Some symptoms are signs of a true emergency -- but we put
off getting prompt medical attention, thinking that if we wait a
bit, they will go away.
Here, symptoms never to ignore...
EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS
The following symptoms can indicate a potential emergency. Call for
an ambulance (usually 911). If one is not available, have someone
drive you to an emergency room.
Fever and significant pain (often tender to
touch) in the center of the back (over the spine or bony
area), especially with numbness down one or both
legs. There are many possible causes of fever
and back pain -- the fever could be due to a common ailment,
such as the flu, and back pain due to another cause, such as
back strain.
Possible danger: There is a
possibility of an infection near the spinal column, especially if
there is numbness down one or both legs. The back often is tender
to the touch, and movement is painful. The infection can spread
quickly to the rest of the body, causing a life-threatening
emergency.
The emergency room (ER) doctor may order image studies of the back.
Other tests may include blood and/or urine cultures and a spinal
tap. Antibiotics usually are effective.
Sweet or fruity-smelling breath often
accompanied by confusion or
disorientation. Sometimes mistaken for alcohol,
the smell may be a sign of accumulating chemicals in the blood
caused by uncontrolled diabetes. Additional signs of
out-of-control diabetes include frequent urination and extreme
thirst.
Possible danger: A diabetic attack
(uncontrolled diabetes) can end in coma and death if
untreated.
Important: Victims may smell and act
intoxicated (confused and/or disoriented), but it is important to
rule out uncontrolled diabetes, rather than assuming intoxication
from drugs or alcohol.
In the ER, if your blood test indicates severe diabetes, you will
be given an intravenous (IV) drip with fluids, insulin and minerals
before being referred for comprehensive diabetic care.
Sudden, agonizing headache. There
are many causes of headache, including sinus infections,
seasonal allergies, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal,
eyestrain, lack of sleep and low blood sugar. Take immediate
action if you have the "worst headache of your life" that hits
suddenly. It may be followed by sleepiness or confusion.
Possible danger: Bleeding in the
brain from any of a number of causes, including congenital weakness
of a blood vessel, injury to the head or cocaine or amphetamine
abuse causing a blood vessel to rupture. At least 20% of people
hospitalized with bleeding from a brain aneurysm (a weak point in a
blood vessel that swells) die.
Important: Don’t take aspirin -- it
prevents blood from clotting and may lead to more
bleeding.
Usually the ER doctor will order an imaging study of the brain.
DANGER SIGNS
The following symptoms usually are not a 911 emergency, but they
should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible...
Fever, often with a headache and/or muscle
pain, within a few weeks of spending time in a wooded
area. Sometimes there are pink-to-dusty-red
spots (darker on the skin of African Americans) on the palms
of the hands and the bottoms of the feet or other body parts.
However, this rash often appears later or may not appear at
all.
Possible danger: There is a risk
that you have Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is transmitted to
humans by tick bites. It usually occurs between April and
September. If untreated, this condition can be fatal.
The doctor will order blood tests to help make a diagnosis.
Antibiotics can eliminate the infection.
Blood in stool or on toilet
tissue. The blood may make the stool appear
maroon or black. It can originate anywhere from the mouth to
the anus.
Possible danger: Blood may come from
an open sore in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as an ulcer
or a small bulging sac called a diverticulum, but cancer is also a
possible cause. Cancer of the GI tract, most often involving the
stomach or colon, is potentially fatal.
Important: Even if you have
hemorrhoids (swollen and inflamed veins in your anus or lower
rectum), the bleeding still could be caused by cancer, so have any
bleeding checked.
Possible emergency: Depending on the
severity of the bleeding and how long you have been bleeding, this
could be an emergency. Also, the elderly and those with other
severe illnesses may be especially prone to complications. If you
feel dizzy, light-headed or weak, call 911.
If necessary, the doctor will order screening tests. Any growths
will be biopsied and examined for cancer.
Blood in the urine, without
pain. The usual causes of blood in the urine are
kidney stones or a bladder or prostate infection, typically
accompanied by pain. When there is no discomfort, people
sometimes take a "wait and see" approach. Women may think that
they are having an irregular period.
Possible danger: Cancer of the
uterus, kidney, ureter, bladder or prostate, which can be fatal if
not treated early.
Important: Do not dismiss bleeding
from the vagina as an irregular period or blood from the rectum as
hemorrhoids. You may have cancer of the uterus or the GI
tract.
A family doctor or internist can determine whether the blood is
coming from the vagina, rectum or urinary tract so that you can
obtain the appropriate evaluation and care.
Yellow tinge to the skin and/or whites of the
eyes, often with insomnia, fatigue, loss of
appetite and/or generalized itching.
Possible danger: A blocked bile
duct, due to cancer of the duct, cancer of the pancreas, liver
disease, a breakdown of red blood cells or other
conditions.
Blood work and an ultrasound (an imaging study) of the liver and
bile ducts usually are the first tests.
Cold fingers that can last for hours or even
days after exposure to cold water or
air. Lingering coldness in the fingers can be
caused by anemia or by Raynaud’s syndrome, in which the small
blood vessels that supply blood to the tips of the fingers
narrow.
Possible danger: Raynaud’s can
indicate rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or other serious autoimmune
disorders. Anemia can indicate cancer and other serious problems.
Or you may have serious heart and/or lung problems.
Your doctor will perform an exam and order tests to make a
diagnosis.