Health checks you can do at home

No-one likes to think they bother their doctor unnecessarily, but there are times when you should always seek help. We take a look at the 10 top symptoms you should never ignore

While in many cases symptoms can be due to a non-serious condition, they are sometimes an early warning sign of a problem that needs further investigation and treatment. It's better to take these symptoms seriously, than to dismiss the signs and delay an important diagnosis until it is perhaps too late.

1. Chest pain

Chest pain is caused by many conditions, some of which are serious and some not. As it is often difficult for even doctors to tell these apart, sudden chest pain should always be taken seriously and medical assistance sought without delay. Possible causes include:
acid reflux and heart burn
stress
Pulled muscles/inflamed joints
angina or heart attack
pulmonary embolus (blood clot in a lung)
collapsed lung
chest infection
lung cancer

2. Weight loss for no apparent reason

Although many people are happy to lose weight through sensible dieting, you should never ignore unexplained weight loss. It can be a sign of an undiagnosed, serious illness and is not always accompanied by loss of appetite. Possible causes include:
anorexia nervosa
diabetes
over-active thyroid gland
a hidden infection
malabsorption - in which nutrients are not taken up from the intestines properly e.g. coeliac disease; tapeworm
T.B. (tuberculosis)
cancer - especially a stomach tumour
Kidney failure

3. Any unusual thickening or lump

If you notice an unusual lump anywhere on your body, bring it to your doctor's attention. Although 9 out of 10 lumps are non-serious, it is sometimes difficult for even a doctor to tell harmless lumps from those needing urgent treatment. If there is any doubt as to the nature of a lump, it can be removed or biopsied. Most lumps are therefore biopsied biopsied and examined under a microscope for an accurate diagnosis. Possible causes include:

a benign (non-cancerous) tumour such as a polyp, fatty lump (lipoma) or fibrous lump (fibroma)
enlarged lymph node due to infection or cancer
enlarged organ or gland eg liver, spleen, thyroid
a benign cyst (eg sebaceous cyst) or malignant cyst (eg of ovary)
cancer