Symptom Lists

Symptom lists for Alzheimer’s,  Brain Injury, Chemo Brain, EHS (Electrohypersensitivity), Food Allergies and Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia,  Inhalant Abuse, Mold Illness, MCS/ES (multiple chemical sensitivities/environmental sensitivities), MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Neurotoxicity, Pesticide Poisoning, Poisoning, Stroke

 

MCS/ES Symptoms (Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities)

• Stuffy nose, itchy nose (the “allergic salute”)
• Blocked ears
• Sinus stuffiness, pain, infections
• Cough
• Wheezing, shortness of breath, heavy chest
• Asthma
• Frequent bronchitis or pneumonia
• Red, watery eyes
• Dark circles under eyes
• Pain in eyes
• Blurred, disturbed vision
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue, lethargy
• Blood sugar fluctuations
• Joint and muscle pain in the extremities and/or back
• Muscle twitching or spasms
• Muscle weakness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Cold extremities
• High or low blood pressure
• Flushing (whole body, or isolated, such as ears, nose or cheeks)
• Hives
• Eczema
• Other rashes
• Itching
• Frequency and urgency to urinate
• Painful bladder spasms
• Heightened sense of smell
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering
• Apparent variability in mental processes
• Feeling dull or groggy
• Feeling “spacey”
• Headaches
• Restlessness, hyperactivity, agitation, insomnia
• Depression
• Lack of coordination or balance
• Anxiety
• Seizures
• Tinnitus

See the  MCS/ES and Research pages for more about MCS/ES

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Pesticide Poisoning Symptoms (BC Ministry of Agriculture)

– often hard to recognize because the effects vary from person to person, the symptoms may be similar to those of other ailments (flu, cold, hangover, etc.), or symptoms may not appear immediately.

•     headache
•     dizziness
•     weakness
•     fatigue
•     nervousness
•     loss of appetite
•     thirst
•     nausea
•     irritation of throat and nose
•     eye irritation
•     constriction of pupils
•     blurred vision
•     skin irritation
•     changes in mood
•     loss of weight

•     abdominal cramps
•     vomiting
•     diarrhea
•     excessive salivation
•     constriction in throat and chest
•     abdominal cramps
•     rapid or slow pulse
•     excessive perspiration
•     trembling
•     muscle incoordination
•     mental confusion

•     inability to breathe
•     chemical burns on skin
•     respiratory distress
•     loss of reflexes
•     uncontrollable muscle twitching
•     unconsciousness
•     convulsions

EHS (Electrohypersensitivity) Common Symptoms (WEEP Initiative)

• Concentration problems
• Memory lapses
• Aches or pressure in head, throat and chest
• Unsteady balance, dizziness
• Altered heart rate
• Ringing in the ears
• Excessive fatigue
• Numbness or pain in affected areas
• Sleep disturbances
• Eye irritation
• Red skin blotches, eczema
• …

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Mold Illness (Surviving Mold)

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Aches
• Muscle Cramps
• Unusual Pain
• Ice Pick Pain
• Headache
• Light Sensitivity
• Red Eyes
• Blurred Vision
• Tearing
• Sinus Problems
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Abdominal Pain
• Diarrhea
• Joint Pain
• Morning Stiffness
• Memory Issues
• Focus/Concentration Issues
• Word Recollection Issues
• Decreased Learning of New Knowledge
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Skin Sensitivity
• Mood Swings
• Appetite Swings
• Sweats (especially night sweats)
• Temperature Regulation or Dysregulation Problems
• Excessive Thirst
• Increased Urination
• Static Shocks
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Vertigo
• Metallic Taste
• Tremors

Brain Injuries (NICHD)

Traumatic or Toxic Brain Injury (TBI) or Aquired Brain Injury (ABI) symptoms vary depending on the extent of the injury and the area of the brain affected. Some symptoms appear immediately; others may appear several days or even weeks later. A person with TBI may or may not lose consciousness—loss of consciousness is not always a sign of severe TBI.

