Some symtoms are indicative of a
variety of illnesses. The following table lists some of
the more common disorders that are associated with
particular symtoms. It is not meant to serve as a
substitute for professional diagnosis. Although you may
experience one or more of the symptoms below, you may or
may not have any of the illnesses cited.
Your body is simply sending a message that something may be
wrong. Listening to your body can help stop a problem
before it becomes serious. Moreover, the illnesses listed
below are given in alphabetical order. This does not at
all reflect your chances of having any of them. If you
have any of these symptoms, consult with your health care
provider.
Symptom
| Possible Cause |
| Abdominal pain, cramping
| Appendicitis; Crohn's disease; diarrhea;
diverticulitis; endometriosis; food allergies; food
poisoning; gallbladder disorders; hiatal hernia;
indigestion; irritable bowel syndrome; lactose intolerance;
miscarriage; pelvic inflammatory disease; peptic ulcer;
premenstrual syndrome; prolapse of the uterus; stress;
ulcerative colitis; uterine polyps or fibroids. |
| Anal bleeding itching, pain, swelling
| Abscess; allergies; anal fissure;
bruising; cancer; candidiasis; Chohn's disease; systs;
divertivulitis; food poisoning; genital warts; hemorrhoids,
infection; muscle spasms; pinworms; polyps; sexually
transmitted diseases; tumor; ulcers; ulcerative
colitis. |
| Back pain
| Aortic aneurysm; arthritis; awkward
sleeping position; cancer; disk disease; endometriosis;
gallbladder disorders; heart attack; improper lifting;
injury; kidney disease; lack of exercise; menstrual cramps;
muscle spasms; obesity; osteoporosis; overuse; Paget's
disease of bone; pelvic inflammatory disease; peptic ulcer;
pneumonia; poor posture; pregnancy; scoliosis; spinal
tumor; sprain; strained muscle and/or ligament; urinary
tract infection; uterine fibroids. |
| Bad breath
| Abscessed tooth; diabetes; dry mouth;
indigestion; infection;liver disease; lung disease; mouth
ulcers; mouth-brething; periodontal disease; poor oral
hygiene; sinusitis; tooth decay. |
| Bleeding, menstrual, heavy or irregular
| Blood clotting disorders; cancer;
hormonal imbalance; menopause; miscarriage; obesity;
overzealous dieting or exercise; urinary tract infection;
use of improper oral contraceptives; uterine polyps or
fibroids; vaginal infection; weight loss or gain. |
| Blinking frequent
| Anxiety; dry eyes; foreign body in the
eye; injury; Parkinson's disease; stroke; use of contact
lenses. |
| Bloating
| Allergies; appendicitis; bowel or kidney
obstruciton; diverticulitis; edema; gallbaldder disorders;
heart failure; irritable bowel syndrome; kidney disease;
lactose intolerance; peptic ulcer; tumor. |
| Blood in sputum, vomit, urine, or
stools, or from vagina or penis
| Blood clots and swelling of lung tissue;
cancer; hemorrhoids; infection; nosebleed; peptic ulcer;
tumor. |
| Body aches
| Arthritis, infection; lupus; Lyme
disease; overexertion, fibromyalgia, chronic fatgue
syndrome. |
| Body odor
| Diabetes; gastrointestinal
abnormalities; indigestion; infection. |
| Breast lumps
| Boils; cancer; fibrocystic disease;
injury; infected milk duct; infected sweat gland or lymph
node; premenstrual syndrome. |
| Breast tenderness
| Breastfeeding-related problems; cancer;
excessive consumption of fat, salt and/or caffeine;
hormonal imbalance; menopause; pregnancy; premenstrual
syndrome; stress. |
| Bruising, easy
| AIDS; anemia; cancer; drug reaction;
hemophilia; vitamin C deficiency; weakened immune
system. |
| Chest pain
