Malaise is a sense of general unwellness. It is one of the most pernicious and common symptoms of illness, experienced by people with a wide range of medical conditions. Often, this feeling is the first sign that someone is unwell. People may refer to feeling “out of sorts,” “under the weather,” or simply “unwell,” and the specifics can vary from person to person, and from case to case. While it is not a very specific symptom, it can be a clue that a person is experiencing an underlying problem and could benefit from some attention.
One common aspect of malaise is depression, which can include disinterest in one's surroundings, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities that were previously engaging. The depression can become quite severe for some patients, especially those with a history of depressive episodes or other mental health problems. For some people, this feeling may lead to wanting to stay in bed all day, sleeping heavily, and disengaging from social activities and the world in general.
Other aspects of malaise can include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, chills, fever, and headaches. People may also just feel generally “off,” although they may not be able to identify any specific symptoms. It can also be accompanied with difficulty processing visual or audible information, trouble focusing, and difficulty concentrating.
Underlying disease processes such as infections, inflammations, cancers, and so forth can cause a general sense of not feeling well as an early symptom. People can also experience a sense of general unwellness as a result of hunger, thirst, fatigue, or stress. In these case, it is often brought about by the vagus nerve, which can cause a vasovagal response. The vagus nerve may make people feel dizzy or lightheaded, and it can also be associated with blacking out, changes to the vision, and discomfort in the chest.
Persistent malaise is not usually enough to send someone to a medical professional, but it can be a clue. When discussing symptoms, it can be good for patients to mention when they first started feeling unwell, even if this was days or weeks before the onset of more specific symptoms. It is also a good idea for individuals to be as specific as possible about their symptoms; rather than saying “I feel achy,” for example, a patient could say “my joints ache in the morning” or “my legs ache after sitting in the same position for a while.”