Symptoms of Mild TBI

• Headache
• Confusion
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Tiredness or sleepiness
• A bad taste in the mouth
• A change in sleep habits
• Behavior or mood changes
• Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking
• Loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds to minutes¹
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Nausea or vomiting

Symptoms of Moderate or Severe TBI

In addition to the symptoms above, the person may experience any of the following:

• Headache that gets worse or won’t go away
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Convulsions or seizures
• An inability to wake up from sleep
• Enlargement of the pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes
• Numbness or tingling of arms or legs
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
• Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to hours

Brain Injury Symptoms (Mayo Clinic)

•     Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
•     No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
•     Memory or concentration problems
•     Headache
•     Dizziness or loss of balance
•     Nausea or vomiting
•     Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth
•     Sensitivity to light or sound
•     Mood changes or mood swings
•     Feeling depressed or anxious
•     Fatigue or drowsiness
•     Difficulty sleeping
•     Sleeping more than usual

•     Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
•     Profound confusion
•     Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
•     Slurred speech
•     Inability to awaken from sleep
•     Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
•     Loss of coordination
•     Persistent headache or headache that worsens
•     Repeated vomiting or nausea
•     Convulsions or seizures
•     Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
•     Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears

Children’s symptoms

Infants and young children with brain injuries may lack the communication skills to report headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:

•     Change in eating or nursing habits
•     Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
•     Unusual or easy irritability
•     Change in ability to pay attention
•     Change in sleep habits
•     Sad or depressed mood
•     Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities

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Fibromyalgia (verywell)
General Symptoms

• Delayed reactions to physical exertion or stressful events
• Other family members with fibromyalgia
• Sweats
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Cravings for carbohydrate and chocolate
• Headaches & migraines
• Vision changes, including rapidly worsening vision

Muscle & Tissue Symptoms

• Pain that ranges from mild to severe, and may move around the body
• Morning stiffness
• Muscle twitches
• Diffuse swelling
• Fibrocystic (lumpy, tender) breasts (as an overlapping condition)

Sinus & Allergy Symptoms

• Allergies
• Post nasal drip
• Runny nose
• Mold & yeast sensitivity
• Shortness of breath
• Earaches & itchy ears
• Ringing ears (tinitis)
• Thick secretions

Sleep-Related Symptoms

• Light and/or broken sleep pattern with unrefreshing sleep
• Fatigue
• Sleep starts (falling sensations)
• Twitchy muscles at night
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Reproductive Symptoms

• Menstrual problems
• PMS (as an overlapping condition)
• Loss of libido
• Impotence

Abdominal & Digestive Symptoms

• Bloating & nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Pelvic pain
• Irritable bowel syndrome (as an overlapping condition)
• Urinary frequency

Cognitive/Neurological Symptoms

• Difficulty speaking known words, other language impairments (dysphasia)
• Directional disorientation
• Poor balance and coordination
• Paresthesias in the upper limbs (tingling or burning sensations)
• Loss of ability to distinguish some shades of colors
• Short-term memory impairment
• Confusion
• Trouble concentrating
• Staring into space before brain “kicks in”
• Inability to recognize familiar surroundings

Sensory Symptoms

• Sensitivity to odors
• Sensitivity to pressure changes, temperature & humidity
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Night driving difficulty
• Sensory overload

Emotional Symptoms

• Panic attacks
• Depression (as an overlapping condition)
• Tendency to cry easily
• Free-floating anxiety (not associated with situation or object)
• Mood swings
• Unaccountable irritability

Heart-Related Symptoms

• Mitral valve prolapse (as an overlapping condition)
• Irregular heartbeat (arrythmia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (as an overlapping condition)
• Pain that mimics heart attack, frequently from costochondritis (as an overlapping condition)

Skin, Hair & Nail Symptoms

• Pronounced nail ridges
• Nails that curve under
• Mottled skin
• Bruising or scarring easily
• Hair loss (temporary)
• Tissue overgrowth (non-cancerous tumors called lipomas, ingrown hairs, heavy and splitting cuticles, adhesions)

Miscellaneous Symptoms

• Hemorrhoids
• Nose bleeds

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MS Symptoms (Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada)

Symptoms may include:

•  Balance and Dizziness
•  Bladder dysfunction
•  Bowel Constipation, Diarrhea and Incontinence
•  Cognitive Impairment
•  Depression
•  Dry Mouth
•  Dysarthria, or difficulty speaking
•  Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
•  Fatigue and Fatigability
•  Gait (difficulty in walking)
•  Hormonal Influences for women with MS
•  Inappropriate Affect (also known as pseudo bulbar affect, emotional incontinence, involuntary emotional expression disorder-IEED)
•  Incoordination
•  L’hermitte’s (Electric shock sensation radiating down spine with neck flexion)
•  Mood Liability / Bipolar Affective Disorder
•  Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve)
•  Pain
•  Paroxysmal Symptoms
•  Sensory Impairment, Numbness / Tingling
•  Spasms
•  Spasticity
•  Tremor
•  Uhthoff’s Phenomena (Heat Intolerance)
•  Useless Hand Syndrome (of Oppenheimer)
•  Weakness

Neurotoxicity Symptoms “Neurotoxicology: what the neurologist needs to know” BMJ.com

