Signs and symptoms – articles and advice
Bloating
Explore features explaining common signs and symptoms, what they might mean and when to seek help. For reference, see our Patient Information Leaflets on symptoms.
Bloating
Bloating is where your tummy feels full and uncomfortable due to a build up of gas. It's very common and there are things you can do to ease it.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for over three months. You may feel the pain all the time or it may come and go. It can happen anywhere in your body and has many causes.
- Living with fibromyalgia - Jenny's story
- When should you worry about pain?
- Can I treat chronic pain with CBD?
- Could new guidance change how we treat chronic pain?
- How to manage chronic pain
- Why is fibromyalgia so misunderstood?
- What does living with chronic pain really feel like?
- What is CBD oil and does it work?
Dizziness and vertigo
Feeling unsteady or faint? Dizziness has many causes. Learn when it’s harmless and when it could signal a problem needing urgent care.
Itching
Itching (the medical term is pruritus) is a symptom that can be caused by a large number of conditions. It can occur over your entire body or just in one area.
- Itchy skin at night this summer? Here's why
- Why eczema itches - and how to stop it
- Coconut allergy: can coconut oil make your skin itch?
- How to relieve itchy eyes in the summer
- Common causes of an itchy scalp
- Common causes of an itchy bottom
- Can dandruff and an itchy scalp lead to hair loss?
- What causes itchy skin?
- How to manage lichen sclerosus and genital itching
- What causes an itchy roof of mouth?
Swelling
Swelling in legs, arms or elsewhere can have many causes. Learn when swelling is temporary and when it might be a sign of something serious.
Tiredness and fatigue
Feeling constantly tired? Learn about possible causes, from sleep issues to medical conditions, and what steps you can take to regain your energy.
- How to boost your energy levels and feel less tired in winter
- Why do I have extreme tiredness after eating?
- Reasons you feel tired all the time
- What it's like to live with cancer fatigue
- Cancer fatigue: what it is and how to cope
- What you need to know about post-viral fatigue
- What it could mean if you're constantly tired
- The latest thinking on chronic fatigue syndrome
- What your constant yawning could mean
Cough and cold
A cough that won’t go away can be irritating—or a sign of something more serious. Learn about common causes and when to see your doctor.
- Is it whooping cough or just a cold?
- When to worry about a persistent cough
- What to eat when you have a cold
- Can zinc lozenges protect against coughs, colds, flu, and COVID-19?
- Coughs, colds and sore throats: is honey better than over-the-counter treatments?
- How to stop coughing at night
- Should you go to work when you have a cold?
- Is your cough really a chest infection?
- How to avoid catching a cold on public transport
Headache
Headaches are common but can be surprisingly complex. Discover the different types of headaches, possible causes, and the best ways to find relief.
Other signs and symptoms
Not every symptom fits neatly into a category. Learn how doctors investigate unexplained symptoms and when you should seek advice.
- 5 hidden health traitors secretly betraying you
- Hiccups: a guide to common causes and quick relief
- When to worry about night sweats
- What could be causing your pins and needles?
- Living with tinnitus: symptoms and solutions
- Causes of nausea
- Why some people bruise so easily
- How to stop sweating so much
- Signs of tinnitus to look out for in children
- Does tinnitus lead to hearing loss?