1. BRAIN TUMOUR

Fear factor High.

Your GP sees a case Every six years on average. Scary symptoms Headache.

More likely to be? Sinusitis, migraine or tension headache.

Who's at greatest risk? Children aged 5-9 and those in late middle age.

Symptoms worth worrying about Recent onset of fits, unexplained personality or behaviour changes, or increasing unsteadiness, possibly with blurred vision and repeated vomiting. Persistent and increasing headache may be present but, surprisingly, headache alone is almost never a sign of a brain tumour.

Still worried? See your GP, who may refer you for a scan

2. HEART ATTACK

Fear factor Moderate.

Your GP sees a case Fairly frequently, about eight a year, though, increasingly, patients go straight to hospital.

Scary symptoms Chest pain.

More likely to be? In younger and low-risk individuals, a pulled muscle or indigestion.

Who's at greatest risk? The over-fifties. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes and a family history of heart trouble.

Symptoms worth worrying about Sudden onset of severe central chest pain for ten minutes or more, which may spread to arms, neck or jaw.

Still worried? Pop an aspirin and call an ambulance immediately

3. MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA

Fear factor Stratospheric.

Your GP sees a case Only about every ten years. And it's getting rarer now that children are immunised against one of the commonest strains of meningitis.

Scary symptoms A rash in your child.

More likely to be? A virus or an allergy. Who's at greatest risk? Children under 2 and young people aged between 15 and 24.

Symptoms worth worrying about A rash that doesn't disappear when you press a glass against it. This isn't 100 per cent reliable, though. In young children it's important to be guided by other signs such as drowsiness, irritability and fever. There may be vomiting, headache and neck stiffness, too.

Still worried? Get immediate medical help.

4. TESTICLE TUMOUR

Fear factor High in self-examining men.

Your GP sees a case Rarely - two or three times in his entire career.

Scary symptoms A lump in your testicle.

More likely to be? A cyst, or some veins.

Who's at greatest risk? Those aged 25-35. A family history of the disease and previous testicular problems, such as non-descent, also increase the risk.

Symptoms worth worrying about Any lump in the testicle needs checking ASAP by your GP. But most abnormalities found by ritual self-examination are harmless; sinister lumps usually reveal themselves via an ache, a heaviness or an obvious swelling.

Still worried? See your GP, who may send you for a scan of your testicle.

5. STROKE

Fear factor Moderate.

Your GP sees a case Reasonably often; about four a year.

Scary symptoms Numbness.

More likely to be? In younger and low-risk groups, a trapped nerve or a type of migraine.

Who's at greatest risk? Stroke risk is linked to increasing age and to the same factors associated with heart attacks.

Symptoms worth worrying about Sudden onset of numbness or weakness affecting one half of the body, such as one side of the face and the corresponding arm and leg. There may be drowsiness or loss of consciousness, too.

Still worried? A stroke needs immediate treatment in hospital.

6. APPENDICITIS

Fear factor Low to middling.

Your GP sees a case Two or three times a year.

Scary symptoms Pain in the abdomen.

More likely to be? Gastroenteritis, especially if you have diarrhoea, too.

Who's at greatest risk? Those aged between 10 and 30.

Symptoms worth worrying about A constant, severe pain, which sometimes begins in the centre of your belly but which ends up - after hours or a few days, down and to the right of your tummy button. You may also have a fever and vomiting.

Still worried? See your GP today, or go straight to the hospital if you're in agony.

7. DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

Fear factor Very high.

Your GP sees a case Once or twice a year.

Scary symptoms A pain in the calf.

More likely to be? A pulled muscle, an inflamed vein or a ruptured cyst.

Who's at greatest risk? The over-forties, especially smokers and the obese. Hormonal effects (such as pregnancy, the Pill or HRT) and immobility also increase the risk.

Scary symptoms Spontaneous, constant and increasing calf pain, developing over hours or a day or so, with marked swelling. It may feel warm and tender, too.

Still worried? See your GP, who may send you to hospital for a blood test and a scan of your calf.

