Symptoms

Symptoms is how health challenges present themselves. They are our bodies’ way of telling us that something is wrong and needs our attention. Symptoms can be physical, emotional, or behavioral.

They can be mild or severe, temporary or chronic. And they can come and go. No two people experience symptoms in exactly the same way.

Most health challenges result in both physical and emotional symptoms. For example, someone with a cold may have a runny nose, a headache, and a sore throat. They may also feel tired and cranky. Emotional symptoms of a cold might include feeling anxious or down.

Not all health challenges have physical symptoms. Some, like anxiety or depression, may only have emotional symptoms. Others, like anorexia or bulimia, may have physical and emotional symptoms.

Physical symptoms can be caused by a health challenge or by something else entirely. For example, headaches can be caused by stress, a cold, or a brain tumor.

That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you have any health concerns. Only a professional can rule out or diagnose a health challenge.

Emotional symptoms are often harder to identify than physical symptoms. They may be more subtle and less easy to notice. But they can be just as real and just as important to pay attention to.