Symptom library
Explainers for the symptoms patients most often bring to a primary-care visit. Each entry maps the symptom to the lab tests a clinician would order and the conditions worth ruling in or out.
Fatigue
Persistent tiredness disproportionate to recent activity. Most cases that reach a lab have an identifiable, treatable cause — anaemia, thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiency or metabolic disease.
ReadJoint Pain
Joint pain has dozens of causes, from acute crystal arthritis to chronic autoimmune disease. The lab approach focuses on identifying treatable inflammatory or metabolic drivers.
ReadUnintentional Weight Loss
Losing more than 5% of body weight in 6–12 months without trying. A non-specific but always-significant symptom — the lab work-up rules in or out the leading reversible causes.
ReadAbdominal Pain
Abdominal pain has dozens of causes localised to specific quadrants. Lab work narrows the differential by ruling in or out hepatic, pancreatic, gallbladder and inflammatory disease.
ReadChest Pain
Chest pain can be anything from acid reflux to a heart attack. Acute severe chest pain is an emergency — Mediora's role is in tracking cardiovascular risk markers, not triaging acute symptoms.
ReadHair Loss
Diffuse hair shedding often points at iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction or recent illness rather than primary skin disease. The lab work-up is short and high-yield.
ReadDizziness
Dizziness covers vertigo, lightheadedness and disequilibrium — distinct experiences with different work-ups. Lab work investigates anaemia, thyroid disease, electrolyte derangement and dehydration.
ReadSwelling (Edema)
Visible fluid swelling — usually in legs and ankles, sometimes face or abdomen. Reflects heart, kidney, liver disease or hypothyroidism; the lab work-up rules them apart.
ReadNausea
Persistent nausea is a non-specific signal — common causes range from gastritis to medication side effects to early diabetes to kidney or liver disease. The lab work-up is broad-net.
ReadPalpitations
Sensation of fast, irregular or forceful heartbeat. Often benign (anxiety, caffeine, exercise) — but the lab work-up rules out thyroid disease, anaemia and electrolyte derangement.
ReadConstipation
Infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Usually due to diet, fluids and medications — but the lab work-up rules out hypothyroidism, hypercalcaemia and kidney disease.
ReadShortness of Breath
Dyspnoea — the uncomfortable awareness of breathing — can reflect cardiac, pulmonary, haematologic or anxiety causes. Lab work focuses on identifying the haematologic and metabolic contributors.
ReadHeadache
Headache spans benign primary headaches (tension, migraine) to dangerous secondary causes. Lab work is usually normal — bloods help rule in or out specific systemic triggers.
ReadNight sweats
Drenching night-time sweating — soaking clothes or sheets — separated from a hot bedroom. Causes range from menopause to infection to lymphoma; lab work-up is targeted.
ReadFrequent urination
Urinating much more often than usual — including night-time trips. Classic red flag for diabetes, but also seen in UTI, prostate enlargement, diuretics and pure psychogenic polydipsia.
ReadBrain fog
Subjective sense of cognitive slowing — trouble concentrating, finding words, holding short-term memory. Common after viral illness, in metabolic and endocrine disease, sleep disorders and depression.
ReadNumbness and tingling
Loss of sensation or pins-and-needles in hands, feet, or face. The differential ranges from compressive neuropathy to vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes and serious neurological disease.
ReadJaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
Yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes from elevated bilirubin. Differential splits cleanly into pre-hepatic (haemolysis), hepatic (liver disease) and post-hepatic (bile-duct obstruction).
ReadItching (pruritus)
Persistent itching without an obvious rash. Most common dermatological cause is dry skin, but lab work focuses on the systemic causes: liver, kidney, thyroid, iron status, occasionally lymphoma.
ReadEasy bruising
Unexplained bruises appearing from minor bumps. Differential: platelet number/function, clotting-factor synthesis (liver), vitamin deficiency, vessel fragility, drug effect. Lab work-up is targeted.
ReadSwollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
Enlarged lymph nodes — most often from infection, sometimes from lymphoma or metastasis. Location, age, duration and accompanying symptoms drive the differential and the urgency.
ReadCold intolerance
Feeling cold more than the people around you, or in temperatures others find comfortable. Most often points to under-active thyroid or anaemia; less commonly Raynaud's or autonomic dysfunction.
ReadHot flashes
Sudden waves of intense heat, often with sweating and flushing of face/chest. Classic perimenopausal symptom but also seen in hyperthyroidism, carcinoid, mast-cell disease, certain medications.
ReadMuscle weakness
Subjective or measurable loss of muscle strength — distinct from generalised fatigue. Causes range from electrolyte imbalance to myopathy to neurological disease; lab work clusters around electrolytes, thyroid, kidney, vitamin D and CK.
ReadExcessive thirst (polydipsia)
Drinking far more than usual — often paired with frequent urination. Diabetes (hyperglycaemia-driven osmotic diuresis) is the leading cause; less commonly diabetes insipidus, hypercalcaemia, lithium, or psychogenic.
ReadBlurred vision
Vision that loses sharpness — one or both eyes, transient or sustained. Common refractive causes need glasses; medical causes (diabetes, hypertension, neurological) need lab and clinical workup.
ReadTremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking. The pattern matters more than the lab: action tremor (worst when using hands) suggests essential tremor or hyperthyroidism; resting tremor suggests Parkinson's. Lab work targets thyroid, electrolyte and toxicology causes.
ReadChronic cough
Cough lasting more than 8 weeks. Three causes account for >90% of non-smoker, normal-chest-Xray cases: upper-airway cough syndrome (post-nasal drip), asthma / cough-variant asthma, and reflux. Smokers + abnormal Xray need a different workup.
ReadTinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Perception of sound (ringing, buzzing, hissing) without an external source. Affects 10-15% of adults; usually associated with hearing loss and benign. Pulsatile tinnitus (heartbeat rhythm) is the red flag — vascular workup required.
ReadRapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Heart rate above 100 bpm at rest. Common causes are anxiety, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, dehydration, fever, exercise, stimulants. Sustained or new tachycardia with chest pain / dizziness / breathlessness is a cardiac emergency.
ReadLoss of smell (anosmia)
Complete or partial loss of the sense of smell. Most cases are post-viral (COVID-19, common cold, influenza) or chronic sinonasal disease. New unilateral loss or progressive loss with neurological features needs ENT / neurology workup.
ReadBack pain
Most common reason adults see a primary-care doctor. Vast majority (>90%) is non-specific musculoskeletal and resolves within 6 weeks. Lab role is to catch the small group with inflammatory, infectious, malignant or metabolic causes — not the mechanical pain itself.
ReadInsomnia
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or non-restorative sleep, at least 3 nights/week for ≥3 months, with daytime impact. Affects ~10–15% of adults. The lab role is small but worth checking: thyroid, iron, vitamin D, and screen for secondary causes (depression, sleep apnoea, restless legs).
ReadUnintentional weight gain
Counterpart to unintentional weight loss. Most cases reflect energy-balance drift (sleep loss, sedentary work, ageing metabolism) rather than disease, but a small subset signals treatable endocrine, medication-related, or psychiatric causes worth screening.
ReadChronic diarrhea
Loose stools lasting >4 weeks. Important to separate from irritable bowel (functional, frequent) and acute infectious diarrhoea (<2 weeks). Persistent stool change is the highest-yield trigger for the celiac / IBD / colorectal cancer work-up.
ReadIrregular periods
Cycles that vary widely in length, become infrequent, or stop. Common at the start and end of reproductive life, but persistent irregularity in between is the highest-yield reason to check thyroid, prolactin and the ovarian hormones — most often pointing to PCOS or thyroid disease.
ReadLow libido
A persistent drop in sexual desire that bothers you. Usually driven by a mix of psychological, relationship, medication and lifestyle factors — but a treatable hormonal or metabolic cause (low testosterone, thyroid disease, high prolactin, menopause) is worth screening when it is new or unexplained.
ReadMuscle cramps
Sudden, involuntary, painful muscle contractions — most often night-time calf or foot cramps. Usually benign and related to exercise, dehydration or ageing, but persistent or widespread cramps can flag an electrolyte, thyroid, kidney or medication cause worth a simple blood check.
ReadFever
A raised body temperature, usually above 38°C — the body's normal response to infection and, less often, to inflammation, medication or other illness. Most fevers are short-lived and viral; a persistent or high fever, or fever with red-flag symptoms, needs assessment.
ReadErectile dysfunction
Persistent difficulty getting or keeping an erection. Often the earliest visible sign of blood-vessel disease — the same process that affects the heart — so it is worth taking seriously and screening for diabetes, cholesterol and, when relevant, low testosterone.
ReadBloating
A feeling of fullness, tightness or visible swelling of the abdomen. Usually benign and food- or gut-related, but persistent or new bloating — especially with weight loss, altered bowels or, in women, after menopause — deserves assessment to exclude coeliac disease and, rarely, ovarian cancer.
ReadPale skin (pallor)
An unusual loss of the skin's normal colour, often best seen inside the lower eyelid, lips, palms and nail beds. It most commonly reflects anaemia, but can also come from poor circulation, low blood pressure, or simply a naturally fair complexion.
ReadHeavy periods (heavy menstrual bleeding)
Menstrual bleeding heavy enough to disrupt daily life or cause iron-deficiency anaemia. Very common and often treatable, it can stem from the womb itself (fibroids, polyps), a hormone imbalance, a bleeding tendency, or thyroid disease.
ReadLoss of appetite
A reduced desire to eat. A short-lived dip with an infection or stress is normal, but a persistent loss of appetite — especially with weight loss — is a broad, important symptom that can reflect infection, mood, medication, or digestive, hormonal, kidney, liver or other disease.
ReadRestless legs
An irresistible urge to move the legs, usually with an uncomfortable crawling sensation, worse in the evening and at rest and relieved by movement. Often linked to low iron stores — a simple ferritin test can point to a treatable cause.
ReadDifficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Trouble moving food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach, or a sensation of it sticking. Occasional trouble with a hurried meal is common, but persistent or progressive difficulty is an alarm symptom that needs prompt assessment.
ReadFrequent infections
Catching infections more often, more severely, or that are slow to clear. Most often it reflects ordinary exposure or a common issue like poorly controlled diabetes, but a genuine pattern of unusual or recurrent infections can point to a problem with the immune system worth investigating.
ReadDry eyes
A gritty, burning or tired sensation in the eyes from too few or poor-quality tears. Usually caused by screen use, age, contact lenses or environment — but persistent dryness, especially with a dry mouth, can point to the autoimmune condition Sjögren's.
ReadMouth ulcers
Painful sores inside the mouth. The common kind (aphthous ulcers) come and go and heal on their own, but ulcers that are frequent, severe or long-lasting can signal iron, B12 or folate deficiency, coeliac or inflammatory bowel disease, or an autoimmune condition.
ReadSkin rash
A change in the skin's colour, texture or appearance. Most rashes are minor and skin-related — irritation, allergy, eczema, infection — but some are the visible sign of an internal condition, and a rash with fever or that doesn't fade under pressure can be an emergency.
ReadSore throat
Pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat, usually worse on swallowing. The vast majority are viral and settle within a week; the main job is to spot the minority that are bacterial (strep), glandular fever, or — rarely — something more serious.
ReadWheezing
A high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, usually on breathing out, caused by narrowed airways. Most often it reflects asthma or a chest infection, but new or severe wheeze with breathlessness needs prompt assessment.
