SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

In  medical terms, a sign is any visible indication of disease – bleeding, a rash or swelling, for example.  A symptom is something you can feel, such as pain, fever or nausea and it may or may not be accompanied by a physical change. Below are common signs and symptoms and their possible causes.

PART 2

COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS AND THE POSSIBLE CAUSES

Fatigue

~ Anemia, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, flu or other infectious disorder, heart disease, hepatitis, mononucleosis, premenstrual syndrome, respiratory disorders

Fever

~ Abscess, AIDS, appendicitis, cancer, infection (bacterial or viral), medication side effects, rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases

Fainting

~ Anxiety, blood loss, cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack or other heart condition, hyperventilation, hypoglycaemia, stroke

Gait changes

~ Arthritis, a back disorder, multiple sclerosis or other neuromuscular disorder, Parkinson’s disease, stroke

Hallucinations

~ Alcoholism, drug reaction, fever, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder

Hirsutism

~ Cancer, Cushing’s syndrome, drug side effects, hormonal imbalances, polycystic ovaries or other ovarian disorder

Hoarseness

~ Anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, common cold, croup, polyps, smoking, thyroid deficiency

Impotence

~ Alcoholism, depression, diabetes, drug reaction, multiple sclerosis, hormonal abnormalities, a nerve disorder, surgery for prostate tumors or disease, a thyroid disorder

Imsomnia

~ Alcohol and caffeine use, anxiety or depression, drug side effects, a thyroid disorder

Intestinal gas

~ Colic, colon cancer or other bowel disorder, diet indigestion, a malabsorption syndrome

Itching

~ Allergies, chickenpox or other rash, dry skin, eczema, fungal or other infection, liver disease, stress, vaginitis

Jaundice

~ Anemia, blocked bile duct, cirrhosis, hepatitis or other liver disorder, gallbladder disease, a pancreatic disorder, infant prematurity

Loss of appetite

~ AIDS, anemia, cancer, depression, a digestive disorder, drug reaction, an eating disorder, infection, loss of taste

Mood changes

~ Alcohol or drug abuse, depression or other psychological disorder, drug reaction, a hormonal disorder, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, psychological stress

Nausea and vomiting

~ Alcohol abuse, appendicitis, brain injury, drug reaction, ear infection, gallbladder disease, food poisoning, gastritis, glaucoma, heart attack, hepatitis, indigestion, infection, intestinal obstruction, Meniere’s disease, morning sickness, motion sickness, ulcers, vertigo

PART 3 will be posted soon.