| Angina; anxiety; bruised or broken rib;
coronary artery disease; gas; heart attack; heartburn;
hiatal hernia; hyperventilation; pleurisy; pneumonia;
strained muscle; stress. |
| Chills
| Acute infection; anemia; exposure to
cold; fever; hypothermia; shock. |
| Cold sweats
| AIDS; cancer;diabtes; influenza;
menopause; mononucleosis; severe heart or circulatory
disease; shock; tuberculosis. |
| Cough, persistent
| Allergies; asthma; cancer; chronic
bronchitis; emphysema; pneumonia; postnasal drip;
tuberculosis. |
| Delirium
| Alcohol abuse; appendicitis; diabetes;
drug reaction; epilepsy; high fever; stroke. |
| Disorientation
| Alcohol abuse; Alzheimer's disease;
anemia; acute anxiety (panic attack); hypoglycemia; poor
circulation; schizophrenia; seizure; stroke; transient
ischemic attack (TIA, temporary interference with blood
flow to the brain). |
| Dizziness, lightheadedness
| Allergies; anemia; acute anxiety (panic
attack); brain tumor; diabetes; drug reaction; heart
disease; high blood pressure; hypoglycemia; impending
stroke; infection; low blood pressure, Meniere's disease;
motion sickness; stress; stroke; vertigo. |
| Double vision
| Cataracts; concussion; eye disorders;
hyperthyroidism. |
| Drooling
| Drug withdrawal; ill-fitting dentures;
Parkinson's disease; pregnancy-related problems; salivary
gland disorders; seizure; stroke. |
| Drowsiness
| Acute kidney failure; allergies;
caffeine withdrawal; drug reaction; encephalitis; jet lag;
narcolepsy; sleep disorders. |
| Dry mouth
| Aging; diabetes; drug reactions;
mouth-breathing; Sjogren's syndrome. |
| Ear discharge
| Clogged eustachian tube; earwax buildup;
immune system dysfunction; infection; ruptured eardrum;
severe head injury; tumor. |
| Eye, bulging
| Aneurysm; blood clot or hemorrhage;
glaucoma; hyperthyroidism; infection. |
| Eyelid, drooping
| Botulism; diabetes; head or eyelid
injury; hypothyroidism; muscle weakness. |
| Fever, persisitent
| AIDS; autoimmune diseases; chronic
bronchitis; cancer (especially leukemia, kidney cancer,
lymphoma); diabetes; chronic infection; hepatitis;
mononucleosis; rheumatic disorders. |
| Flushing
| Alcohol consumption; anxiety;
dehydration; diabetes; heart disease; high blood pressure;
menopause; hyperthyroidism; pregnancey; use of high doses
of niacin or of cholesterol-lowering medications. |
| Gas, frequent burping
| Allergies; candidiasis; digestive
problems; gallbladder disorders; intestinal obstruction;
intestinal parasites; irritable bowel syndroome; lactose
intolerance; stomach acid deficiency; swallowing air. |
| Hands and/or feet, cold
| Exposure to cold; circulatory problems;
Raynaud's phenomenon; stress. |
| Headaches, persisitent
| Allergies; asthma; brain tumor; cluster
headaches; drug reaction; eyestrain; glaucoma; high blood
pressure; sinusities; stress; vitamin deficiency. |
| Heartbeat, irregular or rapid
| Anemia; anxiety; arteriosclerosis;
asthma; cardiovascular disease; caffeine, alcohol, or
tobacco consumption; calcium, magnesium, and/or potassium
deficiency; cancer; drug reaction; fever; heart attack;
high blood pressure; hormonal imbalance; low blood
pressure; obesity; overeating; overzealous exercising. |
| Incontinence
| Advanced neurologic disease; aging;
Alzheimer's disease; atrophic vaginitis; diabetes; loss of
muscle tone; multiple sclerosis; prostatitis; psychological
problems; restricted mobility; spinal cord trauma;
stroke. |
| Intercourse, painful
| Inflammation or infection of the vlva;
muscle spasms; unaccustomed position during sex; urinary
tract infection; vaginal dryness. |
| Irritability, mood swings.
