DIY Doctor

No time to get to the GP's surgery? No worries. Try these quick health checks at home.

1. Could you be anaemic? Pull down your lower eyelid. If it's very pale, rather than a healthy pink/red, you could be suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia. Other symptoms include tiredness, palpatations and being short of breath.
2. Could you have skin cancer? Make sure you give your moles the once over every so often to keep an eye out for any changes. Warning signs: changes in shape or border; colour darkening or diameter increasing. Find out here what happens at a mole check
3. Could you have gum disease? If your gums bleed when you clean your teeth, you could have gum disease. The bacteria that cause gum disease have also been linked to heart disease, so get it sorted now.
4. Could you be zinc deficient? White marks on your nails are a tell-tale sign of possible zinc deficiency. You need zinc for a healthy immune system, so low levels could leave you open to infections or longer recovery from illnesses. Take a supplement, particularly in the winter months when you're at higher risks of colds and flu. Find out more about zinc research here