Sometimes our bodies send quiet warning signs – things that are easy to brush off, put down to stress or assume will pass on their own. However, in some cases, those small changes can be early signs that something else is going on beneath the surface.
Pharmacists are often the first point of contact when something feels “not quite right”, especially when symptoms don’t seem urgent enough for a GP appointment. From quick checks to advice on whether further tests are needed, they can help spot issues early – hopefully, before they escalate.
While many issues will be mild and easily treated, some symptoms can be more significant than they appear. Paying attention to how long they last, how often they occur and whether they’re changing can make a real difference.
Here are seven symptoms that may be masking an underlying health issue – and when it could be time to ask for professional advice.
1. High blood pressure
High blood pressure affects around one in three adults in the UK. According to figures from the NHS, 4.2 million people in England could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure. If left untreated, it can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems and vascular dementia.
Many people assume high blood pressure comes with obvious warning signs; in reality, it often doesn’t have any symptoms.
Superintendent pharmacist and director of Pyramid Pharmacy Group Amir Bhogal explains: “You can have elevated readings and still feel completely fine.”
That’s why high blood pressure is often called the silent killer. While some people experience headaches or shortness of breath when their blood pressure rises significantly, Bhogal notes that “most people don’t experience any symptoms at all”.
🏥 When to get it checked:
Without regular monitoring, Bhogal warns: “You won’t know if your blood pressure is elevated until damage has already occurred.” This is why routine checks, at a pharmacy or your GP, are important – especially if “you have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke”.
2. Persistent fatigue
Feeling tired after a long week is normal. However, as Bhogal explains, “waking up exhausted after a full night’s sleep is not.”
When fatigue lasts longer than normal without any clear reason, and starts affecting everyday life, your body may be signalling something more serious.
According to the NHS, persistent fatigue can be linked to:
“This is why it’s essential that you take note of when tiredness goes beyond normal,” Bhogal says.
🏥 When to get it checked:
If fatigue becomes persistent, “forcing you to cancel plans or struggle through work,” raise it with your pharmacist or GP. “Fatigue paired with weight changes, fever or mood shifts may need further investigation,” Bhogal explains.
3. Blood sugar fluctuations
Sweating or feeling jittery from time to time can happen, particularly if you’re feeling stressed or anxious. However, as Bhogal explains, “frequent episodes can suggest your body isn’t regulating glucose properly”.
When blood sugar isn’t being controlled effectively, it can be an early sign of an underlying condition – such as diabetes – and may also cause symptoms such as:
“Diabetes often develops gradually, and these symptoms can be early indicators. You might notice feeling shaky or experience an unexpected racing heart,” Bhogal adds.
🏥 When to get it checked:
If episodes are becoming more regular, particularly alongside increased thirst or frequent urination, Bhogal advises getting a blood test – usually via your GP or privately at some pharmacies – to investigate further.
Frequently needing to urinate could be a sign your blood sugar levels aren’t quite normal.
(Getty Images)4. Frequent headaches
Most people experience headaches from time to time, often linked to stress, dehydration or muscle tension. However, Bhogal stresses that when headaches become more frequent or change in intensity, they shouldn’t be ignored.
🏥 When to get it checked:
Headaches should be checked by a medical professional if they don’t respond to usual pain relief, start disrupting daily routines, arrive suddenly or severely or come with confusion or fever.
NHS guidance advises getting an urgent GP appointment or calling NHS 111 if you have a severe headache alongside symptoms such as jaw pain when eating, blurred or double vision, a sore or tender scalp, or numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
5. Digestive changes
Digestive symptoms can be caused by a number of things, including stress or changes in routine, and many settle on their own. However, Bhogal says persistent changes without explanation could point to other issues including those affecting organs such as the liver, pancreas or gallbladder.
Digestive changes could include:
Ongoing diarrhoea or constipation
Stomach pain that doesn’t ease
Changes in the colour or consistency of stools
🏥 When to get it checked:
The pharmacist stresses if your digestion changes and these changes persist for more than two or three weeks, it’s important not to dismiss it. In the case of seeing blood when you go to the loo, Bhogal adds, “even a small amount of blood in your stool should always be checked.”
Digestive changes that don’t settle deserve professional advice.
(Getty Images)6. Persistent fever
A fever that lasts longer than a few days – or keeps returning – may not be down to a passing bug.
“Your body raises its temperature to fight infection,” Bhogal explains, but persistent fever can signal infections or conditions that need treatment. This is also the case with flu because symptoms usually follow a pattern of improvement — so a fever that worsens or doesn’t settle can suggest the infection isn’t resolving properly.
🏥 When to get it checked:
Fever accompanied by night sweats or swollen lymph nodes “could indicate more serious conditions such as tuberculosis or persistent bacterial infections,“ Bhogal warns. “Your body doesn’t maintain an elevated temperature without reason.”
A pharmacist can advise on symptoms, but a high temperature that isn’t improving should be checked via NHS 111 or an urgent GP appointment.
Persistent or unexplained bruises are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
(Getty Images)7. Unusual bruising
A bruise here and there is part of everyday life. However, Bhogal says “unusual bruising that appears without injury, or bruising that seems disproportionate to minor knocks” can indicate problems with how the blood clots.
🏥 When to get it checked:
Alongside bruising, Bhogal advises watching for “nosebleeds that don’t stop easily, bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, or unusually heavy periods. These can be signs that clotting isn’t working properly, and a qualified medical professional needs to investigate why.”
If think you need medical help right now and can’t see your GP call NHS 111. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999.