Symptom Checklist

Organize what you notice before you talk with a clinician

Last reviewed: October 2026 · 43 sources

Educational only. This checklist does not diagnose anything. It can’t tell you whether you have any condition, and it doesn’t score your risk or say how likely anything is. The symptoms below are reported in published sources for mold-related illness, CIRS, MCAS, POTS, hEDS and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), but they overlap heavily with each other and with many other causes, such as thyroid problems, anemia, sleep disorders and depression [1]. Use it to organize what you notice, then talk with your doctor or another licensed clinician.

When to get urgent help

Don’t use this checklist in an emergency. Call 911 or your local emergency number if you or someone with you has:

  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as trouble breathing, wheezing or high-pitched breathing sounds, trouble swallowing, swelling of the face, eyes or tongue, slurred speech, or passing out. Use epinephrine if your clinician has prescribed it [2].
  • Sudden crushing, squeezing or pressure in your chest, or sudden sharp chest pain with shortness of breath [3].
  • Severe shortness of breath at rest, bluish lips or face, or drowsiness or confusion with breathing trouble [4].
  • Fainting where the person is injured or bleeding, doesn’t become alert within a couple of minutes, is pregnant, or has chest pain, a pounding or irregular heartbeat, loss of speech, vision problems or can’t move a limb [5].

Even when it isn’t an emergency, see a clinician soon if you have never fainted before, faint often, or have new symptoms with fainting [5]. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the U.S. [6].

Private by design. This checklist runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you check or type is sent to us or anyone else, and nothing is saved: no account, no cookies, no local storage. Reloading or closing the page clears everything. As on every page of this site, loading the page itself is counted in our host’s cookieless visitor totals, which never include your answers (see our Privacy Policy).

How to use this checklist

  1. Check anything you’ve noticed, now or in the past. Skip anything you’re unsure about.
  2. Under each item you’ll see which conditions our sources list it for, with numbered citations.
  3. Your results update as you go, in the Your results section below.
  4. Add your own notes, then print the summary or save it as a PDF to bring to your appointment.
What the tags mean

Each item lists the conditions where at least one cited source mentions it. Some tags carry a short note:

  • Mold toxicity, allergy-type: symptoms health agencies link to mold allergy and damp buildings [7, 8].
  • Mold toxicity, clinician-reported, debated: symptoms described by clinicians who treat mold-related illness [9]. Other experts say there is no scientific evidence linking mold to symptoms like these [10], and the AAAAI says mold allergy is “not usually a cause of chronic symptoms such as headache and fatigue” [8].
  • CIRS, Surviving Mold list: from the 37-symptom list in the Surviving Mold consensus statement [11]. CIRS is debated in mainstream medicine [10, 12].
  • MCAS, typical episode: symptoms of the sudden episodes described in the stricter consensus criteria [13].
  • MCAS, broader model: symptoms listed by clinicians who use a broader “mast cell activation disease” model [14] or by The Mast Cell Disease Society [15]. Under the stricter criteria, many of these aren’t considered suggestive of MCAS [13].
  • MCAS, listed trigger: possible mast cell triggers listed by The Mast Cell Disease Society [15].
  • POTS and hEDS: from patient-organization pages, expert consensus statements and reviews [16, 17, 18, 19].
  • MCS / chemical sensitivity, reported with chemical exposures: symptoms the Job Accommodation Network lists for multiple chemical sensitivity, which people report when exposed to things like fragrances, cleaning products, smoke or paint [39]. The smells item also reflects the 1999 consensus criteria and a U.S. survey [40, 41]. There’s no validated test for MCS [42], and ACOEM says evidence does not exist to define it as a distinct disease [43].

Energy, sleep and thinking

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] POTS [16, 17] hEDS [18, 19] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] POTS [16, 20] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] POTS [16, 20] hEDS [18] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39, 40]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] MCAS (broader model) [14] hEDS [18, 19]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] hEDS [18, 19]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11]

Dizziness, heart rate and standing up

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] MCAS (typical episode) [13] POTS [16, 20] hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] POTS [17, 20] hEDS [18, 21]

Sources list this for: MCAS (typical episode) [13] POTS [16, 20]

If this is severe or happening now, see When to get urgent help.

