Malaise
A vague feeling of unease, often the first sign of illness.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Malaise describes a vague, uneasy sense of not being well, often the earliest hint of an infection or illness. The French word has been in use since at least the 1100s. Beyond its medical meaning—a general state of angst or melancholy—it is also used figuratively.
As a non-specific symptom, malaise can accompany minor issues like an emotional faint (a vasovagal response) or hunger-induced low blood sugar, as well as serious conditions such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, or internal bleeding. It reflects a patient’s feeling that “something is not right,” sometimes requiring a medical exam to determine its significance. The sensation is thought to stem from the immune system’s activation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Figuratively, “economic malaise” describes a stagnant or recessionary economy, notably linked to the 1973–1975 U.S. recession. In American automotive history, the 1970s are called the “malaise era.” President Jimmy Carter’s 1979 “Crisis of Confidence” speech is commonly nicknamed the “malaise speech,” though the word itself never appeared in it.
Quick Facts
- Pronounce
- m · ə · ˈ · l · eɪ · z mə · LAYZ
- Field
- Family medicine, Internal medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, Clinical psychology
- Symptoms
- Feeling of uneasiness or discomfort
- Diagnosis
- Based on symptoms
- Differential
- Pain, anxiety, depression
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Malaise is a non-specific symptom that can be present in the slightest ailment, such as an emotion causing fainting or hunger, to the most serious conditions like cancer, stroke, or heart attack. It expresses a patient's uneasiness that 'something is not right,' which may need a medical examination to determine the significance. The sensation is thought to be caused by the activation of an immune response and the associated pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Reader's Guide
Malaise serves as a crucial but vague early indicator in medicine, alerting both patient and clinician to potential underlying disease. Its figurative use extends beyond medicine: 'economic malaise' refers to a stagnant or recessionary economy, notably associated with the 1973–1975 United States recession, and an era of American automotive history in the 1970s is called the 'malaise era.' The term is also linked to US president Jimmy Carter's 1979 'Crisis of Confidence' speech, commonly called the 'malaise speech' even though the word itself was not in the speech. As a prodromal symptom, malaise remains a key concept in nosology and conditions like post-exertional malaise, highlighting its enduring relevance across disciplines.
Did You Know?
- Malaise is often the first sign of an infection or other disease.
- The word has existed in French since at least the 12th century.
- Jimmy Carter's 1979 'Crisis of Confidence' speech is commonly called the 'malaise speech,' though the word was not in it.
More in Symptoms and signs 1-24
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