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Self Inventory
F
irst of all, let’s find out where you are starting from: what is your
present state of health, really? A lot of people are inclined to
minimize symptoms and shrug them off. Perhaps this is due to a
fear of admitting something is wrong; or simply to the fact that the body
adapts so wonderfully, compensating for defects, that the illness steals up on
it unnoticed. The latter would explain why some patients only report to the
doctor when they are critically ill and disease has progressed much too far.
Just remember, a symptom, no matter how slight, is the body’s
way of crying out ‘Help!’ A symptom, in a way, is a helpful friendly sign
that is trying to tell you something. But you must pay attention and make
changes, otherwise the problem moves to the next stage, which is a serious
breakdown.
Five key symptoms
Dr Richard Mackarness gave five key symptoms that point the way to
allergic illness and that have special importance. He believed that without
one of the following symptoms, diagnosis is unlikely:
- Over- or under-weight or fluctuating weight
2 Persistent fatigue that isn’t helped by rest. - Occasional swellings around the eyes, hands, abdomen, ankles, etc.
- Palpitations or speeded heart rate, particularly after meals
- Excessive sweating, not related to exercise
It needs mentioning that there should be no other explanation for these
symptoms.