While all health problems require medical attention, some need emergency care. Urgent care addresses life-threatening health situations such as excessive bleeding and shortness of breath. Such issues are some of the reasons why you may find yourself in a Sugar Land emergency room. An emergency problem can permanently impair or put your life at stake. The following are conditions that may need emergency help.
Chest pain
Chest pain can feel like a dull ache, a sharp stab, or a burning feeling that may go up to your neck and travel down your arms. You may develop chest pain due to your lungs, digestive system, and muscle and bone problems. Other causes of chest pain include panic attacks and shingles. While all the possible causes of chest pain need medical attention, some need immediate intervention since they are life-threatening. For example, a heart-related reason like aortic dissection requires immediate emergency medical assistance.
Distinguishing heart-related to other causes of chest pain can be challenging. For this reason, chest pain calls for emergency care since it can indicate a severe problem.
Allergic reaction
An allergic reaction occurs when your body’s defense system reacts to a foreign substance such as bee venom, pet dander, and food. When having allergies, antibodies identify a specific substance as harmful, although it isn’t. Your immune system’s reaction can cause inflammation in your skin, digestive system, and sinuses. The severity of allergic reactions varies from person to person, with some experiencing minor inflammation and others a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, weak pulse, nausea, and vomiting are associated with anaphylaxis. Seek emergency medical help whenever you experience symptoms or your allergic reactions don’t improve with over-the-counter medications.
Severe bleeding
Bleeding or hemorrhage can occur externally or internally. External bleeding occurs outside your body where it’s noticeable, and internal bleeding occurs inside your body where you can’t see. A damaged blood vessel or organ can cause internal bleeding. Bleeding is a common symptom due to traumatic injuries and medical conditions such as leukemia, liver disease, hemophilia, lung cancer, and acute bronchitis.
Internal bleeding and severe bleeding from a severe injury are signs of an emergency. Signs of internal bleeding may include severe sudden headache, loss of balance, change in vision, and weakness and numbness on one side of the body.
Breathing problems
Breathing difficulty is a discomfort you get when breathing, and you may feel like you can’t draw in enough air. Your chest may feel tight, and you may have a feeling of suffocation. Mild shortness of breath after vigorous exercise does not fall under this category. Other conditions such as obesity, stress, and anxiety may result in breathing problems. Repeated or sudden shortness of breath may indicate a severe issue such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. Other conditions that may cause breathing difficulties include coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Do not panic when confronted by a medical emergency. Call St. Michael’s Elite Hospital for emergency care to save a life.
