Symptoms: How to Spot, Track, and Act on Health Changes
Not sure if a new ache or weird feeling is worth worrying about? Symptoms are your body's way of sending messages. Some are minor and go away in days. Others mean you should call a doctor. This page groups clear, practical articles on common symptoms, medication side effects, and what to do next.
Simple steps to track and understand symptoms
Start a short log. Note when the symptom began, what makes it better or worse, and any related events—new drug, recent illness, or stress. Use a phone note or calendar: date, time, intensity (mild/moderate/severe), and a one-line trigger. That short history helps your clinician more than vague memory.
Look for patterns. Is the symptom tied to certain foods, activity, or time of day? For example, sinus pressure in pregnancy often worsens when lying down; iron deficiency fatigue may build slowly and affect short walks or everyday tasks. If a medication was started recently, check its side effects—many posts here explain what to expect and when a side effect becomes urgent.
Keep photos and simple measurements. A rash photo over a few days, breath-count for shortness of breath, or a home thermometer reading can be very useful. Share these details with a clinician or a telemedicine service when you ask for help.
Red flags and when to seek urgent care
Some symptoms need fast action: trouble breathing, chest pain, sudden severe headache, new weakness or numbness on one side, sudden vision loss, or passing out. High fever with confusion, severe dehydration, or signs of a serious allergic reaction (swelling of face, throat, or difficulty breathing) also need immediate care.
For less dramatic but worrying signs—fast heart rate, ongoing severe nausea, jarring mood changes, or a symptom that gets steadily worse over 48–72 hours—reach out to your doctor or a trusted telemedicine provider. If you’re on medication and notice new muscle pain, jaundice, severe drowsiness, or mood swings, stop the drug only if your provider tells you—some meds require tapering.
Want targeted reading? This tag collects helpful articles: safe ways to buy medications, drug side effects like with Zyprexa or Tylenol advice, condition-specific symptom guides such as iron deficiency anemia and sinus pressure in pregnancy, plus posts on hearing loss, glaucoma, and more. Use those pieces to learn what to watch for and what questions to ask your clinician.
Got a symptom that's confusing? Start by documenting it, check for recent medication changes, and contact a healthcare professional. If you need specific articles, browse the list on this page for clear, practical info you can use right away.
