees, ArthralgiaJoint pain can come from an injury, wear and tear, arthritis, gout, an infection such as chikungunya, or a joint infection. A hot, swollen, very painful joint with fever needs a doctor the same day.
Skin, hair and nails
Women's health
- Breast lumpAlso called Lump in the breast, Breast changeMost breast lumps are harmless, such as cysts and fibroadenomas, but you cannot tell the cause yourself. Every new lump or breast change should be checked by a doctor, without waiting.
- Irregular periodsAlso called Missed periods, Late periods, Unpredictable cycleIrregular periods are common and often harmless, but a missed period can mean pregnancy. Thyroid problems, PCOS and stress are other causes. Severe tummy pain, shoulder pain or fainting with a missed period needs emergency care.