The Top Reasons People Are Rushed To The Emergency Room
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Skin Infections
There are many different types of skin infections, such as pimples, warts, and abscesses. Sometimes these skin infections can get so bad that they require emergency treatment. While some patients can wait until they see a dermatologist, that's not always the case. Some infections are so awful that patients need to have immediate treatment before they spread or worsen. There are people who go to the ER all the time for these infections.
Skin Infections
There are many different types of skin infections, such as pimples, warts, and abscesses. Sometimes these skin infections can get so bad that they require emergency treatment. While some patients can wait until they see a dermatologist, that's not always the case. Some infections are so awful that patients need to have immediate treatment before they spread or worsen. There are people who go to the ER all the time for these infections.
Breathing Difficulties
Any time you have a problem breathing, you should seek immediate medical care. The breathing problem could stem from an allergic attack or asthma or other life-threatening conditions. It's not something that you should put off for a few days. Emergency rooms are equipped with breathing machines to help patients. If you notice abnormal breathing patterns, don't take it lightly. The emergency room might be your only chance to save your life.
Headache
Most of the time, a headache can be cured with an at-home treatment. But sometimes, the pain gets to be so chronic or acute that is makes sense to go to the ER. If the headache coincides with other medical symptoms, such as nausea, then a visit to the ER must be done right away. The doctors can use their machines to rule out potential diseases. People go to the ER for headaches all of the time.
Going Into Labor
Most pregnant women plan out ahead of time with their doctors before they go into labor. They usually have an idea about when they might give birth and which hospital they are going to. But there are inevitable emergencies that force pregnant women to give birth way earlier than expected. The result of this is heading to the emergency room when the water breaks and the baby is about to be born.
Back Pain
There are instances when back pain can be so debilitating that you need the emergency room. After all, if you are unable to do daily tasks without suffering from pain, then you need immediate care. Many people go to the emergency room for this reason, especially if they suddenly hurt their back in an accident. Professionals in the emergency room might be able to diagnose the cause of the back pain and issue some treatments.
Chest Pain
No one should ever ignore chest pain. If you are experiencing severe pains in your chest, you should seek immediate care. Chest pain is one of the top reasons people go to the emergency room, and yet there are many people who ignore it or are too afraid to consult. Sharp or dull chest pain could be a symptom of a heart attack, blocked artery, or other complications. The more constant and severe the chest pain, the more you should get emergency care.
Upper Respiratory Infection
A common cold is usually treated at home. However, there are times when an upper respiratory infection can be so bad that you need to go to the emergency room. For example, if you have the flu and your symptoms get too severe, then it's time to rush to the hospital. Every year in the height of flu season, there are people who need to go to the emergency room in order to recover and survive.
Sinus Infection
While most people treat a sinus infection with medicine, that might not always be enough. The problem here is that if a sinus infection is not properly treated within a few days, it could lead to deadly complications. That sinus infection could spread and result in conditions like meningitis or pneumonia. As a result, some people don't take any chances with a sinus infection and immediately go to the emergency room for help.
Vomiting
People vomit due to food poisoning, alcohol poisoning, illness, or pregnancy. However, if you vomit too much at a high rate and cannot keep the food down, you could end up dehydrated. This weakens the body and could lead to some serious health problems down the line. People who are vomiting non-stop need emergency room care, including an IV, in order for them to regain strength and survive.
Accidents
Yes, accidents can happen at any given moment. If there is little physical damage, you probably won't have to go to the emergency room and may instead opt for a visit to the doctor's clinic. However, if the accident of any kind has left you in a helpless and life-threatening situation, then you need to be taken to the hospital right away. Accidents of all kinds are really among the leading causes of emergency room visits.
Side Effects Of Medicine
You take your medicine — like you've been required to — and everything is going well. But then, all of a sudden, you start getting adverse effects and end up worse. It could be anything from a rash to chest pains to major stomach problems. If you find yourself in a life and death situation, you will certainly have to go to the emergency room. These adverse effects can happen to anyone at any given time.
Toothache
Toothaches are usually reserved for a dentist. However, if you have a tooth emergency during hours when your dentist's clinic is closed, then you need a hospital. Usually it is the unbearable pain of a toothache that sends people to the emergency room. In other instances, it is a potentially dangerous disease in your mouth that forces one to seek help. While going to a dentist is the top choice, sometimes you don't have a choice.
Stroke
The symptoms of a stroke include difficulty speaking or walking, as well as weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs. When these symptoms strike, there's a huge probability that it's a stroke, which means blood flow from the brain is obstructed. Without immediate help, one could quickly die. For this reason, taking someone with the symptoms to the emergency room makes perfect sense, and this is what hundreds of thousands of people do every year.
Bruises
Bruises are typically treated with painkillers, ice, heat, and time. But sometimes, a certain bruise could send someone to the emergency room. It all depends how the bruise was developed, for instance if it was caused by a dangerous accident. It also depends on the location of the bruise. For example, a bruise on someone's face might require immediate treatment as opposed to a bruise on someone's back. Pain from the bruise is also a big factor as well.
Cuts
It is not unlikely for people to get cuts. You can get a cut from falling off a bike, or in the kitchen while preparing food with a sharp knife, or from a severe accident. Cuts can be treated at home with the right medication. However, there are factors that can make a cut a matter of emergency. If the cut is really big or deep, doctors in the emergency room can provide immediate treatment like stitches.
Foreign Objects
You read about these stories all of the time — someone accidentally puts a foreign object in their body. These cases, while funny, should not be taken lightly. People go to the emergency room for foreign objects in their body because it can be life-threatening. The doctors at the hospital can take an x-ray of the body part with the object. If the situation is deemed to be dangerous, surgery may be conducted to remove the object.
Fainting
People can faint for various reasons, such as low blood pressure, dehydration, or hot weather. Whatever the cause, fainting is always a reason to be concerned. When someone faints and does not recover immediately, the person has to be immediately sent to the emergency room. Even if the patient recovers, that person might still need immediate care to prevent fainting from happening again. The medical tools in the hospital allow patients to discover the cause of the fainting and to prevent it.
Spinal Injuries
There are numerous spinal injuries that can be caused by accidents. If the pain and discomfort from an accident is really bad, patients need to be taken to the emergency room. This is especially true if there is obvious damage to the spine. The medical professionals in the hospital can use their tools to determine the problem with the spine. A lot of people end up in the emergency room for accidentally hurting their spine.
Sprains
A torn ligament can result in a sprain. The bone is usually fine, and it is just the ligament or muscle that was overstretched. However, if the pain from a sprain is too much to bear, it calls for emergency care. Depending on what body part was sprained and the intensity of the pain, doctors may prescribe some pain medication. If you sprained your thumb, you might get a splint. In such case, surgery is not required.
Broken Bones
Broken bones is one of the biggest reasons a person ends up in the emergency room. No matter how you broke the bones -- whether by vehicular accident, a fall, a direct blow, a stress fracture, or some underlying complication -- it is never easy to deal with. Doctors would likely prescribe pain medication and they might place your injured parts in a cast. Surgery is also an option in the most severe cases.