ReadNasal congestion (blocked nose)
A blocked, stuffy feeling in the nose from swollen lining and mucus. Usually caused by colds or allergies and short-lived, but persistent one-sided or long-standing congestion can have a structural or, rarely, more serious cause worth checking.
ReadEar pain (earache)
Pain in or around the ear, very common especially in children. Most often it is a middle- or outer-ear infection and settles with simple care, but it can also be 'referred' pain from the throat, teeth or jaw, and a few features signal a need for prompt review.
ReadEye redness (red eye)
Redness of the white of the eye, from dilated surface blood vessels. Most causes are minor — conjunctivitis, allergy, dryness or a harmless burst vessel — but redness with pain, reduced vision or light sensitivity can signal a serious eye problem needing urgent care.
ReadFacial swelling
Swelling of the face, lips, eyelids or tongue. It ranges from minor causes like a dental infection or blocked sinus to allergic angioedema — and swelling of the lips, tongue or throat with breathing difficulty is a medical emergency.
ReadHoarseness
A rough, raspy, breathy or weak voice from a problem with the vocal cords. Most often it is short-lived laryngitis or voice overuse and settles within days, but hoarseness lasting more than about three weeks should be checked, especially in smokers.
ReadDry mouth (xerostomia)
A persistent feeling of dryness in the mouth from reduced saliva. By far the commonest cause is medication, but it can also reflect dehydration, poorly controlled diabetes, or the autoimmune condition Sjögren's — and beyond discomfort, it raises the risk of tooth decay.
ReadCold hands and feet
Persistently cold fingers and toes, usually a normal response to cold or a harmless tendency to poor circulation. Sometimes it reflects anaemia, an underactive thyroid, or Raynaud's — and a colour change of the fingers to white then blue in the cold is a specific pattern worth noting.
ReadHeartburn
A burning feeling behind the breastbone, rising from the stomach, caused by acid refluxing into the food pipe. It is very common and usually harmless, but frequent or persistent heartburn, or certain warning features, deserve assessment — and it should not be confused with heart pain.
ReadMuscle pain (myalgia)
Aching, sore or tender muscles. Most often it is from exercise, overuse or a viral illness and settles on its own, but widespread or persistent muscle pain can reflect a statin side effect, an underactive thyroid, low vitamin D, or specific rheumatological conditions.
ReadSnoring
The harsh sound of vibrating tissues in a partly narrowed airway during sleep. Very common and often just a nuisance, but snoring with pauses in breathing, gasping, or daytime sleepiness can signal obstructive sleep apnea, which is worth diagnosing and treating.
ReadIndigestion (dyspepsia)
Discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen after eating, with fullness, bloating or nausea. Extremely common and usually harmless, often from diet or reflux, but persistent indigestion or certain warning features deserve assessment — and it must not be confused with heart pain.
ReadExcessive gas
Frequent burping, wind or a bloated, gassy feeling. Almost always benign and diet-related — from swallowed air and the normal fermentation of food by gut bacteria — but persistent gas with other symptoms can point to food intolerance, IBS or coeliac disease.
ReadChest tightness
A feeling of pressure, squeezing or constriction in the chest. It has many causes — from anxiety, asthma and acid reflux to, importantly, the heart — and because a heart or lung emergency can feel this way, new, severe or exertional chest tightness must be taken seriously.
ReadVomiting
Forcefully bringing up stomach contents. Usually short-lived and from a stomach bug or something you ate, and the main risk is dehydration. But vomiting with severe pain, a bad headache, blood, or that won't stop can signal something serious and needs prompt care.
ReadFainting (syncope)
A brief loss of consciousness from a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain, with a quick, full recovery. Most fainting is a harmless reflex (a simple faint), but fainting during exertion, without warning, or with palpitations can point to a heart cause that needs assessment.
ReadConfusion
A disturbed, unclear state of mind — difficulty thinking clearly, staying oriented or paying attention. New or sudden confusion (delirium) is often a sign of an underlying medical problem, from infection to low sodium, and needs prompt assessment — especially in older people.
ReadPainful urination (dysuria)
Burning, stinging or discomfort when passing urine. By far the commonest cause is a urinary tract infection, but it can also come from sexually transmitted infections, thrush, irritation, or in men the prostate — so the cause is worth pinning down, especially with fever or blood.
ReadBlood in urine (hematuria)
Blood in the urine — visible (pink, red or brown) or found only on a urine test. It has many causes, from a urine infection or kidney stone to kidney disease and, importantly, bladder or kidney cancer — so, especially when visible or painless, it always needs to be investigated.
ReadFlank pain (loin pain)
Pain in the side or back between the ribs and the hip, where the kidney sits. The classic causes are a kidney stone (severe, waves of pain) or a kidney infection (with fever), but it can also be muscular — so pain with fever, blood in the urine, or severe colicky waves needs assessment.
ReadDark urine
Urine that is darker than usual — deep yellow, amber, brown or tea-coloured. Most often it simply means you are not drinking enough (concentrated urine), but persistent dark or brown urine can signal a liver or bile problem, blood, or muscle breakdown, and is worth checking.
ReadPale stools
Stools that are pale, clay-coloured or almost white instead of brown. The brown colour of stool comes from bile, so persistently pale stools suggest bile is not reaching the bowel — often a blockage of the bile ducts or a liver problem — especially when paired with dark urine and jaundice.
ReadTesticular pain
Pain in one or both testicles or the scrotum. Most causes are treatable, but one — testicular torsion (a twisted testicle) — is a surgical emergency where the testicle can be lost within hours, so sudden severe testicular pain must always be treated as urgent until proven otherwise.
ReadBone pain
A deep, aching pain felt in the bone itself, distinct from joint or muscle pain. Common causes include injury and, importantly, weakened bone from vitamin D deficiency or osteoporosis; persistent, unexplained bone pain, especially at night or in older people, needs assessment.
