Seven strange (but important!) symptoms to spot

When it comes to your health, it’s often hard to tell the difference between something serious and harmless. Dr Google can’t always separate the two, so here’s the lowdown...

- WOMAN'S GP DR HELEN WALL ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK

I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in the 80s and 90s, when dial-up internet was the ‘new kid on the block’ and Google was barely heard of. We have come a long way since then. Nowadays, I regularly ask my patients if they have been looking online for information about their symptoms and what they have found, for fear of missing something they are now worried about. Here are some common complaints that may - or may not - be a cause for concern.

1 PERSISTENT ITCH ON THE PALMS OR FEET

This is often at night and could be dry skin, eczema, an allergy to your new hand cream or - in the worst-case scenario - a problem with your liver, kidneys or gallbladder.

2 A TWITCHY EYE