• The clinical signs and symptoms … may be expressed in the central, the peripheral and the autonomic nervous systems, and in skeletal muscle. They are often associated with pain, changes in the special senses of taste and smell, as well as changes in visual acuity and hearing.
• The typical signs of headache, tiredness, confusion, loss of attention and short term memory, lack of motor coordination, and the resulting disturbance of gait, nausea, and dizziness are all common. …
• Cerebellar dysfunction, characterised by ataxia, intention tremor, and loss of coordination …
• Loss of taste and smell, or changes in the perception of taste and smell, are not uncommon … The loss of hearing … Damage to the eye…
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Damage to skeletal muscle is relatively uncommon. … Skeletal muscle regenerates rapidly following removal of the causative agent. The most serious acute clinical problem associated with rhabdomyolysis is the risk of acute renal failure.
• Patients… frequently report that they are depressed, anxious, forgetful, or simply “not right”. In most cases, the psychiatric abnormalities are relatively mild, but major problems of dementia and a parkinsonism/dementia syndrome have been associated with …

Some of the symptoms of neurotoxicity include:

• Paralysis or weakness in the limbs
• Altered sensation, tingling and numbness in the limbs
• Headache
• Vision loss
• Loss of memory and cognitive function
• Uncontrollable obsessive and/or compulsive behavior
• Behavioral problems
• Sexual dysfunction
• Depression
• Loss of circulation
• Imbalance
• Flu-like symptoms

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Alzheimer’s Symptoms ( Alzheimer’s Society of Canada)

• Memory loss affecting day-to-day abilities — forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information.
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks — forgetting how to do something you’ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing toast or getting dressed.
• Problems with language — forgetting words or substituting words that don’t fit the context.
• Disorientation in time and space — not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place.
• Impaired judgment — not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day.
• Problems with abstract thinking — not understanding what numbers signify on a calculator, for example.
• Misplacing things — putting things in strange places, like an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
• Changes in mood and behaviour — exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick-tempered.
• Changes in personality — behaving out of character such as feeling paranoid or threatened.
• Loss of initiative — losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities.

Chemo Brain (American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Cognitive problems include difficulties in many areas, such as:

•     Trouble concentrating, focusing, or paying attention (short attention span)
•     Mental “fog” or disorientation
•     Difficulty with spatial orientation
•     Memory loss or difficulty remembering things (especially details like names, dates, or phone numbers)
•     Problems with comprehension or understanding
•     Difficulties with judgment and reasoning
•     Impaired arithmetic, organizational, and language skills (such as not being able to organize thoughts, find the right word, or balance a checkbook)
•     Problems performing multiple tasks (multitasking)
•     Processing information slower
•     Behavioral and emotional changes, such as irrational behavior, mood swings, inappropriate anger or crying, and socially inappropriate behavior
•     Severe confusion (delirium)

In children, some of these issues include:

•     Decreased overall intelligence (lower IQ)
•     Learning disabilities
•     Decreased attention span and attention deficit disorders
•     Delayed development, including delayed social, emotional, and behavioral development
•     Lower academic achievement (especially in reading, language, and mathematics)
•     Decreased receptive language skills (the ability to understand or comprehend language) and expressive language skills (the ability to put thoughts together in a way that makes sense)
•     Decreased nonverbal and verbal memory skills

(Chemocare.com)

Confusion

• unable to remember things, and have difficulty concentrating and following directions
• feel “disoriented”
• trouble learning new things, or you may forget how to do things that you have done over and over again
• trouble handling money, or may forget what happened in a day
• feel agitated, or “jumpy”, with abrupt changes in mood and behavior (mood swings)
• more drowsy than usual
• overly tired, or very weak (fatigued)
• hard for you to do any kind of your normal activities
• trouble falling asleep at night, or staying asleep
• not rested after a long night of sleep
• severe confusion
• may not notice that behavior is inappropriate
• may have fever, or chills

Cognitive Problems

• unable to remember things, and have difficulty concentrating and following directions
• feel “disoriented”
• forget to do things that you normally would not forget to do (go grocery shopping, do the laundry)
• trouble learning new things, or forget how to do things that you have done over and over again
• feel agitated, or “jumpy”, with abrupt changes in your mood and behavior (mood swings)
• feel depressed
• trouble handling money, or may forget what happened in a day
• confusion

Memory Problems

• unable to remember things, and have difficulty concentrating and following directions
• feel “disoriented” at times
• trouble learning new things, or you may forget how to do things that you have done over and over again
• trouble handling money, or may forget what happened in a day
• more drowsy than usual
• overly tired, or very weak (fatigued)
• hard for you to do any kind of your normal activities
• trouble falling asleep at night, or staying asleep
• not rested after a long night of sleep
• agitated, or “jumpy”, with abrupt changes in your mood and behavior (mood swings)

Seizures

• twitching and jerking of one or all parts of your body. This twitching is uncontrolled, and involuntary. You may notice this in your hand, foot, arms, or legs especially.
• muscle spasm that may spread through body
• lose consciousness.
• hallucinations, include auditory, or visual  hallucinations
• an “aura” before seizures, notice different smells, or certain noises. You may still have a seizure, without an aura.
• unable to control your bladder or bowel
• After a seizure, you may feel “disoriented”, or drowsy.