ReadRapid breathing
Breathing faster than normal. It can be a harmless response to exertion, anxiety or fever, but it can also be the body's way of compensating for a lung problem, a serious infection, or acid in the blood — so new or unexplained rapid breathing, especially with other symptoms, needs assessment.
ReadIncreased appetite
Feeling unusually or constantly hungry. Often it is a normal response to exercise, growth, pregnancy or changed routine, but a persistent, marked increase — especially with weight loss or thirst — can signal an overactive thyroid or uncontrolled diabetes, and some medications drive it too.
ReadCoughing up blood
Coughing up blood or blood-streaked phlegm (haemoptysis). It is often caused by a chest infection and settles, but because it can also signal serious conditions such as a blood clot in the lung, tuberculosis or lung cancer, coughing up blood should always be assessed by a doctor.
ReadSwollen ankles
Swelling of the ankles and lower legs from fluid building up in the tissues (oedema). Often it is harmless — from standing, heat or pregnancy — but persistent swelling, especially in both legs with breathlessness, can point to the heart, kidneys or liver and is worth checking.
ReadIrregular heartbeat
A sense that the heart is beating in an uneven, erratic or skipping pattern, rather than steadily. It is often caused by harmless extra beats, but a persistently irregular pulse can be atrial fibrillation — the commonest rhythm disturbance — which raises stroke risk and is worth checking.
ReadBlood in stool (rectal bleeding)
Visible blood in or on the stool, on the toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. Bright red blood usually comes from the lower bowel or back passage — often piles or a small tear — but it can also signal inflammation or, importantly, a growth, so persistent or unexplained bleeding always needs assessment.
ReadBlack stools (melaena)
Black, tarry, foul-smelling stools, called melaena, usually signal bleeding from the upper digestive tract — the stomach or the first part of the small intestine. The blood turns black as it passes through the gut. It is an important warning sign that needs prompt medical assessment.
ReadMucus in stool
A jelly-like, clear or white slime in or on the stool. A small amount of mucus is normal, as the gut lining naturally makes it to protect and lubricate the bowel. But a noticeable or persistent increase, especially with diarrhoea, blood, pain or a change in bowel habit, can point to inflammation or irritation of the bowel.
ReadNeck lump
A lump or swelling felt in the neck. Most are harmless — a reactive lymph node from an infection, or a benign thyroid nodule. But a lump that is persistent, growing, hard or comes with other symptoms should be assessed, as a small minority reflect a thyroid or lymph-node cancer.
ReadNosebleeds
Bleeding from the nose, which is very common and usually harmless — most come from small vessels at the front of the nose, triggered by dryness, picking or a knock. Recurrent, heavy or spontaneous nosebleeds, especially with easy bruising or bleeding elsewhere, can point to a clotting or platelet problem worth checking.
ReadEarly satiety
Feeling full after only a few mouthfuls, or much sooner than expected. It is often due to slow stomach emptying or common digestive conditions, but persistent early fullness — especially with weight loss — can reflect pressure from an enlarged organ or an abdominal mass and deserves assessment.
ReadPurple skin spots (purpura)
Purple or red-brown spots or patches under the skin caused by small bleeds, which do not fade when pressed. They range from harmless bruising to signs of low platelets or inflamed blood vessels; spots that don't blanch, especially with fever or feeling unwell, need prompt assessment.
ReadFoamy urine
Urine that looks frothy or bubbly. Occasional foam is often just a fast urine stream or a clean toilet bowl, but persistent foamy urine can be a sign of protein leaking through the kidneys, which is worth checking with a simple urine test.
ReadExcessive sweating
Sweating more than the body needs to control temperature. It ranges from a harmless localised tendency (sweaty palms or underarms) to a symptom of an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, menopause, infection or, occasionally, something more serious — especially when it is generalised, new, or drenches you at night.
ReadJaw pain
Pain in the jaw. Most often it comes from the jaw joint, teeth or muscles, but importantly it can be 'referred' pain from the heart — jaw pain, especially with chest discomfort or on exertion, can be a symptom of a heart attack and should not be ignored.
ReadIntermittent claudication
Cramping, aching or tiring pain in the leg — typically the calf — that comes on reliably with walking and eases within minutes of rest. It is the hallmark of peripheral artery disease, where narrowed leg arteries cannot supply enough blood to the muscles during exertion.
ReadArm heaviness
A sensation of heaviness, aching or discomfort in the arm. Often it is musculoskeletal or from a trapped nerve, but importantly, arm heaviness — especially the left arm, with chest discomfort or on exertion — can be a referred symptom of a heart attack and must be taken seriously.
ReadBleeding gums
Blood from the gums, usually when brushing or flossing. By far the commonest cause is gum inflammation from plaque (gingivitis), which is very treatable. Occasionally, bleeding gums are one sign of a wider bleeding tendency, a blood thinner, or, rarely, a blood disorder or vitamin C deficiency.
ReadProlonged bleeding
Bleeding that takes much longer than expected to stop after a cut, injury, dental work or surgery. Occasional slow bleeding is common, but a consistent pattern — especially with easy bruising or a family history — can signal a bleeding disorder, a low platelet count, a blood thinner, or a liver problem.
ReadFrequent large bruises
Big bruises that appear often, with little or no injury to explain them. This goes beyond ordinary easy bruising: large, frequent or unexplained bruises — especially with other bleeding, or in someone feeling unwell — can point to a low platelet count, a blood thinner, or, less often, a bleeding disorder or blood condition.
ReadMalaise
A vague, general feeling of being unwell, off-colour or 'not right', without a single clear symptom. It is common and usually accompanies ordinary infections, but persistent, unexplained malaise — especially with weight loss, fever or other symptoms — can be an early sign of something that needs looking into.
