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Body signals

Things you notice in your body, such as tiredness, bloating or poor sleep. Each page explains what can contribute, when to get help, and questions you could ask your GP. These pages do not diagnose you.

Need help now? In an emergency, call 000. To check your symptoms, use the healthdirect Symptom Checker or call a registered nurse on 1800 022 222.

Acne

A common skin condition that causes spots. It is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells and oil, not by a lack of hygiene.
Anxiety

Everyone feels anxious from time to time. When anxious feelings do not go away and affect daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder, which affects 1 in 4 Australians at some stage.
Bloating and tummy discomfort

A feeling that your tummy is stretched, gassy or full. It is very common and often linked to food, but some symptoms that come with it need a doctor.
Brain fog

A term used to describe problems with thinking and memory. Sleep, stress, activity, diet, medicines and some health conditions can all play a part.
Constipation

Difficulty passing bowel movements, or having them less often than normal. Eating more fibre, drinking plenty of fluids and being active help.
Feeling cold easily

Feeling cold when others are comfortable. Being unable to tolerate the cold is a symptom of an underactive thyroid, and cold hands or feet are a symptom of anaemia.
Hair loss or thinning

Losing more hair than usual, or noticing thinning. Pattern hair loss is common and runs in families, and other causes include stress, hormone changes and thyroid problems.
Headaches

Headaches are common and usually not concerning, but some warning signs need urgent care. Tension-type headache is one of the most common forms.
Heart palpitations

A noticeable change in your heartbeat, such as it feeling unusually fast, irregular or strong. Palpitations are usually not serious, but your heart should be checked.
Joint pain

Pain or stiffness in one or more joints. Joints get sore and swollen for many reasons, from injury and overuse to arthritis, including gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
Low mood and low motivation

Feeling sad, flat or unmotivated. Short spells are part of life, but low mood on most days for 2 weeks or more can be depression, which is common and treatable.
Low sex drive

Less interest in sex than is normal for you. It is common, and tiredness, stress, relationship factors, mood, medicines and hormone changes can all affect it.
Muscle weakness and slow recovery

Feeling weaker than usual, with physical tasks becoming harder. Loss of muscle mass and strength can come with ageing, inactivity, illness, poor nutrition and some medicines.
Premenstrual symptoms

Physical and emotional changes before a period that stop shortly after it begins, such as bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings and irritability.
Reactions to food

Symptoms after eating certain foods. A food allergy involves the immune system and can be dangerous, while a food intolerance does not involve the immune system.
Shortness of breath

The feeling that you cannot get enough air into your lungs. It has many causes, from being unfit to asthma, heart problems and infections, and some causes are emergencies.
Swelling (fluid retention)

Swelling caused by fluid building up in body tissues, also called oedema. It is most common in the ankles and feet and has many causes, some of them serious.
Tiredness and fatigue

Feeling exhausted and having no energy. Everyday habits, health conditions and some medicines can all cause it.
Trouble sleeping

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early. Insomnia can affect your energy, memory, mood and concentration the next day.
Unexplained weight gain

Putting on weight, sometimes without an obvious reason. Weight around the waist carries extra health risk, and some conditions and medicines can cause weight gain.