There are many different symptoms of long-term conditions. A person’s symptoms are individual to them. Symptoms can happen all the time or come and go. Sometimes symptoms can change and get worse. The same symptoms can affect people differently. Common symptoms include feeling very tired (fatigue), pain, struggling to concentrate, sleep problems and feeling worried or sad.
A person’s symptoms can be affected by their workplace and the tasks they do. They can also be affected by diet, exercise, sleep, medications and things like the weather and travel.
Everyone’s experience is different. Sometimes symptoms are found together in groups, physical symptoms and non-physical symptoms.
Physical symptoms can affect the whole body, or parts of the body. They include things like:
- fatigue (feeling very tired, even after resting)
- poor sleep
- headaches
- being sensitive to temperature changes
- difficulty moving around
- pain in muscles or joints
- difficulty breathing
Non-physical symptoms affect emotions and how the brain works but don’t have an obvious physical cause. They include things like:
- feeling very sad or worried
- finding it hard to concentrate
- forgetting things easily
How symptoms can cause difficulties
Sometimes, symptoms make work and home life harder. This is not anyone’s fault. Below are some of examples of how someone’s work may be affected.
Physical symptoms like feeling very tired can make it hard to focus. It might be tricky to finish jobs, make choices quickly or remember things. People with physical symptoms like muscle or joint pain may find lifting, moving or sitting at a desk more difficult. Physical symptoms can also make travel harder.
Non-physical symptoms like feeling very sad or forgetting things easily can affect friendships and family. They can also make it hard to stay motivated, concentrate for long periods and get involved at work.
Having a workplace that encourages colleagues to be kind and support each other can make work less difficult. It can also make life outside of work better for people living with long-term conditions.