ReadRight upper quadrant pain
Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, under the right ribs — the area over the liver and gallbladder. Common causes are gallstones and liver inflammation, but it can also come from the digestive tract, right lung base or muscles. Severe, persistent pain, or pain with fever or jaundice, needs assessment.
ReadChills
A feeling of being cold with shivering, often as the body's temperature rises toward a fever. Most often chills come with ordinary infections, but violent, shaking chills (rigors), or chills with a high fever and feeling very unwell, can signal a more serious infection that needs prompt attention.
ReadCloudy urine
Urine that looks murky, turbid or milky rather than clear. It is often harmless — from concentrated urine, diet or crystals — but can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other conditions, so persistent cloudiness, especially with other symptoms, is worth checking.
ReadUrinary urgency
A sudden, strong and hard-to-defer need to pass urine. It is often part of an overactive bladder, but can also be caused by a urinary infection, prostate problems in men, high blood sugar, or bladder irritation, so persistent urgency is worth investigating.
ReadNocturia (waking at night to urinate)
Waking one or more times during the night specifically to pass urine, in a way that disturbs sleep. It becomes more common with age and has many causes — from drinking late, to prostate problems, high blood sugar, heart or kidney conditions — so persistent or troublesome nocturia is worth exploring.
ReadPica (craving ice or non-food items)
A persistent craving to eat things with little or no nutritional value — most commonly ice, but also substances like clay, starch or paper. In adults it is classically linked to iron deficiency, and a craving to chew ice in particular is a well-known clue to low iron.
ReadBrittle nails
Nails that are weak, split or peel, break easily or develop ridges. Most often it is simply age or everyday wear from water, soap and harsh products, but persistent brittleness can occasionally reflect iron deficiency, a thyroid problem or other conditions.
ReadSpoon-shaped nails (koilonychia)
Nails that become thin and curve upward at the edges, so they dip in the middle like a shallow spoon that could hold a drop of water. The classic and most important cause in adults is iron deficiency, making it a recognised visible clue to low iron.
ReadRaynaud's phenomenon
Episodes where the fingers (or toes) turn white then blue in the cold or with stress, before going red as blood returns. Most cases are harmless (primary Raynaud's), but when it starts later in life or comes with other symptoms it can be the first sign of a connective-tissue disease.
ReadSkin thickening
Areas of skin that become hard, tight or leathery rather than soft and pliable. Localised patches often have a benign or local cause, but widespread thickening of the fingers and hands, especially with Raynaud's, can be a sign of scleroderma and needs assessment.
ReadPuffy fingers
Fingers that look swollen, puffy or sausage-like, with a loss of the normal wrinkles and definition. Often the cause is benign (heat, salt, fluid retention), but persistent puffy fingers, especially with Raynaud's, can be an early sign of scleroderma or mixed connective-tissue disease.
ReadBreast lump
A lump or area of thickening felt in the breast. Reassuringly, most breast lumps are not cancer — many are benign cysts or fibrous changes — but any new or changing lump deserves prompt assessment, because when breast cancer is found early it is very often treatable.
ReadChange in bowel habits
A lasting change in how your bowels work — becoming looser or more frequent, or newly constipated. Most changes are benign, from diet, stress or a settled condition like IBS, but a persistent unexplained change over weeks, especially with bleeding or weight loss, deserves assessment.
ReadChanging mole
A mole that changes in size, shape or colour, or a new pigmented spot that looks different from your others. Most moles are harmless and stay stable, but a changing or unusual mole should be checked, because a mole that is evolving can be an early sign of melanoma — a treatable skin cancer when found early.
ReadFlushing
Episodes of sudden redness and warmth, usually of the face, neck and upper chest, as small blood vessels widen. It is often harmless — triggered by heat, emotion, alcohol or spicy food — but recurrent unexplained flushing can point to hormonal causes worth investigating.
ReadSalt craving
A strong, persistent desire for salty foods. Usually it reflects habit, taste or sweating heavily, but a marked new craving — especially with tiredness, dizziness, weight loss or darkening skin — can be a clue to an adrenal hormone problem such as adrenal insufficiency, and is worth taking seriously.
ReadNipple discharge
Fluid coming from the nipple outside of breastfeeding. A milky discharge from both breasts (galactorrhoea) is usually hormonal, often from a high prolactin level. A discharge from one breast, especially if bloody or with a lump, needs assessment to exclude a breast problem.
ReadHeight loss
Becoming noticeably shorter over time. A small loss is a normal part of ageing as the discs between the spine's bones flatten, but a marked or rapid loss — especially with back pain or a stooped posture — can signal spinal compression fractures from thinning bones (osteoporosis).
ReadStooped posture (kyphosis)
A forward rounding of the upper back that makes a person appear hunched. It can come from posture and muscle changes, but a new or progressive stoop in an older adult — especially with height loss or back pain — can signal spinal compression fractures from thinning bones (osteoporosis).
ReadFrequent fractures
Breaking bones easily or repeatedly, especially from minor bumps or falls that would not normally cause a fracture. Such 'fragility fractures' are the hallmark of weakened bone — most often osteoporosis — and are an important, treatable signal that bone health needs assessing.
ReadCracked lips (angular cheilitis)
Dry, cracked lips, and especially sore cracks at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis), are usually caused by dryness, weather, lip-licking or yeast, but persistent cracks can also be a clue to shortages of B vitamins or iron, and sometimes to diabetes or other conditions.
ReadSmooth tongue (glossitis)
A tongue that has become smooth, shiny, red and often sore has lost its normal surface texture (atrophic glossitis). It is a classic sign of deficiencies of vitamin B12, folate, iron or other B vitamins, though local irritation and some other conditions can also cause it.
ReadPoor wound healing
Wounds that heal slowly, poorly or not at all can point to problems with blood supply, blood sugar, nutrition or the immune system. Diabetes and poor circulation are common causes, but shortages of vitamin C, zinc or protein, and some medicines, also impair healing.
