Symptom Library

Dizziness describes feelings of unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or the sensation that the world around you is spinning (vertigo).

Palpitations are the awareness of your own heartbeat — it may feel like fluttering, pounding, or skipping a beat. Most are completely harmless.

Shortness of breath (dyspnoea) is the sensation of not being able to breathe deeply enough or feeling winded. It can be acute or gradual.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. It can range from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing sensation.

Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early and not being able to return to sleep, leading to unrefreshing rest.

Brain fog is a term for a cluster of symptoms including poor concentration, memory lapses, mental fatigue, and a feeling of 'cloudiness'.

Chest tightness is a sensation of pressure, squeezing, or constriction in the chest. It has many possible causes, most of which are benign.

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling back up into the oesophagus. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the heart.

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aching, or soreness in any of the body's joints. It can affect one or multiple joints at a time.

A rash is any change in the skin's colour, texture, or appearance. Rashes come in many forms and have many causes, most of which are not serious.

Low mood refers to feelings of sadness, emptiness, or a lack of enjoyment in things that usually bring pleasure. It's a normal human emotion that everyone experiences.

Eye twitching (myokymia) is an involuntary, repetitive spasm of the eyelid muscle. It most commonly affects the lower lid of one eye.

Frequent urination means needing to pass urine more often than usual. What counts as 'normal' varies, but more than 8 times a day is generally considered frequent.

Neck stiffness is tightness or reduced movement in the neck muscles and surrounding area, often with some pain or discomfort when turning the head.

Itching without a visible rash (pruritus) is a sensation that provokes the urge to scratch. It can be localised or affect the whole body.

Constipation means having fewer than three bowel movements per week, or passing stools that are hard, dry, and difficult to pass.

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweating, trembling, and breathlessness.

A leg cramp is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle in the leg, most commonly the calf. They often occur at night.

Blurry vision is a lack of sharpness of eyesight making objects appear out of focus. It can affect one or both eyes and may be constant or intermittent.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound — ringing, buzzing, or hissing — in one or both ears when no external sound is present.

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) beyond what's needed to regulate body temperature. It can affect the whole body or specific areas like hands, feet, or underarms.

Loss of appetite (anorexia) is a reduced desire to eat. It is a symptom, not a condition itself, and has many possible causes.

Persistently cold hands and feet occur when blood flow to the extremities is reduced, leaving them feeling cold even in mild temperatures.

A migraine is a type of headache characterised by intense, throbbing pain — often on one side — typically lasting 4–72 hours and sometimes accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity.

Diarrhoea means passing loose or watery stools more than three times a day. Acute diarrhoea usually lasts a day or two and clears without treatment.

Lymph nodes are small glands throughout the body that help fight infection. Swelling usually indicates your immune system is actively responding to something.

Irritability is a state of heightened sensitivity and lower tolerance, where you may feel easily frustrated, impatient, or on edge.

Dry skin (xerosis) occurs when the skin loses moisture, leading to a rough, tight, flaky, or itchy texture. It is very common, especially in colder months.

Bruises form when small blood vessels under the skin break following a bump. Finding bruises you don't remember getting is common but worth paying attention to.

A fever is a temporary rise in body temperature, typically above 38°C (100.4°F). It is the body's natural defence mechanism against infection.

Oversleeping, or hypersomnia, means sleeping more than 9 hours a night and still feeling tired or requiring daytime naps.

Memory lapses are brief moments of forgetfulness — losing a word, forgetting why you walked into a room, or missing routine tasks. These are extremely common.

Unexplained changes in weight — either gain or loss — without a clear change in diet or activity level are worth monitoring.

Stomach cramps are spasms of the abdominal muscles or digestive organs. They can range from a mild discomfort to intense, wave-like pain.