8. CANCER OF THE CERVIX

Fear factor Moderate.

Your GP sees a case Only about once every seven years.

Scary symptoms Period problems.

More likely to be? A normal but troublesome menstrual cycle, though painful or heavy periods may also be caused by infection or endometriosis.

Who's at greatest risk? Those aged 45-55. Cervical cancer is also linked with smoking, genital warts, early age of first intercourse and multiple sexual partners.

Symptoms worth worrying about Problem periods aren't a sign of cervical cancer. The typical symptoms are repeated bleeding in between periods or after sex, or a persistent, bloody discharge.

Still worried? See your GP, who may send you for a colposcopy, an examination of your cervix using a microscope.

9. MELANOMA

Fear factor High, especially in previous sun-worshippers.

Your GP sees a case Only about once every five years.

Scary symptoms A mole that has changed recently.

What's it more likely to be? A benign mole, or some other harmless skin blemish.

Who's at greatest risk? The risk increases the older, mole-ier and paler-skinned you are.

Symptoms worth worrying about Any significant change in a mole, especially enlargement or darkening, needs checking with your doctor. But moles less than 0.5cm in diameter, and those in children, are almost always harmless.

Still worried? See your GP, who may refer you to a dermatologist.

10. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Fear factor Moderate.

Your GP sees a case Every couple of years.

Scary symptoms Painful joints.

More likely to be? Simple aches and pains from unaccustomed exercise, a virus or straightforward wear and tear.

Who's at greatest risk? Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts between the ages of 40 and 70. Women, and those with a family history, are at increased risk.

Symptoms worth worrying about Symmetrical pain in joints, especially the hands, feet, elbows and knees, persisting for weeks. Especially if the joints are swollen, hot and very stiff each morning.

Still worried? Your doctor may arrange blood tests or send you to a rheumatologist.

⒈腦瘤
恐懼系數：高
醫生發現疾病的頻率：平均每六年一例。
嚇人的癥狀：頭痛
可能的病癥：鼻竇炎，偏頭痛，或緊張性頭痛
高危人群：5～9歲的兒童，年長的中年人
值得警惕的癥狀：可能由視力模糊、重復出現的嘔吐引起，近期出現的痙攣、無緣無故的性格、行為改變或越來越不穩定，可能同時具有頑固性增強型頭痛。奇怪的是，單純的頭痛很少是腫瘤的信號。
解決辦法：去看你的醫生，醫生可能建議你作掃描檢查

⒉心臟病
恐懼系數：中等
醫生發現疾病的頻率：經常發現，大約一年八例；然而越來越多的病人直接去醫院
嚇人的癥狀：胸部疼痛
可能的病癥：對年輕人和低危個體來說，可能是肌肉拉傷或消化不良
高危人群：50歲以上的人，其它危險系數包括吸煙、肥胖、高血壓、高膽固醇、糖尿病和心臟病的家族史
值得警惕的癥狀：突發的胸口痛，持續十分鐘以上，并可蔓延到手臂、頸部和下顎
解決辦法：馬上吃一片阿斯匹林，然后打電話叫救護車

⒊腦膜炎球菌性敗血癥
恐懼系數：極高（高到同溫層）
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每十年只有大約一例；并且由于兒童接種了對最常見腦膜炎病菌的疫苗，該病正變得越來越少見
嚇人的癥狀：孩子出皮疹
可能的病癥：可能是病菌或是過敏
高危人群：2歲以下的兒童或15～24歲的年輕人
值得警惕的癥狀：皮疹在玻璃的擠壓下不消失，但是這不是百分之百地可靠。對幼兒來說，其它的癥狀的出現很重要，如昏睡、易怒和發燒；還可能出現嘔吐、頭痛和頸項僵硬。
解決辦法：立即需求醫療救助