ReadMuscle twitching
Small, involuntary flickers or ripples in a muscle, most often felt in the eyelid, calf or thumb. Usually it is completely harmless, driven by tiredness, stress, caffeine or exercise. Occasionally, more widespread or persistent twitching reflects a low mineral level or, rarely, a nerve problem.
ReadTingling around the mouth (perioral tingling)
A pins-and-needles or numb feeling around the lips and mouth. A very common, harmless cause is over-breathing during anxiety or a panic attack. But the same symptom, especially with tingling in the hands and muscle cramps, is a classic sign of a low blood calcium, which is worth checking.
ReadHiccups (persistent)
Sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, each cut off by a snap of the vocal cords. Short bouts are universal and harmless, usually from eating or drinking too fast, fizzy drinks or excitement. Hiccups that last more than a day or two, though, can occasionally point to an underlying problem worth checking.
ReadPainful periods
Cramping pain in the lower abdomen around the time of a period. Often it is a normal part of menstruation (primary dysmenorrhoea), but pain that is severe, worsening, or new in later life can signal an underlying condition such as endometriosis or fibroids and deserves assessment.
ReadMissed periods
Periods that stop or fail to arrive (amenorrhoea). Pregnancy is the most common and first cause to check. Beyond that, missed periods can reflect the menopause transition, PCOS, an overactive thyroid, a high prolactin, very low body weight or intense exercise, and other hormone problems.
ReadPelvic pain
Pain felt low in the abdomen, in the pelvis. It has many possible sources — the reproductive organs, bladder and urinary tract, or bowel — and can be sudden or long-standing. New severe pelvic pain, or pain in early pregnancy, needs prompt assessment; chronic pelvic pain deserves proper investigation.
ReadSwollen tonsils
Enlargement of the tonsils at the back of the throat, usually from infection. It often comes with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Most causes are viral and settle on their own, but bacterial tonsillitis, glandular fever, or one-sided swelling with severe symptoms may need assessment.
ReadRunny nose
A runny nose (rhinorrhoea) is excess nasal discharge, most often from a common cold or allergies. It is usually harmless and self-limiting. The colour of the discharge is a poor guide to whether antibiotics are needed; the pattern and accompanying symptoms are more useful.
ReadBody aches
Diffuse aching in the muscles all over the body, most often part of a viral illness like flu or COVID-19. Usually short-lived and harmless, but persistent widespread aching, or aching with muscle weakness or dark urine, can point to conditions worth investigating.
ReadMorning stiffness
Stiffness of the joints or back on waking that makes movement difficult until you loosen up. Its duration is the key clue: brief stiffness usually reflects wear-and-tear, while prolonged morning stiffness lasting well over half an hour points toward inflammatory arthritis.
ReadLow back stiffness
A tight, restricted feeling in the lower back that limits bending and twisting. As with morning stiffness, the pattern matters: stiffness that is worse after rest and better with movement, especially in a younger adult, can signal inflammatory spine disease rather than ordinary mechanical strain.
ReadHeel pain
Pain in or around the heel, usually from a local mechanical problem such as plantar fasciitis or an Achilles tendon issue. Occasionally, though, heel pain reflects inflammation where tendons attach to bone (enthesitis) — a clue to spondyloarthritis — or, rarely, gout.
ReadDifficulty urinating
Trouble starting to urinate, a weak or slow stream, dribbling, or a feeling of not emptying fully. In men it most often reflects a benign enlarged prostate, but it is worth assessing — occasionally it points to prostate or other problems, and complete inability to pass urine is an emergency.
ReadUnexplained lump
A new lump or swelling you can feel, without an obvious cause. Most lumps are benign — a cyst, a swollen gland fighting an infection, or a fatty lump — but a lump that is new, growing, hard or persistent should be assessed, because a minority need further investigation.
ReadNon-healing skin sore
A sore, ulcer or spot on the skin that does not heal within the usual few weeks, or heals and comes back. Common causes include poor circulation, pressure and diabetes, but a persistent sore — especially on sun-exposed skin — can occasionally be a skin cancer and is worth having checked.
ReadWatery diarrhea
Frequent, loose, watery stools. Most often it is a short-lived infection or a reaction to food or medicine, but persistent, profuse watery diarrhoea — especially if it continues even when fasting or comes with a low potassium — can rarely signal a hormone-secreting tumour and needs looking into.
ReadRecurrent stomach ulcers
Peptic ulcers that keep coming back or fail to heal with standard treatment. Usually the reason is a persisting cause — H. pylori infection, ongoing anti-inflammatory painkillers or smoking — but truly stubborn, multiple ulcers can rarely signal a gastrin-producing tumour (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
ReadDizziness when hungry
Feeling light-headed, shaky or faint when you have not eaten for a while, easing once you eat. Often it reflects a normal, harmless dip in blood sugar or simple hunger, but recurrent, clear-cut spells — especially with confusion or sweating — can point to a problem with blood-sugar control that needs looking into.
ReadPetechiae
Tiny, pinpoint red or purple spots that appear on the skin when small blood vessels leak. Unlike a rash, they don't fade when pressed. They can be harmless after straining, but widespread or unexplained petechiae — especially with bruising or bleeding — can signal a low platelet count and need checking.
ReadLightheadedness on standing
A brief feeling of dizziness, wooziness or nearly fainting when you stand up. It happens when blood pressure dips as you rise (orthostatic hypotension). Occasional episodes are common, but frequent or severe lightheadedness on standing can point to dehydration, anaemia, medication effects or an underlying condition.
ReadExercise intolerance
Finding it unusually hard to sustain physical activity — getting breathless, exhausted or weak sooner than expected, or than you used to. It has many causes, from being out of condition to anaemia, heart or lung disease, or thyroid and metabolic problems, so a persistent, worsening drop is worth investigating.