Sources list this for: MCAS (listed trigger) [15] POTS [22]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] POTS [16, 17]

Sources list this for: POTS [16, 17]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] POTS [17]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14]

Sources list this for: POTS [16]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] hEDS [18, 21]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] hEDS [18]

Skin and allergy-type reactions

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: MCAS (typical episode) [13, 15]

Sources list this for: MCAS (typical episode) [13]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7, 23] MCAS (typical episode) [13] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] MCAS (typical episode) [13]

If this is severe or happening now, see When to get urgent help.

Sources list this for: MCAS (listed trigger) [15]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39, 40, 41]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18, 24]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18]

Stomach and gut

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: MCAS (typical episode) [13] POTS [16, 22] hEDS [18, 25] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (typical episode) [13] hEDS [18, 25]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (typical episode) [13] hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11]

Joints, muscles and flexibility

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: hEDS [18, 24]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18, 26]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] hEDS [18] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (clinician-reported, debated) [9] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14, 15] hEDS [18] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

Sources list this for: hEDS [18, 24]

Breathing, nose, throat and eyes

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7, 8] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (typical episode) [13]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7, 8] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (typical episode) [13]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7] MCAS (broader model) [15]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (broader model) [14]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity (allergy-type) [7, 8] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11] MCAS (typical episode) [13] POTS [16] MCS / chemical sensitivity (reported with chemical exposures) [39]

If this is severe or happening now, see When to get urgent help.

Home, timing and history

Check any that apply.

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity [7, 23] CIRS (Surviving Mold list) [11]

Sources list this for: Mold toxicity [7]

Sources list this for: CIRS [27]

Sources list this for: POTS [16, 22]

Sources list this for: MCAS (typical episode) [13]

See my results

Your results

Please read: this is not a diagnosis. These lists only show which of the items you checked appear in the cited sources for each condition. They are not a score and don’t say how likely any condition is. Many of these symptoms have other common causes [1, 28], so checking a lot of items doesn’t mean you have a condition, and checking only a few doesn’t rule one out. The conditions always appear in the same order. Bring your summary to a clinician who can look at the whole picture.

No items checked yet.

Check items in the list above and your results will appear here.

Questions you could ask

  1. What else could be causing these symptoms, and which tests would help sort that out?
  2. Could any of my medicines or supplements be playing a part?
  3. Would it help to see a specialist? If so, what kind?
  4. What should I keep track of before my next visit, and when should I come back sooner?

Urgent? Call 911 or your local emergency number for trouble breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, chest pain or pressure, or fainting with an injury. See When to get urgent help.

Your “bring to your doctor” summary

Add anything else you want to mention, such as when symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, and any medicines or supplements you take. Your notes stay on this page only.

Want room for a symptom log, medicines, past tests and questions? Use our Doctor Visit Prep Sheet. Your answers here aren’t carried over (nothing is stored), so print this summary and bring both.

Preview of what will print:

Sources

Numbers in brackets link to these sources. Every link was checked on October 11, 2026. Some sources are written by people who support a particular approach; we’ve tried to say so in the tags.

