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"Everything came back normal." It's the phrase that brings both relief and frustration in equal measure when you're exhausted, struggling to function, and certain that something is wrong. You've done the blood tests, answered the questions, and still, you're no closer to understanding why you can barely get through the day. Here's what I need you to understand first: normal blood tests are genuinely good news. They've ruled out some important things. But they're also a starti

Summary Finding a lump or bump on your body can be worrying, even when you feel otherwise well. Many people immediately fear something serious, particularly cancer, despite the fact that most lumps and swellings turn out to be benign. This guide explains why lumps are common, which features are usually reassuring, which changes deserve timely medical review, and how to approach the situation calmly and safely. The aim is to replace uncertainty and fear with a clear, proportio

A practical guide to heart rhythm monitoring without unnecessary worry Summary Heart rhythm symptoms such as palpitations, skipped beats, dizziness, or unexplained fatigue are common. They can be unsettling, especially when they come and go or fail to appear during a short ECG recording. Holter monitoring is a simple, non-invasive test designed to record the heart’s rhythm over a longer period of time, usually 24 to 72 hours. This guide explains what Holter monitoring involve

A practical guide to measuring blood pressure at home without unnecessary worry Summary Checking blood pressure at home is increasingly common. Many people are advised to monitor their readings or check their blood pressure after a high reading at the pharmacy or during a stressful consultation. While home monitoring can be extremely useful, it can also cause confusion and anxiety if readings fluctuate or appear unexpectedly high. This guide explains how to measure blood pres

A medical scare can stay with you long after the immediate danger has passed. An episode of chest pain, a sudden neurological symptom, an abnormal test that later turned out to be benign - even when doctors say everything is now fine, the worry does not always disappear. For some people, it grows. This is often described as health anxiety, but that label can feel unhelpful or dismissive. What many patients are actually experiencing is a loss of trust in their own body after a

Chest tightness is one of those symptoms that instantly creates worry. Even when the sensation is mild, the mind goes straight to the worst possibilities:“Is this my heart?”“Is it stress? ”“Should I go to A&E?”“ Am I overreacting, or underreacting?” As a consultant in Acute and General Internal Medicine, I see this pattern every week. Chest tightness is common, often misunderstood, and frequently linked to causes that have nothing to do with a heart attack. But at the same ti

Many people notice, almost suddenly, that climbing a flight of stairs feels a bit harder than usual. It’s often subtle — not dramatic breathlessness, not a collapse, just a sense that something is “off”. The heart beats faster. The breathing feels heavier. The recovery takes a little longer than expected. And in most cases, it is the uncertainty that worries people more than the symptom itself. Breathlessness can be completely harmless, but it can also be an early sign of som

It’s very common to see a blood pressure reading that is suddenly higher than usual: a surprising number at home, a “too high” measurement at the pharmacy, or a workplace check that triggers worry. For many people, the first thought is: “Is this dangerous? Do I need to go to A&E?” It’s a completely understandable concern — but medically, the situation is often more nuanced.   What patients actually experience People often tell me the same scenarios: “My blood pressure was fin

One of the most frustrating situations in medicine is when symptoms do not fit neatly into a clear diagnosis. You feel unwell, but tests are “normal”. Symptoms come and go. Different doctors give different explanations. Nothing quite adds up. Many patients eventually hear a familiar sentence: “Everything looks fine.” What is often left unsaid is how unsettling that can feel. When symptoms persist without a clear label, people start to doubt themselves. They worry they are ove

One of the questions I hear most often in my practice is: “Can I just book a blood test without waiting for a consultation? ” For many people, the main barrier is not seeing a doctor — it’s getting the tests done. A GP may request bloods, but the appointment takes weeks. Results come back slowly. There is no clear explanation. Or you simply want clarity on a symptom that has been going on for too long. That is exactly why I introduced a straightforward system: direct access t

Before Your Appointment: What Happens First Once your consultation is booked, you will receive a confirmation with the time, location (for in-person appointments), or a secure video link (for online appointments). You may also be asked to upload: Recent blood test results Hospital letters Scan or ECG reports A short description of your symptoms Your current medication list You do not need to prepare a long story. A brief summary is enough — we explore the details together dur

It's one of the most frustrating experiences in healthcare: you're feeling genuinely unwell, you've undergone tests, and everything comes back "normal." Yet you still feel terrible. You're not imagining it, and you're certainly not alone. This scenario happens far more frequently than many people realise, and there are clear, practical steps you can take to get the answers and care you deserve. Why "Normal" Test Results Don't Always Mean You're Well The fundamental issue li

A cough that refuses to go away after a viral infection is one of the most common reasons people feel unsure about what to do next. The infection seems over, the fever has settled, the energy slowly comes back… but the cough stays. Sometimes for two weeks. Sometimes for four. Sometimes longer. And this gap between what people expect and what the body actually does creates anxiety. In the clinic, I meet two groups again and again: those who fear that a lingering cough must mea

Many people describe the same pattern: the morning goes reasonably well, energy feels stable, and the day seems manageable… until early or mid-afternoon.Then suddenly, almost like a switch has been flipped, fatigue arrives sharply. Eyes feel heavy, focus disappears, and the only thought is to lie down — even if you rarely do. This daily dip in energy, sometimes called “crash fatigue” , is far more common than people think. Yet very few understand why it happens, when it is ha

When the fever settles, the cough improves, or the infection finally fades, most people expect to bounce back quickly. A couple of days of rest, a return to regular meals, and life should pick up where it left off, or at least that’s the hope. But in reality, many people find that recovery is not a straight line. Instead, they notice: a deep, dragging fatigue breathlessness on stairs or during short walks a lingering cough poor sleep afternoon energy crashes muscle weakness

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, efficient triage is crucial for ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care. Triage, the process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition, is vital for managing patient flow. This post explores the importance of triage in healthcare, especially in emergency departments, and how it helps improve patient flow efficiency and safety. Understanding Triage in Healthcare Triage is a systematic approach to

Summary Feeling breathless or experiencing a tight chest can be frightening, especially when it arrives suddenly or without a clear cause. These symptoms can come from the lungs, the heart, the airways, the muscles, or even from stress and anxiety. This guide explains how to understand what might be going on, when it is safe to monitor symptoms at home, when to seek non-emergency medical help, and when you must act urgently. It also outlines how a consultant physician can ass

Summary This guide explains the most common blood tests used in general medicine: the Full Blood Count (FBC) , kidney function tests , and liver function tests . If you’re looking for blood tests explained in clear, plain English, this guide outlines what these tests measure, why they matter, and when it might be helpful to seek further medical advice.   Who this guide is for This guide is for you if: You have recently had blood tests and don’t fully understand the results.

Summary This guide explains what heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats really mean, when they are harmless, when they need medical assessment, and what to do next. It is written for adults who experience noticeable heartbeats, fluttering, skipping sensations or racing pulses and feel unsure whether to worry. It also outlines when self-care is appropriate, when to see a GP or pharmacist, and when consultant-level review is helpful.   Who this guide is for This guide is f

A woman looking concerned while reading from a computer screen. Summary This guide is for people who are worried that their symptoms might be linked to cancer, especially after searching online. It explains how to make sense of common symptoms, how to recognise genuine red flags, and when to worry about cancer symptoms . The aim is to help you move from fear to a clear, practical plan, and to understand when to seek GP care, when to monitor at home, and when a consultant-leve