ReadRecurrent blood clots
More than one blood clot over time — such as repeated deep vein thromboses or pulmonary embolisms. It raises the question of an underlying clotting tendency (thrombophilia) or another driver, and usually prompts a specialist assessment of why the clots keep happening.
ReadRecurrent miscarriage
The loss of two or more pregnancies. Although each miscarriage is common and often due to chance chromosomal problems, repeated losses prompt investigation for treatable causes — including antiphospholipid syndrome, thyroid and hormonal problems, and structural or genetic factors.
ReadRed, swollen leg
Swelling, redness and often pain and warmth in one leg. A key concern is a deep vein thrombosis (a clot in a deep leg vein), which needs prompt assessment. Other causes include a skin infection (cellulitis), and swelling of both legs usually points to a different, more general cause.
ReadLow blood pressure
Blood pressure that is lower than usual. For many people it is normal and healthy, but if it causes dizziness, faintness or fatigue — or drops on standing — it can point to dehydration, medications, or a hormonal cause such as adrenal insufficiency worth checking.
ReadLoss of body hair
A thinning or loss of hair on the body — such as underarm, pubic or facial hair — as distinct from scalp hair loss. It can be a sign of low sex hormones or an underactive pituitary or thyroid, so a gradual, unexplained loss of body hair is worth checking.
ReadReduced muscle mass
A loss of muscle bulk and strength beyond what activity explains. It happens naturally with ageing and disuse, but a marked or unexplained loss can reflect low hormones (testosterone or growth hormone), an overactive thyroid, or an underlying illness worth investigating.
ReadBull's-eye rash (erythema migrans)
A slowly expanding, roughly circular red rash, sometimes with a clearer centre giving a 'target' or 'bull's-eye' look. Appearing days to weeks after a tick bite, it is the classic early sign of Lyme disease and a reason to seek prompt treatment.
ReadMigrating joint pain
Joint pain that moves from one joint to another over days, rather than staying put. This 'flitting' pattern is a useful clue — it points towards certain infections and post-infectious reactions, such as rheumatic fever and Lyme disease, and away from steadily fixed forms of arthritis.
ReadPainless sore (chancre)
An open sore or ulcer that does not hurt. When it appears on the genitals, mouth or anus, a painless sore is the classic first sign of syphilis and a reason to seek testing — but painless ulcers elsewhere, especially ones that do not heal, also need assessment.
ReadOrthopnea
Breathlessness that comes on when lying flat and eases when sitting or standing up. It is a classic clue to heart failure — people often need extra pillows to sleep — but it can also occur with lung disease and severe obesity. New or worsening orthopnea deserves medical assessment.
ReadAbdominal swelling
A visibly enlarged or distended abdomen. It ranges from harmless gas and bloating to a build-up of fluid (ascites) that can reflect serious heart, liver or kidney disease, or, less often, an ovarian or other mass. New, persistent or progressive abdominal swelling deserves medical assessment.
ReadSudden weight gain
A rapid rise in weight over days to a couple of weeks, too fast to be body fat. It usually means the body is retaining fluid, which can be an important early sign of heart, kidney or liver problems, and sometimes reflects medication or hormones. Rapid fluid weight gain deserves prompt assessment.
ReadGreasy stools (steatorrhoea)
Pale, bulky, oily stools that float, look greasy and are hard to flush, often with a strong smell. They mean fat is not being absorbed and is passing into the stool — a sign of malabsorption, most often from a pancreatic or small-bowel problem such as chronic pancreatitis or coeliac disease.
ReadUndigested food in stool
Seeing recognisable pieces of food in the stool. Very often this is simply high-fibre plant material (like sweetcorn or seeds) that the body cannot break down, which is harmless. Persistently seeing undigested food, especially with other gut symptoms, can point to rapid transit or a digestion problem worth checking.
ReadFoul-smelling stools
Stools that smell unusually strong or offensive. All stool has an odour, and diet, medication and minor tummy bugs can make it worse temporarily. But a persistently very foul smell — especially with pale, greasy or loose stools and weight loss — can be a sign that fat and food are not being absorbed properly.
ReadLeg weakness
A genuine loss of strength in the legs, making them feel heavy or difficult to move — distinct from tiredness. Causes range from nerve and muscle problems and electrolyte or vitamin deficiencies to spinal cord issues; sudden or one-sided weakness can be an emergency.
ReadPoor coordination (ataxia)
Clumsy, unsteady or imprecise movement — trouble with balance, walking a straight line, or fine hand movements — beyond ordinary tiredness. Causes include problems of the cerebellum or the nerves, alcohol, and vitamin deficiencies such as B1, B12 and E; sudden ataxia can be an emergency.
ReadBowed legs
An outward curving of the legs so the knees stay apart when the ankles touch. In toddlers a mild bow is usually a normal stage that straightens on its own; but marked, worsening or one-sided bowing — especially with other signs — can indicate rickets from vitamin D deficiency.
ReadHand-flapping tremor (asterixis)
A distinctive jerky, flapping movement of the hands when they are held outstretched — like a bird flapping its wings. Rather than a true tremor, it is a brief loss of muscle tone, and it is an important sign of a body-chemistry disturbance, classically from liver failure.
ReadEasy drowsiness (excessive sleepiness)
Feeling sleepy, heavy-headed or hard to keep awake during the day, more than tiredness alone. Often it reflects poor sleep or a medication, but new or marked drowsiness — especially with confusion — can be an important sign of a metabolic problem such as liver failure, and needs attention.
ReadUrinary incontinence
The involuntary leakage of urine — from small leaks with coughing or exercise to a sudden, hard-to-hold urge. It is common and very treatable, with causes that range from weakened pelvic-floor muscles to an overactive bladder, prostate problems in men, or infection.
