We associate some urgencies like an electric shock or a car attack with emergency rooms, and we often neglect certain seemingly non-urgent symptoms. These signs and symptoms, which we tend to ignore, often point to more severe underlying issues. These warning signs invite you to get medical attention before more distressing situations knock on your door. To use these invites to our advantage, let’s look at some critical signs which you should never ignore:
- Pain In the Chest
In many cases, chest pain is a serious symptom because angina pain and discomfort are often common signs of a future heart attack. Angina pains usually feel similar to indigestion, which is why they are often discounted. However, if caught early, angina pains can help you prevent a heart attack in the future by incentivizing a healthy lifestyle.
Although heart attack and angina are the main causes of chest pain, they are not the only ones. There are many other severe conditions you might overlook as general discomfort. Pulmonary embolism, for example, causes chest pains when a blood clot gets stuck in the lung blood vessel. It stops the blood from reaching parts of the lung resulting in tissue death. As you wouldn’t see any immediate symptoms other than chest pain, you will likely ignore it. But the highest risk period related to this condition starts a few hours after the embolism’s first occurrence. Slight negligence could cause permanent lung damage or death.
Chest pain is also one of the most common mesothelioma symptoms. Ignoring chest pain just because no hasty situation arose can result in delayed diagnosis of mesothelioma when many treatment options are not viable anymore. You should not take chest pain or pressure of sensation in the chest lightly.
Of course, it can be a false alarm, especially after lifting heavy weights and just experiencing muscle strain. But, if your pain is persistent, constant, and unbearable, it is crucial to get a proper checkup.
- Pain In the Abdomen
The abdomen has many vital organs, including your stomach, intestines, and liver. Therefore, sudden abdominal pain could imply a severe condition, such as an infection or inflammation related to your vital organs. Intestinal obstruction is another grave condition that can result in pain in the abdomen because of intestine twisting. It can cut off supply to parts of the intestines, leading to tissue death.
Suppose you feel localized pain starting from your belly button along with nausea and vomiting; you might be experiencing appendicitis pain. If not treated promptly, your appendix might burst. A ruptured appendix can lead to a bacterial infection, resulting in organ failures or even death. So next time you feel pain in the abdomen, ignoring it as “maybe gas” is not the best idea. You might want to consider the suddenness and area of pain and rush to the ER.
- Dizziness
You are most likely to shrug it off whenever you are dizzy, as “I’m just tired and restless. I better go to bed.” But dizziness, in many cases, can be an acute symptom. For example, stroke is often diagnosed with dizziness combined with confusion and blurred vision.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 40 seconds, someone in the US experiences a stroke. A stroke is a medical emergency that can lead to severe long-term disability. CDC also reports that patients who arrive at the ER within the first three hours of symptoms recover faster than those with delayed care. Concussions and trauma are also leading causes of dizziness and changes in balance. Since concussions are majorly related to brain injuries, they often require immediate medical attention.
Other than stroke and concussion, dizziness is also a result of hypotension or low blood pressure. Low blood pressure sometimes results from hormone-related diseases or allergic reactions. Again, a visit to ER could lead to early diagnosis and recovery.
- Trouble Breathing
Your blood transports oxygen to other organs. The heart pumps the blood around, and the lungs ensure the blood reaches the body and carries sufficient oxygen. Because these vital organs are linked to the breathing process, the shortness of breath traces back to them in most cases.
If you suddenly struggle with breathing, there could be several reasons. You could be having pulmonary embolism or carbon monoxide poisoning. Both of these are medical emergencies that can be fatal.
Fumes from heating appliances, cooking devices (gas or electric), outdoor fires (charcoal or wood), and other sources all contain carbon monoxide. In carbon monoxide poisoning, your blood starts transporting carbon monoxide instead of oxygen. As tissues are starved of oxygen supply, it can cause their death. In this case, quick medical attention and a high oxygen supply are required – both of which the ER can provide.
- Severe Allergic Reactions
According to CDC, more than 50 million people in the US have various types of allergies. Because of its widespread and often unalarming nature, people tend to use treatment at home. You can use over-the-counter products for mild allergic reactions such as sneezing and rash. But sometimes, the symptoms can get more intense. In that case, it is advised not to use any products until you are a hundred percent sure of the product’s effect.
A severe allergic reaction includes signs like hives, swollen lips or tongue, abdominal problems, and difficulty breathing. If you experience a severe allergic reaction, you should seek emergency care as soon as possible.
- Suicidal Thoughts
Seeking professional help when thinking of hurting yourself is a wise and brave step. ER is one of the best places for you to be at that moment. The notion crisis services are available for help anytime and to anyone may be comforting.
While the ER mental health protocol varies from state to state, the general procedural outline is similar. First, the ER calls a mental health professional to evaluate the level of care needed. Next, the evaluations are taken as a suicide assessment where the professional asks some questions. The examination is then used to suggest hospital admission or a long-term plan.
Final thoughts
Often, the minor signs translate into life-endangering circumstances. Your few moments of neglect can lead to life-changing injuries or create a life-and-death situation. We shouldn’t wait until the last moment to make intelligent choices. It is better to notice these signs and symptoms and seek medical care than to regret it later.