Poisoning  (NHS Choices – Poisoning)

• feeling sick
• being sick
• diarrhoea
• stomach pain
• drowsiness, dizziness or weakness
• high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
• chills (shivering)
• loss of appetite
• headache
• irritability
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• breathing difficulties
• producing more saliva than normal
• skin rash
• blue lips and skin (cyanosis)
• burns around the nose or mouth
• double or blurred vision
• mental confusion
• seizures (fits)
• loss of consciousness
• coma (in severe cases)
• loss of co-ordination
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which can cause symptoms including sweating, trembling and irritability
• rapid breathing
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• temporary hearing loss
• excitability
• dry mouth
• large pupils
• irregular or rapid heartbeat
• tremor (shaking)
• severe muscle tension
• feeling agitated
• low blood pressure, which can cause symptoms including lightheadedness and fainting
• a slow heartbeat (below 60 beats a minute)
• co-ordination and speech difficulties
• uncontrolled movement of the eyes (nystagmus)
• small pupils
• shallow breathing
• anxiety and paranoia (feeling that people are out to get you)
• feeling restless or agitated
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real)
• high temperature
• chest pain
• rapid breathing
• irregular or fast heartbeat
• numbness in your arms and legs

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Inhalant Abuse (Council On Drug Abuse)

• slurred speech
• euphoria
• exhilaration
• decrease in breathing and heart rate
• light-headedness
• dizziness
• unconsciousness
• nausea
• vomiting
• sneezing
• coughing
• bad breath
• loss of appetite
• nosebleeds
• aggressive behaviour
• hallucinations
• delusions
• losing touch with surroundings
• weight loss
• depression
• irritability
• fatigue
• electrolyte imbalances
• damage to the nervous system
• decrease in mental capabilities
• hearing loss
• unco-ordinated movements
• inattentiveness
• damage to liver, kidneys, blood and bone marrow
• muscle spasms
• disorientation
• coma and death

 

Food Allergies and Sensitivities (Prevention Magazine)

• rash or hives
• nausea
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• itchy skin
• eczema
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• swelling of the airways to the lungs
• anaphylaxis
• delayed reactions
• fatigue
• gastrointestinal problems, including bloating and gas
• itchy skin and skin rashes like eczema
• brain fog
• muscle or joint aches
• headache
• sleeplessness and sleep disorders
• chronic rhinitis (runny nose), congestion, and post-nasal drip

Various Allergies

• Skin rash or hives
• Itchy skin
• Wheezing or other breathing problems
• Swelling of body parts
• Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction
• stuffy nose that won’t go away
• skin rash
• eczema
• year-around asthma symptoms
• coughing
• wheezing (a whistling sound when a person breathes)
• a feeling of tightness in the chest
• shortness of breath
• sneezing
• runny or stuffy nose
• itchy throat or inside of ears
• hives
• swollen eyelids
• itchy eyes
• hives,
• itchiness,
• swelling,
• difficulty breathing,
• a sharp drop in blood pressure,
• hoarse voice or
• swelling of the tongue,
• dizziness,
• unconsciousness and
• cardiac arrest.

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Stroke Symptoms (Web MD)

•     Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side
•     Confusion or trouble understanding other people
•     Trouble speaking
•     Trouble seeing with one or both eyes
•     Trouble walking or staying balanced or coordinated
•     Dizziness
•     Severe headache that comes on for no known reason

Effects Of Brain Injury (NBIA.ca)

Our brain controls virtually every function of our bodies. After a brain injury, many parts of the brain will work just as well as they always did, and other parts will not. The damage can vary from very mild to very severe. The result is that brain function can be somewhat patchy and inconsistent. No two people will have the same injury, although there are many effects that are typical among survivors.
So, what does a brain injury “look” like?

Brain Injury can be very difficult to identify simply by looking at a person. It is often called the “invisible injury” because most of the problems involve thinking and emotions. Family members, friends and professionals may not “see” your brain injury at all, which can lead to a lot of frustration for everyone.