ReadWeak urine stream
A urinary flow that is weaker or slower than it used to be, sometimes dribbling or stopping and starting. In men it most often reflects an enlarged prostate narrowing the outflow; other causes include a narrowing of the urethra, prostate inflammation, or a weakened bladder muscle.
ReadUrinary hesitancy
Difficulty getting the urine stream started, or a delay before it flows, sometimes needing to strain or wait. In men it most often points to an enlarged prostate obstructing the outflow; it can also come from prostate inflammation, a urethral narrowing, or a weakened bladder.
ReadBedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
Involuntary passing of urine during sleep. In young children it is common and usually a normal part of development that resolves with time; when it is new in an older child or an adult, or comes with other symptoms, it can point to an infection, diabetes, or a bladder problem worth checking.
ReadMemory loss
Difficulty remembering information or events. Occasional forgetfulness is normal, especially with stress, poor sleep or age, but persistent or worsening memory problems can signal treatable causes — thyroid or vitamin problems, mood, medications — or, sometimes, dementia.
ReadSlurred speech
Speech that sounds unclear, mumbled or hard to understand. Sudden slurred speech is a key warning sign of stroke and is a medical emergency. When it comes on gradually, causes range from alcohol and medications to neurological conditions.
ReadDifficulty walking
Trouble walking normally — feeling unsteady, weak, stiff or slow, or having an altered gait. Causes range widely, from joint and muscle problems to neurological conditions and nerve damage, and sudden difficulty walking can be a sign of stroke.
ReadBalance problems
Feeling unsteady, wobbly or as though you might fall. Balance depends on the inner ear, vision, nerves and brain working together, so problems can come from an inner-ear disorder, nerve damage, medications or a neurological condition — and sudden loss of balance can be a stroke.
ReadChronic phlegm
Bringing up mucus (phlegm or sputum) most days over a long period. It often reflects long-term airway irritation or disease — commonly smoking-related chronic bronchitis or COPD — and a persistent change, or blood in the phlegm, is worth having assessed.
ReadNoisy breathing
Breathing that makes an abnormal sound — a wheeze, a whistle, a high-pitched crow, or a rattle. The type of noise points to where the airway is narrowed, and while some causes are mild, sudden noisy breathing with breathing difficulty can be an emergency.
ReadChest congestion
A feeling of heaviness, fullness or mucus in the chest, often with a cough and a sense of not being able to clear it. It usually reflects a respiratory infection or airway disease, but persistent congestion or one with breathlessness deserves assessment.
ReadBreathlessness on exertion
Becoming unusually short of breath during activity — climbing stairs, walking uphill or exercising — that used to be comfortable. It is a common and important symptom, most often reflecting the lungs, heart or a low blood count, and a new or worsening pattern deserves assessment.
ReadEye pain
Pain in or around the eye, ranging from surface irritation to a deep ache. Common causes are minor — dryness, a scratch or infection — but a painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity can mean inflammation inside the eye (uveitis) or raised pressure, which need prompt care.
ReadThroat tightness
A feeling that the throat is constricting or closing. It is often caused by anxiety or acid reflux, but a rapidly developing tight throat — especially with swelling, a rash or difficulty breathing after an allergen — can be a sign of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency needing immediate treatment.
ReadWidespread itching
An itch affecting large areas or the whole body. Often it is a skin problem such as dryness or an allergic reaction, but persistent all-over itching without a rash can point to an internal cause — liver, kidney, thyroid or blood problems — and is worth investigating.
ReadJoint swelling
Visible or palpable enlargement of a joint, often from inflammation or fluid inside it. It can follow an injury, but new joint swelling — especially if hot, red, or affecting several joints — can signal inflammatory arthritis, gout or, if a single hot joint, a joint infection needing urgent care.
ReadSkin blisters
Small, fluid-filled bubbles that form within or under the skin. Most come from a clear cause such as friction, a burn or an allergic reaction, but some signal an infection like shingles, or, less commonly, a blistering skin disease — the pattern and any pain or fever guide what matters.
ReadStiff neck
Reduced, painful movement of the neck. Most stiff necks are harmless — from sleeping awkwardly, poor posture or muscle strain — and ease within days. But a stiff neck with fever, severe headache or dislike of light can be a warning of meningitis, which is a medical emergency.
ReadEar fullness
A sensation that the ear is blocked, plugged or under pressure, often with muffled hearing. Most causes are common and settle — earwax, a cold, or pressure changes affecting the Eustachian tube — but persistent, one-sided or hearing-loss-related fullness deserves a check.
ReadPainful rash
A rash that hurts, burns or is tender rather than merely itchy. Pain is an important clue: it points more toward infections such as shingles or cellulitis than toward ordinary itchy rashes, and a rapidly spreading, extremely painful rash with fever can be a serious emergency.
ReadShakiness (trembling)
A feeling of trembling or being shaky, inside or in the hands. Most often it is a normal surge of adrenaline — from stress, caffeine, hunger or tiredness. But persistent or unexplained shakiness can point to a low blood sugar, an overactive thyroid, or a tremor disorder, which lab tests can help sort out.
ReadCold sweats
Sweating with cool, clammy, often pale skin — not from heat or exercise. It is the body's adrenaline response and can be harmless (anxiety, pain, feeling faint), but a sudden cold sweat with chest pain, breathlessness or feeling very unwell can signal something serious like a heart attack, low blood sugar or shock.
ReadSugar cravings
A strong urge to eat sweet or high-carbohydrate foods. Usually it reflects habit, appetite, stress, tiredness or restrictive dieting rather than a disease. But cravings that come with the shakiness and sweating of a low blood sugar, or with the pattern of insulin resistance, can have a physiological basis worth exploring.
ReadMorning headache
A headache that is present on waking or that regularly wakes you in the early morning. Often it is harmless — poor sleep, teeth grinding, medication overuse or a hangover. But regular morning headaches can be a clue to sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, or, rarely, something more serious, and are worth exploring.
Read