Symptom guide

Chest symptoms have many possible causes. New, severe, crushing, or persistent chest pressure—especially with sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder—can be an emergency.

Notice whether it began suddenly, occurs at rest or with exertion, includes wheezing, fever, chest pain, bluish lips, or inability to speak in full sentences.

Describe onset, location, severity, duration, triggers, associated nausea, light sensitivity, fever, weakness, vision change, or neck stiffness.

Record location, timing, meals, bowel or urinary changes, fever, vomiting, pregnancy possibility, and whether the pain moves.

Clarify spinning versus lightheadedness, position changes, medications, hydration, heart symptoms, hearing changes, and loss of consciousness.

Track the measured temperature, method, duration, exposure, rash, pain, hydration, immune status, recent procedures, and travel.

Consider sleep, mood, recent illness, bleeding, medicines, nutrition, activity, breathing, pain, and how long it has affected daily life.

Note appearance, body location, itch or pain, new products, medicines, foods, infections, fever, blisters, and involvement of eyes or mouth.

Track frequency, fluids kept down, blood, severe pain, headache, pregnancy, medicine changes, and signs of dehydration.

Record whether it is one-sided, sudden, progressive, related to position, accompanied by speech, vision, balance, or bladder/bowel changes.

Note one side versus both, suddenness, pain, redness, breathing symptoms, injury, pregnancy, and medication changes.

Consider time frame, appetite, thirst, urination, bowel changes, mood, medicines, activity, and other symptoms.