What to Do When Feeling Unwell
If you're feeling unwell, immediately assess whether you have any red flag symptoms requiring urgent medical attention—such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or signs of sepsis—and if present, seek emergency care without delay. 1
Initial Self-Assessment
When you first feel unwell, determine the severity and nature of your symptoms:
Red Flag Symptoms Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Contact emergency services or go to the emergency department if you experience: 1
- Chest pain or pressure that interrupts normal activity, especially if accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, or radiating to the arm, jaw, neck, or back 1
- Severe difficulty breathing with marked increased respiratory rate, grunting, or cyanosis (blue discoloration) 1
- New or worsening confusion 1
- Signs of sepsis: extreme pallor, hypotension, altered consciousness, or feeling systemically very unwell 1
- Severe dehydration 1
- Altered level of consciousness or fainting 1
Symptoms That Can Be Initially Managed at Home
Most acute respiratory infections and common illnesses are self-limiting and can be managed at home with appropriate self-care. 1 For mild symptoms such as cough, mild fever, or general malaise without red flags, home management is appropriate. 1
Self-Care Measures
For mild symptoms without red flags, treat at home with antipyretics (such as acetaminophen) and adequate fluids. 1
- Take acetaminophen for fever and pain relief as directed on the package 2
- Maintain adequate hydration with fluids 1
- Rest and avoid strenuous activity 1
- Monitor your temperature twice daily 1
Stop self-treatment and contact a doctor if: 2
- Pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days
- Fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days
- New symptoms occur
- Redness or swelling develops
When to Seek Medical Advice
Contact Healthcare Provider for Remote Assessment
Seek telephone or remote consultation with a healthcare professional if: 1
- You have high fever (>38.5°C) with cough or influenza-like symptoms 1
- Symptoms are worsening rapidly or significantly 1
- Symptoms do not improve over the expected timeframe (typically days to weeks for most common illnesses) 1, 3
- You have chronic medical conditions that may increase your risk of complications 1
Important caveat: Remote prescribing of antimicrobials should be avoided—if you're potentially ill enough to require antibiotics, arrange a face-to-face assessment instead. 1
Arrange Face-to-Face Medical Assessment
Schedule an in-person evaluation if you have: 1
- Symptoms suggesting lower respiratory tract infection (breathlessness, new confusion) 1
- High fever with cough plus any high-risk features: breathing difficulties, severe earache, vomiting >24 hours, or drowsiness 1
- Chronic comorbidities or frailty (lower threshold for evaluation) 1
- Symptoms that cannot be adequately assessed remotely 1
Understanding Symptom Duration and Prognosis
Most common symptoms improve within weeks to several months, though 20-25% may become chronic or recur. 3 The history and physical examination provide 73-94% of diagnostic information, with testing contributing much less. 3
Serious causes that aren't apparent after initial evaluation seldom emerge during long-term follow-up. 3 However, at least one-third of common symptoms do not have a clear disease-based explanation, which is normal and doesn't indicate something is being missed. 3
Special Considerations
If Currently Ill or Recovering from Illness
Avoid or significantly limit physical activity, especially in hot weather, if you're currently ill or recovering—particularly with gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) or fever. 1
Multiple or Persistent Symptoms
If you have multiple symptoms affecting different body systems or symptoms that persist beyond expected timeframes, this warrants medical evaluation even without specific red flags. 4, 3 Focusing on just one symptom while ignoring others is unwise. 3
Psychological Factors
Physical and psychological symptoms commonly co-occur, and psychological distress often influences the decision to seek medical care for physical symptoms. 5, 3 This doesn't make your symptoms less real or important—it simply reflects the interconnected nature of physical and mental health.