When You Should Seek Emergency Medical Care
Topic: Medical Research and News
Author: American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
Published: 2017/04/04 - Updated: 2023/05/27 - Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main - Related
Synopsis: Listening to your symptoms will alert you as to when you should seek emergency care. Emergency physicians want to educate every person to recognize the warning signs of a medical emergency. If you think you are having the symptoms of a medical emergency, you should seek emergency care as quickly as possible.
Introduction
At what point does a fever or stomach ache become a medical emergency? If you slice your finger with a knife, or you are having the worst headache you've ever had, should you seek emergency care? How do you know?
The answers are simple:
If you think you are having the symptoms of a medical emergency, you should seek emergency care as quickly as possible.
Main Digest
Emergencies are determined based on the symptoms that bring you to the ER in the first place, not on your final diagnosis. The same symptoms can mean many medical conclusions and oftentimes it takes an experienced physician and several medical tests to determine if those symptoms represent some minor ailment or something potentially life-threatening.
While urgent care centers have a role to play in the health care system, they are not substitutes for emergency care. They are an option for common medical problems when a physician's office is closed, but more serious problems require screening and treatment at an emergency departmen.
"Many people experience the symptoms of an emergency, such as stroke or a heart attack, but for various reasons, such as doubt, they delay seeking care right away," said Becky Parker, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "For many medical emergencies, time is of the essence. Delays in treatment can lead to more serious consequences."
Should I go to a doctor, walk-in clinic, urgent care center, or hospital emergency department?
Emergency physicians want to educate every person to recognize the warning signs of a medical emergency. Here are some common warning signs and symptoms:
- Change in vision.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Uncontrolled bleeding.
- Unusual abdominal pain.
- Any sudden or severe pain.
- Coughing or vomiting blood.
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings.
- Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness.
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath.
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
- Confusion in mental status, unusual behavior, difficulty walking.
- Chest or upper abdominal pain, or pressure lasting two minutes or more.
These are just a few examples and not intended to represent every kind of medical emergency or substitute for medical advice from your physician.
"I'd much rather tell a patient that their diagnosis is not serious and send them home than tell them they should have come to the ER sooner," said Dr. Parker. "It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health or the health of a loved one."
Attribution/Source(s):
This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and published on 2017/04/04 (Edit Update: 2023/05/27), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) can be contacted at acep.org. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.
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Cite This Page (APA): American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). (2017, April 4 - Last revised: 2023, May 27). When You Should Seek Emergency Medical Care. Disabled World. Retrieved September 8, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/medical/emergency-care.php
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