5 Major Signs You Need an Emergency Medicine Physician Visit
When you are feeling unwell, it can be easy to wait until your symptoms get worse before getting help. However, it is always best not to delay seeking medical care, especially if your symptoms are severe. Some conditions, such as acute health problems or traumatic injuries, often require emergency medical services. Depending on the severity of your condition, your emergency medicine physician might recommend admission to the hospital for further assessment. If you are experiencing a potentially life-threatening condition, consider getting treatment from a Downey emergency medicine physician. Below are five signs you need to see your emergency medicine physician for treatment or further analysis.
1. Severe Dizziness/Lightheadedness
If you have been feeling dizzy or light-headed, it is important to get checked out by an emergency medical professional. Severe dizziness or lightheadedness could indicate serious health issues such as stroke, inner ear problems, or heart attacks. It could also indicate an anxiety attack which occurs when your blood pressure drops too low.
Strokes happen when blood flow to an area stops completely for some time. Other stroke-related symptoms include trouble speaking and walking, numbness in your legs/arms, and vision problems. If you experience these symptoms, visit your emergency medicine doctor immediately.
2. Trouble Breathing
It can signify a serious lung or heart problem if you have trouble breathing. A breathing problem often requires immediate attention from your emergency medicine physician. When you first visit the emergency room (ER) due to breathing issues, your doctor will immediately help you get oxygen into your lungs.
Shortness of breath can cause loss of consciousness due to low blood pressure caused by a lack of oxygen getting into vital organs throughout the body. Therefore, it is important not to wait for your symptoms to worsen, which can lead to organ damage.
3. Sudden Severe Chest Pain
Sudden and severe chest pain is one of many warning signs of a heart attack. The pain may radiate from the center of the left side of your chest and may be sudden and intermittent. Chest pains indicating signs of a heart attack often last for a few minutes and may cause a squeezing, fullness, or uncomfortable pressure.
These symptoms are often accompanied by shortness of breath. If you have chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes or gets worse over time, call your emergency medicine doctor right away to prevent the possibility of getting a heart attack.
4. Heavy Uncontrollable Bleeding
While bleeding from minor cuts might not be a cause of concern, experiencing heavy and uncontrollable bleeding might signify a serious health issue. Losing too much blood might also lead to loss of consciousness and can be life-threatening. For instance, experiencing a nosebleed for over an hour will require a visit to the emergency room immediately. Also, if you are on blood thinners and start bleeding, visit your emergency medicine physician immediately. These medications often interfere with your blood’s natural ability to clot, causing less serious wounds to become severe.
5. Trauma
Accidental or inflicted trauma on your body may require immediate medical care from your emergency medicine physician. Trauma may cause internal bleeding, broken bones, severe fractures, and joint dislocations.
If you experience numbness and bruising due to a broken limb, visiting your emergency medicine doctor or trauma center would be your best option. Also, after experiencing a traumatic injury, look at possible signs of internal bleeding, such as abdominal pain, skin discoloration, lightheadedness, and swelling in the injured area.
Preparing for emergencies is important to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Call your emergency healthcare provider immediately if you experience any signs or symptoms mentioned above. Worsening symptoms can be life-threatening, especially sudden and completely unexpected.
Always have your medical records ready and nearby to make treatment faster during emergency care. This step can help your emergency medicine doctor easily and quickly rule out potential health problems. Also, depending on the severity of your condition, your emergency doctor might recommend additional tests such as blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging tests before providing treatment.
About Author
