Top Reasons to Visit the ER Right Now!

man speaking with a doctor

Top Reasons to Visit the ER Right Now!

Knowing when to go to the ER to seek medical care is often challenging, particularly this last year while we all learned to cope with COVID-19.

Yet, it’s important to keep ourselves healthy, which means addressing potentially serious health problems when they arise.

There are specific symptoms and conditions you should never ignore, as they could indicate serious health issues. Let’s learn about the top reasons to visit the ER to be prepared and seek help fast.

These are the top reasons you should visit the ER Immediately

Chest Pain

The first of the top reasons to visit the ER is chest pain. When we talk about chest pains, it could be several pain types, including sharp, dull, burning, or crushing. The pain is not limited to the area around your heart; it can extend from your neck to your abdomen.

Chest pain could be a sign of a serious or life-threatening health problem, such as a blood clot, heart attack, or even COVID-19.

Some chest pain results from benign or mild medical conditions such as heartburn and indigestion. Still, the best way to know for sure is to seek immediate medical attention for any chest pain that lasts for more than five minutes.

When it comes to chest pain, better safe than sorry is the right approach!

man with chest pain

Abdominal Pain

Just like chest pain, a variety of causes are responsible for your abdominal pain, the next of the top reasons to visit the ER. Many are mild and won’t require a visit to the ER. Still, others could potentially place your life in danger and will therefore require emergency medical care.

Causes of abdominal pain that will require ER treatment include:

  • Appendicitis (bust appendix)
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Gallstones
  • Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
  • Diverticulitis (inflammation or infection of pouches that can form in your intestines known as diverticula)
  • Kidney stones
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas)

Additionally, some potentially fatal conditions can cause abdominal pain. These cases require immediate diagnosis and treatment in the ER:

  • AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm)
  • Ectopic pregnancy (ruptured)
  • Ischemic bowel
  • Perforated bowel or stomach
  • Bleeding or ruptured stomach ulcers

Whenever you experience unexplained, severe abdominal pain, it’s best to come to the nearest Altus Emergency center to be examined by a professional.

woman with stomach cramps

Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)

Another common top reasons to visit the ER was highly prevalent during the pandemic, upper respieratory infections. Both bacteria and viruses can cause severe infections. However, the cause of most upper respiratory infections is viruses.

Viral infections like the common cold and the flu are familiar to all of us. Yet, we now face a more severe type of viral infection which is COVID-19.

Regardless of the virus responsible for the infection, you will need to visit the ER if:

  • You are experiencing severe symptoms
  • You are part of a high-risk group

Signs of infectious diseases vary. However, most share these symptoms:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Cough
  • Nasal congestion and runny nose
  • Pain or pressure in the sinus area
  • Fever
  • Sore throat

Other less common symptoms include:

  • Loss of sense of smell (hyposmia)
  • Body aches
  • Headache

You should come to the ER as soon as possible if you experience any of the following:

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • Trouble breathing
  • Coughing blood
  • Loss of smell and taste
  • Fever or chills that don’t improve with treatment
  • Feeling confused or disoriented
  • Cough turns brassy or has a barking sound
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Symptoms last more than ten days or worsen after improving
woman with a foot injury

Broken Bones and Strains

Broken bones vary in severity and are a top reasons to visit the ER especially during spring and summer. Some injuries can wait until you can see a doctor. But if you notice the bone protrudes through the skin, or if the limb is severely misaligned or mangled by the trauma, you need to head to the nearest Altus Emergency Center.

If you are unsure whether you fractured a bone or not, the only way to know for sure is to get examined by a doctor.

In addition to the emergency symptoms mentioned before, these symptoms will let you know if you need to visit the ER:

  • Bleeding
  • Severe pain
  • Bruising or swelling at the site of injury

Muscle strains can happen when at any time. When you are at work, exercising, playing sports, or doing chores around the house.

Torn muscles can cause severe discomfort. Without proper treatment, you run the risk of living with chronic pain and weakness in the injured area. You will also have a higher risk of recurring injuries during everyday use, negatively impacting your quality of life.

Therefore, if you suspect you may have a torn muscle, it’s best to come to our ER for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

man with a head injury

Head Trauma

Head injuries can be serious. Even if you can’t see any physical evidence of trauma and don’t experience any immediate symptoms, you still need to be vigilant. It is recommended to head for an ER as they are specially equipped with the required imaging technology in order to obtain a proper diagnosis.

Symptoms that suggest you sustained a severe head injury and need to go to the ER as soon as possible include:

  • Loss of consciousness at the time of the accident
  • Feeling confused or disoriented after the injury
  • You were involved in a car crash, even a minor one
  • Trouble keeping balance
  • Trouble remember recent events or events involving the injury
  • Seizures
  • Trouble speaking
  • Severe headaches
  • Nausea or vomiting after the injury
  • Vision changes, having trouble seeing or focusing
  • Changes in behavior after the accident

Fever

A fever is a temporary rise in your body temperature. It is often associated with an illness. However, a persistent or unusually high fever that won’t go away with over-the-counter treatment can signify infection.

When to Come to Altus ER

When to Come to Altus ER

  • Babies under three months with a temperature higher than 100.4 F
  • Infants and small children with temperatures higher than 102 F
  • Adults with a temperature of 103 F or higher
  • Rush to the nearest ER if you also have nausea, headache, a stiff neck, confusion, or a rash in addition to a fever. You may have meningitis
  • In addition to a high fever, you also have diarrhea, vomiting, headache, tiredness, confusion, and dizziness. It could be Toxic Shock Syndrome

At Altus Emergency Centers, we provide you with the best diagnostic technology and the most qualified physicians to treat all your emergencies. We are open 24/7. We adhere to the strictest safety protocols and best practices to ensure our patient’s, visitors’, and staff’s safety.

Altus Emergency Room Baytown

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