Get It Checked Out: 7 Symptoms that Indicate You Need Urgent Care
Certain health issues warrant immediate medical attention. It’s wise to know the difference between symptoms that can be treated at home and those that need a professional touch. This will help you to maintain your health and avoid severe health injuries and avoid visiting urgent care near me.
If you’re looking to understand the symptoms that need immediate attention, check out these seven health issues you cannot ignore.
1. Chest Pains
Chest pains can indicate a plethora of health issues. However, chest pains are most commonly associated with heart attacks or cardiac arrest. Because of the severity, consulting with a healthcare professional at the first sign of pain is crucial. In addition, symptoms of a heart attack can mimic less severe conditions such as acid reflux. Instead of leaving your health up to chance, get a professional’s opinion from Lindita Coku, MD.
It’s also important to understand the regulations of your local urgent care. Some facilities have the equipment to double check chest pains while others don’t. Facilities who don’t will typically urge you to go to the emergency room. Regardless of where you get help, the important thing is to take action. Chest pains are not symptoms to play with as they could signal something terribly wrong.
2. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is normal after extreme physical activity or even a scare. However, if you notice yourself suddenly getting out of breath without engaging in any activity, it’s best to seek medical help immediately. Shortness of breath indicates there is a problem with your airways. Whether it’s impacted by a small blockage or reacting to an allergen, you don’t want to take the risk. Consult with your local urgent care immediately if you notice this symptom.
From a psychological standpoint, shortness of breath could signal a panic or anxiety attack. Often times, if there’s no given reason for this sudden onset, healthcare practitioners may assume that’s the cause. Don’t be alarmed if they ask you questions about your mental state or stress levels. This is all part of the examination process. Remember, they’re there to help you.
3. Numbness Throughout the Body
Sudden numbness comes with a variety of health scares. This major symptom may indicate a stroke, allergic reaction or even cardiovascular complications. Since the effects are so drastic, it’s safe to consult with a professional to make sure you’re safe. One of the primary reasons to get this checked out early is to avoid spreading and permanent damage. If the numbing is due to a stroke, you may experience lifelong implications if you choose not to address the problem immediately. Sadly, some of those effects are fatal. In addition, if the numbing is caused by an allergic reaction, the practitioners will need to administer some sort of preventive anecdote. It’s better to play it safe when it comes to sudden numbness as you never know what could have triggered it.
4. Chronic Vomiting
It’s normal to experience vomiting after ingesting something contaminated or ingredients your body doesn’t agree with. In fact, chronic vomiting is one of the classic symptoms of food poisoning. However, if the vomiting continues after an extended period of time, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional. Vomiting that lasts hours could indicate a virus or dehydration. A practitioner can unveil the root cause of your irritation and prescribe the right medication to address it.
It’s also important to pay attention to the color of your vomit. Is it yellow? Green? Brown? Often times, the color indicates whether or not you have a virus. As always, if you ever begin to throw up blood, immediately seek attention. This could be an indication of something far more serious than a stomach bug.
5. Extended Vomiting and Diarrhea
To piggyback off of the previous note, if your excessive vomiting is paired with non-stop diarrhea, please visit your local urgent care. When your body gets rid of too much, you may fall into a dehydrated state. This can be dangerous if left ignored. Not to mention, who wants to go through that agony without a possible light at the end of the tunnel? Consult with a medical professional to see what the trigger is and how you can cope. Often times, an antibiotic or over the counter medicine can help ease the symptoms. It’s important to note here that you should not be embarrassed about seeing a doctor for these symptoms. Remember, those in the healthcare field have seen it all. They’re not there to judge or mock you.
6. Excessive Bleeding
Chronic bleeding, no matter where it’s coming from, is not a good sign. If you begin to lose too much blood, you are putting yourself at risk for detrimental problems. Immediately get yourself checked out if you experience sudden bleeding that won’t seem to stop. Often times, a bad injury may need stitches or surgical glue to prevent bacteria from spreading. A majority of urgent care facilities are able to treat physical injuries onsite. If not, they may refer you to the nearest emergency room.
7. Poisoning
This goes without saying but, if you’ve ingested something harmful to your body, you need to seek immediate medical attention. Especially if the substance is known to be toxic to humans. While calling the National Poisoning Hotline is helpful, getting that in-person attention provides immediate relief. This is also true if you believe you’ve taken too much of a certain medication. The practitioners are able to administer helpful medication that’ll help flush those toxins out of your body. However, it’s always wise to be careful with what you ingest. Always read the ingredients and recommended dosage of certain products. You would have to have to spend your weekend in the emergency room simply because you didn’t follow instructions.
Taking your health seriously is important. You don’t want to compromise your health simply because you didn’t think the problem was as severe as it was. Discover where your closest urgent care facility is and make a mental note of its location. That way, you’ll have it stored in your memory should you have to go.