| Alcohol or drug abuse; anxiety;
Alzheimer's disease; brain tumor; depression; diabetes;
drug reactions; food allergies; hypertyroidism;
hypothyroidism; nutritional deficiencies; premenstrual
syndrome; schizophrenia; stress; stroke; virtually any
chronic or disabling illness; |
| Joint pain, swelling
| Arthritis; bone cancer; bone fracture;
bone spur; bursitis; carpal tunnel syndrome; chronic
overuse; cirrhosis of the liver; diabetes; edema; gout;
hepatitis; hemophilia; hormonal imbalance; infection;
injury; kidney disease; Lyme disease; lupus; neuritis;
Paget's disease of bone; rheumatic fever; spran; strained
muscle and/or ligament; tendinitis. |
| Leg pain
| Arteriosclerosis; bone fracture;
cancerp; injury; improper footwear; Lyme disease;
osteomalacia; overuse; Paget's disease of bone; rickets;
ciatica; tendinitis; thrombophlebitis; tumor or infection
in intervertebral disk or spinal canal. |
| Lymph nodes, swollen
| AIDS; any acute or chronic infection;
lymphoma; metal toxicity. |
| Mouth sores
| Canker sores; chickenpox; denture
wearing; local trauma; measles; oral herpes; oral thrush;
use of tabacco or aspirin. |
| Muscle control, loss of
| Alcohol and/or drug abuse; extreme
exhaustion; head injury; multiple sclerosis; muscular
dystrophy; narcolepsy; overuse; Parkinson's disease;
seizure; stroke. |
| Muscle cramps
| Arthritis; calcium, magnesium, and/or
potassium deficiency; dehydration; diabetes; drug reaction;
fever; fibromyalgia; infection; injury; lupus; multiple
sclerosis; overuse. |
| Neck pain, stiffness
| Awkward sleeping position; disk disease;
injury; meningitis; strained muscle and/or ligament;
stress. |
| Nausea
| AIDS; alcohol consumption; anxiety;
cancer; celiac disease; cirrhosis of the liver; copper
toxicity; dehydration; drug withdrawal; enometriosis;
extreme fatigue; food poisoning; gallbladder disorders;
heart attack; hepatitis; hormonal imbalance; indigestion;
influenza; kidney disease; kidney stones; Meniere's
disease; migraine; morening sickness; motion sickness;
pancreatitis; poisoning; stress; ulcerative colitis. |
| Night seats
| AIDS; anxiety; automimmune disorders;
bowel disease; cancer; cardiovascular disease; fever;
heatitis; menopause; sleep apnea; stress; weakened immune
system. |
| Numbness
| Carpal tunnel syndrome; diabetes;
hyperventilation; multiple scherosis; pinched nerve; poor
circulation; rheumatoid arthritis; stroke; transient
ischemic attack. |
| Pulse, weak
| Blood loss; dehydration; drug reaction;
heart attack; low blood pressure; malnutrition; shock;
vomiting. |
| Seizure
| Alcoholism; Alzheimer's disease; drug
abuse; drug reaction; enciphalitis; epilepsy; head injury;
high fever; meninitis; stroke; tumor. |
| Swallowing, difficult
| Bulimia; cancer; dehydration; dry mouth;
heatal hernia; stress; tumor. |
| Sweating, excessive
| Alcohol consumption; anxiety;
cardiovascular disease; consumption of hot and/or spicy
foods; cystic fibrosis; food allergies; fever; hormonal
imbalance; hyperthyroidism; infection; kidney disease;
liver disease; lymphoma; malaria; menopause; overexertion;
pneumonia; stress. |
| Swelling of ankles, feet, legs, hands,
abdomen
| Arthritis; bursitis; cardiovascular
disease; chronic overuse; cirrhosis of the liver; diabetes;
drug reaction; edema; food allergies; gout; improper
footwear; joint infection; kidney disease; lupus; lymphatic
disorders; pregnancy; premenstrual syndrome; poor
circulation; sprain; strained muscle and/or ligament;
varicose veins. |
| Thrist, excessive
| Dehydration; diabetes; diarrhea; drug
reaction; fever; menopause-related problems; any viral or
bacterial infection. |
| Tremors
| Alcoholism; anxiety; caffeine
consumption; drug reaction; hypethyroidism; multiple
sclerosis; muscle fatigue; Parkinson's disease; stroke;
tumor. |
| Urination, frequent
| Aging; alcohol or caffeine consumption;
bladder infection; cancer; diabetes; drug reaction;
excessive liquid intake; kidney or bladder stones;
pregnancy; prostatitis. |
| Vaginal discharge, itching
| Cancer; chlamydia; genital herpes;
polyps; pelvic inflammatory disease; sexually transmitted
diseases; urinary tract infection; vaginitis; yeast
infection. |
| Weight gain
| Aging; congestive heart failure;
depression; diabetes; drug reaction; edema; hormonal
imbalance; hypothyroidism; kidney disease; overeating. |
| Weight loss
| Aging; AIDS; Alzheimer's diease;
anorexia nervosa; cancer; chronic infection; diabetes;
hepatitis; hyperthyroidism; malabsorption syndrome;
mononucleosis; Parkinson's disease; tuberculosis. |
| Wheezing
| Any upper respiratory infection;
allergies; asthma; cardiovascular disease; chronic
bronchitis; croup; emphysema; lung cancer; pheumonia.
|