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脑瘤
恐惧系数：高
医生发现疾病的频率：平均每六年一例。
吓人的症状：头痛
可能的病症：鼻窦炎，偏头痛，或紧张性头痛
高危人群：5～9岁的儿童，年长的中年人
值得警惕的症状：可能由视力模糊、重复出现的呕吐引起，近期出现的痉挛、无缘无故的性格、行为改变或越来越不稳定，可能同时具有顽固性增强型头痛。奇怪的是，单纯的头痛很少是肿瘤的信号。
解决办法：去看你的医生，医生可能建议你作扫描检查

⒉心脏病
恐惧系数：中等
医生发现疾病的频率：经常发现，大约一年八例；然而越来越多的病人直接去医院
吓人的症状：胸部疼痛
可能的病症：对年轻人和低危个体来说，可能是肌肉拉伤或消化不良
高危人群：50岁以上的人，其它危险系数包括吸烟、肥胖、高血压、高胆固醇、糖尿病和心脏病的家族史
值得警惕的症状：突发的胸口痛，持续十分钟以上，并可蔓延到手臂、颈部和下颚
解决办法：马上吃一片阿斯匹林，然后打电话叫救护车

⒊脑膜炎球菌性败血症
恐惧系数：极高（高到同温层）
医生发现疾病的频率：每十年只有大约一例；并且由于儿童接种了对最常见脑膜炎病菌的疫苗，该病正变得越来越少见
吓人的症状：孩子出皮疹
可能的病症：可能是病菌或是过敏
高危人群：2岁以下的儿童或15～24岁的年轻人
值得警惕的症状：皮疹在玻璃的挤压下不消失，但是这不是百分之百地可靠。对幼儿来说，其它的症状的出现很重要，如昏睡、易怒和发烧；还可能出现呕吐、头痛和颈项僵硬。
解决办法：立即需求医疗救助

⒋睾丸肿瘤
恐惧系数：高（对自检的男性来说）
医生发现疾病的频率：很少见，整个职业生涯两到三例
吓人的症状：睾丸上有肿块
可能的病症：囊肿，或静脉血管
高危人群：年龄在25～35岁之间，有家族睾丸病史，并且以前出过问题，如无后代等，有更大的得病危险
值得警惕的症状：睾丸的任何肿块都应该“尽快”由医生检查，但是多数例行自检发现的异常都是无害的；恶性的肿块因为会有疼痛、下坠感或明显的肿胀而引起人注意
解决办法：去看你的医生，医生可能会给你开睾丸扫描检查

⒌中风
恐惧系数：中等
医生发现病症的频率：相对频繁，大概一年有四例
吓人的症状：麻木
可能的病症：对年轻人和低危人群，可能是压迫神经或某种偏头痛
高危人群：中风的危险随年龄的增长而增加，会造成心脏病的因素也会增加中风的危险
值得警惕的症状：突然开始身体一侧麻木或无力，如一侧的面部和相应一侧的手臂、腿。也可能出现昏睡或失去知觉
解决办法：中风需立即住院治疗

⒍阑尾炎
恐惧系数：低到中等
医生发现疾病的频率：每年两至三例
吓人的症状：腹部疼痛
可能的病症：肠胃炎，尤其同时伴有腹泻
高危人群：年龄10～30岁之间的人
值得警惕的症状：持续巨烈疼痛，有时疼痛从腹部中间开始，但在几个小时或几天后会向下移动至肚脐右侧；同时，可能会发烧、呕吐
解决办法：当天去看医生，如果疼痛难忍直接去医院

⒎深静脉血栓
恐惧系数：非常高
医生发现疾病的频率：每年一两例
吓人的症状：小腿肚子疼痛；
可能的病症：肌肉拉伤、静脉发炎或囊肿破裂
高危人群：40岁以上的吸烟者或肥胖者。激素作用，如怀孕、避孕药或HRT，或不能运动也增加得病的危险
值得警惕的症状：自发的持续小腿肚痛，越来越重，发展期长至几个小时或一天左右，明显肿胀。小腿也可能发热、变软
解决办法：去看医生，医生可能让你去医院进行血液化验和对小腿进行扫描检查

⒏宫颈癌
恐惧系数：中等
医生发现疾病的频率：每七年大约只有一例
吓人的症状：月经失调
可能的病症：月经正常但不很顺利，尽管子宫内膜异位感染也会引起痛苦、烦人的月经周期
高危人群：45～55岁之间的人，宫颈癌也同吸烟、生殖器疣、过早性交和多性伙伴有关
值得警惕的症状：月经不调不是宫颈癌的征兆，典型的症状是在两个经期间或性生活后重复出血，或一再出现带血的分泌物
解决办法：去看医生，医生可能让你去做阴道窥镜检查，即用显微镜对子宫颈进行检查

⒐黑色素瘤
恐惧系数：高，尤其对以前爱做日光浴的人
医生发现疾病的频率：每五年大约只有一例
吓人的症状：痣近期发生了变化
可能的病症：良性的色素痣，或其它无害的皮肤损伤
高危人群：年龄越长、色素痣越多，皮肤越苍白危险越大
值得警惕的症状：痣发生明显变化，如变大、变得颜色更深，需要找医生检查。但是直径小于0.5厘米的痣、儿童长的痣几乎总是无害的
解决办法：去看医生，医生可能建议你去找皮肤病专家

⒑类风湿性关节炎
恐惧系数：中等
医生发现疾病的频率：每年几例
可能的病症：锻炼不当引起的疼痛、病菌或简单的磨损
高危人群：类风湿性关节炎通常发生在40～70岁间，妇女及有家族病史的人更容易患病
值得警惕的症状：关节对称性疼痛，尤其是手、足、肘和膝盖，疼痛持续数周。如果每天早晨关节肿胀、发热、僵硬，就更要小心
解决办法：医生可能安排你做血液化验，并让你去找风湿病专家