⒋睪丸腫瘤
恐懼系數：高（對自檢的男性來說）
醫生發現疾病的頻率：很少見，整個職業生涯兩到三例
嚇人的癥狀：睪丸上有腫塊
可能的病癥：囊腫，或靜脈血管
高危人群：年齡在25～35歲之間，有家族睪丸病史，并且以前出過問題，如無后代等，有更大的得病危險
值得警惕的癥狀：睪丸的任何腫塊都應該“盡快”由醫生檢查，但是多數例行自檢發現的異常都是無害的；惡性的腫塊因為會有疼痛、下墜感或明顯的腫脹而引起人注意
解決辦法：去看你的醫生，醫生可能會給你開睪丸掃描檢查

⒌中風
恐懼系數：中等
醫生發現病癥的頻率：相對頻繁，大概一年有四例
嚇人的癥狀：麻木
可能的病癥：對年輕人和低危人群，可能是壓迫神經或某種偏頭痛
高危人群：中風的危險隨年齡的增長而增加，會造成心臟病的因素也會增加中風的危險
值得警惕的癥狀：突然開始身體一側麻木或無力，如一側的面部和相應一側的手臂、腿。也可能出現昏睡或失去知覺
解決辦法：中風需立即住院治療

⒍闌尾炎
恐懼系數：低到中等
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每年兩至三例
嚇人的癥狀：腹部疼痛
可能的病癥：腸胃炎，尤其同時伴有腹瀉
高危人群：年齡10～30歲之間的人
值得警惕的癥狀：持續巨烈疼痛，有時疼痛從腹部中間開始，但在幾個小時或幾天后會向下移動至肚臍右側；同時，可能會發燒、嘔吐
解決辦法：當天去看醫生，如果疼痛難忍直接去醫院

⒎深靜脈血栓
恐懼系數：非常高
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每年一兩例
嚇人的癥狀：小腿肚子疼痛；
可能的病癥：肌肉拉傷、靜脈發炎或囊腫破裂
高危人群：40歲以上的吸煙者或肥胖者。激素作用，如懷孕、避孕藥或HRT，或不能運動也增加得病的危險
值得警惕的癥狀：自發的持續小腿肚痛，越來越重，發展期長至幾個小時或一天左右，明顯腫脹。小腿也可能發熱、變軟
解決辦法：去看醫生，醫生可能讓你去醫院進行血液化驗和對小腿進行掃描檢查

⒏宮頸癌
恐懼系數：中等
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每七年大約只有一例
嚇人的癥狀：月經失調
可能的病癥：月經正常但不很順利，盡管子宮內膜異位感染也會引起痛苦、煩人的月經周期
高危人群：45～55歲之間的人，宮頸癌也同吸煙、生殖器疣、過早性交和多性伙伴有關
值得警惕的癥狀：月經不調不是宮頸癌的征兆，典型的癥狀是在兩個經期間或性生活后重復出血，或一再出現帶血的分泌物
解決辦法：去看醫生，醫生可能讓你去做陰道窺鏡檢查，即用顯微鏡對子宮頸進行檢查

⒐黑色素瘤
恐懼系數：高，尤其對以前愛做日光浴的人
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每五年大約只有一例
嚇人的癥狀：痣近期發生了變化
可能的病癥：良性的色素痣，或其它無害的皮膚損傷
高危人群：年齡越長、色素痣越多，皮膚越蒼白危險越大
值得警惕的癥狀：痣發生明顯變化，如變大、變得顏色更深，需要找醫生檢查。但是直徑小于0.5厘米的痣、兒童長的痣幾乎總是無害的
解決辦法：去看醫生，醫生可能建議你去找皮膚病專家

⒑類風濕性關節炎
恐懼系數：中等
醫生發現疾病的頻率：每年幾例
可能的病癥：鍛煉不當引起的疼痛、病菌或簡單的磨損
高危人群：類風濕性關節炎通常發生在40～70歲間，婦女及有家族病史的人更容易患病
值得警惕的癥狀：關節對稱性疼痛，尤其是手、足、肘和膝蓋，疼痛持續數周。如果每天早晨關節腫脹、發熱、僵硬，就更要小心
解決辦法：醫生可能安排你做血液化驗，并讓你去找風濕病專家