∴
What does a brain injury “feel” like?

Survivors of brain injury say it feels like:

• Living in a cloud.
• Getting really drunk.
• Being hung-over 24/7.
• Being in a hot tub way too long.
• Waking up from fainting.
• Looking inside your head & seeing mushroom soup.
• Floating around weightless in a total black abyss with no gravity. Can’t tell what is up, down or sideways. Can’t get a handhold on anything.
• Trying to read multiple posters in a dark room with a narrow beam flashlight. As soon as you move the beam to a new spot, the first spot you looked at disappears.

Physical Effects – This includes physical changes in body functions

Effects of Brain Injury – Tired

• Energy crashes – gets tired very easily, needs long naps to recover
• Sleep problems – can’t get to sleep, wakes up frequently, can’t wake up
• Headaches – very intense, sharp, burning or jolting
• Chronic pain – ongoing pain in body
• Ringing in the ears – also known as tinnitus, often sounds like crickets
• Changes in senses – sight, smell, taste and hearing
• Changes in appetite – doesn’t feel hunger, or never feels full after eating
• Altered body temperature – doesn’t feel heat or cold, body temperature fluctuates
• Difficulty swallowing – coughs or chokes when eating or drinking
• Changes in speech – stutters, mixes words up
• Balance/co-ordination – loses balance, falls down, staggers when walking
• Paralysis/weakness – has noticably less strength in arms or legs
• Numbness/tingling – feels like limb’s falling asleep
• Muscle spasms – shaking, stiff or jerking muscles
• Seizures – convulsions

Cognitive Effects – This includes changes in thinking abilities

• Difficulty focusing – mind seems to wander, easily distracted
• Memory problems – forget things short term, and/or spotty long term memories◊
• Slowed thinking – world feels too fast, can’t keep up
• Flooding – brain gets overwhelmed and shuts down
• Trouble understanding – takes longer to learn
• Learning from experience – keeps doing the same things over and over
• Perseveration – excessive fixation on some thoughts, trouble letting go
• Rigid thinking – things are only “black & white”, there is no in-between

Difficulty with executive functions such as:

• Sequencing – has trouble knowing what order to do things in
• Organizing – is easily mixed up, misses things,
• Planning – has trouble figuring out how to meet goals
• Reasoning – has trouble understanding what is appropriate
• Decision Making – has trouble looking at pro’s and con’s of matters
• Problem solving – has trouble looking at options in order to find good solutions
• Serial-tasking – Has trouble trying to do more than one task at a time

Psychosocial Effects – changes in emotions and social behaviour

• Reduced self-awareness – not able to see themself or their problems honestly
• Increased self-focus – see only their own needs, finds it hard to see others’ point of view
• Emotional fluctuations – emotions are very intense, change rapidly, do not fit
• Depression – grieving over what is lost, sad, suicidal
• Anxiety and/or stress – feel stressed, jittery, restless, frightened
• Impatience and anger – has a quick temper, sometimes very threatening
• Impulsivity – acts without thinking first, with no thought to consequences
• Difficulty coping with change – can either be spur of the moment, or routine change
• Lower motivation and follow through – trouble getting started and finishing
• Changes in social skills – difficulties following socially acceptable behaviors
• Misperceptions – misunderstands people and things
• Changed sexual interest – has either decreased or increased interest
• Relationship problems – difficulty with family, friends and spouse
• Use of alcohol/ drugs – self-medication to cope with daily problems
• Reduced ability to work – cannot keep pace, cannot return to old job
• Changes in self-identity – changes in personality, does not know how to define self

Please note that self diagnosis isn’t enough (and there are other  conditions and symptom lists I could have included) but this is a start when doctors aren’t considering environmental causes and effects.

Maybe one day medical schools will educate ALL of their students and doctors  in environmental health matters.

In the meantime, here are some resources for your doctors:

From the Ontario College of Family Physicians
Environmental Health Publications and Tools

.

Taking An Exposure History 2015
These sheets are designed as tools for taking patients history with respect to exposure to environmental contaminants. Dr. Lynn Marshall 

.

Case Criteria Checklists (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)

Note 2020:
The OCFP links no longer work, please check the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto for more info:
https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/environmental-health-clinic/

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From the Hoffman TILT Program
Department of Family and Community Medicine, UT Health San Antonio:

The Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI)
A screening tool for multiple chemical intolerance. Coupled with an exposure history, it is useful in diagnosing TILT (Toxicant-induced Loss of Tolerance).
https://tiltresearch.org/provider-resources/

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If we can get ourselves off the toxic treadmills we’ve been put upon, then we’ll be able to reclaim out health from those who are poisoning us for profit.