  1. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Fatigue. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003088.htm
  2. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Anaphylaxis. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000844.htm
  3. MedlinePlus. Chest pain. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003079.htm
  4. MedlinePlus. Asthma. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000141.htm
  5. MedlinePlus. Fainting. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003092.htm
  6. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Help for Mental Illnesses. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health. Mold (About mold). Reviewed Sept 26, 2024. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/mold-health/about/index.html
  8. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Mold Allergy (patient page; updated July 8, 2026). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/allergies/mold-allergy
  9. Hope J. A review of the mechanism of injury and treatment approaches for illness resulting from exposure to water-damaged buildings, mold, and mycotoxins. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:767482. PMID: 23710148. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3654247/
  10. Chang C, Gershwin ME. The Myth of Mycotoxins and Mold Injury. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019;57(3):449-455. PMID: 31608429. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-019-08767-4
  11. Shoemaker R, Johnson K, Jim L, et al. Diagnostic Process for Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS): A Consensus Statement. Report of the Consensus Committee of Surviving Mold. Internal Medicine Review. 2018;4(5). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.survivingmold.com/Publications/CIRS_diagnostic_protocol_final_5_1_2018.pdf
  12. Bush RK, Portnoy JM, Saxon A, Terr AI, Wood RA. The medical effects of mold exposure (AAAAI position paper). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;117(2):326-333. PMID: 16514772. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2005.12.001
  13. Lee E, Picard M. Diagnosis and management of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) in Canada: a practical approach. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2025;21:49. PMID: 41272881. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12639879/
  14. Molderings GJ, Brettner S, Homann J, Afrin LB. Mast cell activation disease: a concise practical guide for diagnostic workup and therapeutic options. J Hematol Oncol. 2011;4:10. PMID: 21418662. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3069946/
  15. The Mast Cell Disease Society (TMS). Symptoms and Triggers of Mast Cell Activation. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://tmsforacure.org/signs-symptoms-triggers/symptoms-and-triggers-of-mast-cell-activation/
  16. Dysautonomia International. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30
  17. Sheldon RS, Grubb BP, Olshansky B, et al. 2015 Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and vasovagal syncope. Heart Rhythm. 2015;12:e41-e63. PMID: 25980576. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5267948/
  18. The Ehlers-Danlos Society. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/heds/
  19. Malfait F, Francomano C, Byers P, et al. The 2017 international classification of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017;175(1):8-26. PMID: 28306229. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31552
  20. Shaw BH, Stiles LE, Bourne K, et al. The face of postural tachycardia syndrome - insights from a large cross-sectional online community-based survey. J Intern Med. 2019;286(4):438-448. PMID: 30861229. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790699/
  21. Hakim A, O'Callaghan C, De Wandele I, et al. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-Hypermobile type. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017;175(1):168-174. PMID: 28160388. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31543
  22. Vernino S, Bourne KM, Stiles LE, et al. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): State of the science and clinical care from a 2019 National Institutes of Health Expert Consensus Meeting - Part 1. Auton Neurosci. 2021;235:102828. PMID: 34144933. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8455420/
  23. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
  24. The Ehlers-Danlos Society. Diagnostic Criteria for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) checklist. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/hEDS-Dx-Criteria-checklist-1.pdf
  25. Fikree A, Chelimsky G, Collins H, Kovacic K, Aziz Q. Gastrointestinal involvement in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017;175(1):181-187. PMID: 28186368. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31546
  26. Chopra P, Tinkle B, Hamonet C, et al. Pain management in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017;175(1):212-219. PMID: 28186390. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31554
  27. Shoemaker RC, House DE. Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2006;28(5):573-588. PMID: 17010568. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2006.07.003
  28. MedlinePlus. Dizziness. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003093.htm
  29. Valent P, Akin C, Arock M, et al. Definitions, criteria and global classification of mast cell disorders with special reference to mast cell activation syndromes: a consensus proposal. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2012;157(3):215-225. PMID: 22041891. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3224511/
  30. The Ehlers-Danlos Society. What is HSD? Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-hsd/
  31. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Anemia: Symptoms. Last updated March 24, 2022. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/symptoms
  32. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism
  33. NIDDK. Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hyperthyroidism
  34. NHLBI. Sleep Apnea: Symptoms. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/symptoms
  35. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depression (publication). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
  36. MedlinePlus. Hives. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000845.htm
  37. MedlinePlus. Abdominal pain. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003120.htm
  38. MedlinePlus. Joint pain. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003261.htm
  39. Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Web page, accessed October 14, 2026. https://askjan.org/disabilities/Multiple-Chemical-Sensitivity.cfm
  40. Steinemann A. National prevalence and effects of multiple chemical sensitivities. J Occup Environ Med. 2018;60(3):e152-e156. PMID: 29329146. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5865484/
  41. Multiple chemical sensitivity: a 1999 consensus. Arch Environ Health. 1999;54(3):147-149. PMID: 10444033. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039899909602251
  42. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Board of Directors. Idiopathic environmental intolerances (position statement). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;103(1 Pt 1):36-40. PMID: 9893182. https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Practice%20and%20Parameters/Idiopathic-environmental-intolerances-1999.pdf
  43. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). Multiple chemical sensitivities: idiopathic environmental intolerance (position statement). J Occup Environ Med. 1999;41(11):940-942. https://journals.lww.com/joem/fulltext/1999/11000/multiple_chemical_sensitivities__idiopathic.3.aspx