The Aafiyah Clinical Library — search 30+ symptoms & 9+ conditions.

Sudden severe abdominal pain, or pain with fever, rigid abdomen, blood, or fainting, is an emergency — attend A&E. Persistent or recurrent pain needs GP assessment with blood tests, urine tests and possibly imaging.

Anxiety causes emotional and physical symptoms that can mimic thyroid or cardiac conditions. A GP assessment excludes medical causes, and treatment includes therapy (CBT), lifestyle changes and, when needed, medication. Confidential support is available in Dubai.

Asthma is a treatable long-term airway condition diagnosed with symptoms plus objective testing such as spirometry or FeNO. Modern care uses a daily inhaled steroid inhaler (often with a fast-acting reliever) and a personalised action plan. Rescue plans and same-day review are essential when symptoms worsen.

Most back pain settles within 4–6 weeks with gentle movement, physiotherapy and simple analgesia. Urgent care is needed for new bladder or bowel problems, saddle numbness, leg weakness, fever, unexplained weight loss, or pain after trauma.

Brain fog is usually multifactorial — sleep, stress, iron, thyroid, vitamin D and B12, hormones, and post-viral syndromes are the main contributors. A GP consultation and blood panel identify treatable causes; escalation to specialist review is only occasionally needed.

Sudden severe breathlessness, breathlessness with chest pain, blood-stained sputum or fainting is an emergency — call 998. Gradual breathlessness needs a GP assessment with blood tests, ECG, chest X-ray and spirometry to identify heart, lung or metabolic causes.

Chest pain is treated as cardiac until proven otherwise. Central chest pain or pressure with sweating, breathlessness, nausea, or pain radiating to the arm or jaw needs emergency care — call 998. Other chest pain deserves a same-day medical assessment, including an ECG and appropriate blood tests.

Most constipation responds to more fibre, fluids, activity and short-term laxatives. See a doctor for a new persistent change in bowel habit over age 50, blood in stool, weight loss, severe pain or vomiting. Tests may include blood work and colonoscopy referral.

Most coughs are viral and clear within 3 weeks. See a doctor for a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, blood in sputum, chest pain, breathlessness, fever or unexplained weight loss. Tests may include a chest X-ray, spirometry and blood work.

Most acute diarrhoea settles within 5–7 days. See a doctor for blood in stool, high fever, severe pain, dehydration, recent travel or antibiotic use, or diarrhoea over a week. Stool tests and blood tests are used to identify the cause.

Dizziness is often caused by dehydration, drops in blood pressure on standing, inner-ear problems, anaemia, low blood sugar or medication side-effects. A GP will clarify the type of dizziness, check your blood pressure lying and standing, examine your ears and heart, and arrange targeted blood tests.

Erectile dysfunction is common and often signals early cardiovascular or metabolic disease. A GP consultation with blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids and morning testosterone identifies the cause. Treatment includes lifestyle change, PDE5 inhibitors and management of underlying conditions — all confidential.

Fatty liver disease is a build-up of fat in liver cells, usually driven by metabolic factors. Most people have no symptoms, and diagnosis often follows an abnormal blood test. Treatment focuses on weight, diabetes and cholesterol control. Progression to inflammation and scarring is a minority, but needs specialist review.

Fever (>38°C) is usually caused by viral or bacterial infection. Adults should seek same-day medical care if fever lasts more than 3 days, is above 39.5°C, or is accompanied by breathlessness, confusion, rash, severe headache, or reduced urine output. Emergency care is needed for stiff neck, non-blanching rash or drowsiness.

GERD is chronic acid reflux causing heartburn, regurgitation and sometimes cough. Most people improve with lifestyle change, PPIs and H. pylori treatment where relevant. New reflux over 55, difficulty swallowing, weight loss or vomiting blood need urgent endoscopy referral.

Common causes include pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium after illness or stress, iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, vitamin D deficiency and postpartum shedding. Blood tests — ferritin, TSH, vitamin D, B12 — plus scalp assessment identify most causes.

Most headaches in adults are tension-type, migraine or medication-overuse and are not dangerous. Red-flag features — sudden ‘worst-ever’ headache, fever with neck stiffness, new weakness, confusion or a new headache over age 50 — need urgent care. A GP consultation identifies the pattern and treats the cause.

Heavy periods affect quality of life and often cause iron deficiency. Common causes include fibroids, adenomyosis, hormonal imbalance and polyps. Blood tests, thyroid check and pelvic ultrasound guide treatment. Effective options include hormonal treatments, tranexamic acid, IUS (Mirena) and, occasionally, surgical procedures.

High cholesterol is diagnosed with a lipid profile and interpreted alongside an overall cardiovascular risk score. Raised LDL and ApoB are the main drivers of heart attack and stroke. Treatment ranges from lifestyle change alone to statins and, in resistant cases, additional medicines under specialist care.

Hypothyroidism is a treatable underactive thyroid diagnosed with TSH and free T4. Common causes include autoimmune (Hashimoto's) disease. Treatment is once-daily levothyroxine titrated to symptoms and repeat TSH. Most people feel significantly better within 6–12 weeks of the right dose.

Iron-deficiency anaemia is a low haemoglobin caused by low iron stores. It is diagnosed with a full blood count and ferritin, and the cause must always be sought. Most people improve with oral iron and dietary change. Persistent anaemia or unexplained loss needs further investigation.

Most itchy skin is due to dryness, eczema, contact irritation or allergy. Widespread itch without a rash may point to liver, kidney, thyroid or blood problems and needs blood tests. Persistent itch over 6 weeks deserves a GP review.

Sudden pain in one hot swollen joint needs urgent assessment for septic arthritis or gout. Multi-joint pain with prolonged morning stiffness suggests inflammatory arthritis and needs blood tests including CRP, rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP. Most other joint pain responds to activity modification and physiotherapy.

Low libido is a persistent lack of sexual interest that causes distress. Common causes include hormonal changes, stress, poor sleep, depression, relationship factors and medication side effects. A GP consultation with focused blood tests identifies contributors and personalised treatment is available.