When To Go To The Emergency Department
Chest pain, sudden weakness, severe shortness of breath — knowing the warning signs can save a life.
Most clinic visits can wait until morning. A handful of presentations cannot. Recognizing the difference is one of the most useful skills any family can have.
Call for help immediately if you notice: sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body; difficulty speaking or understanding; severe chest pain that radiates to the arm, jaw or back; sudden severe headache unlike any before; or shortness of breath that is worsening at rest.
When in doubt, err on the side of evaluation. Time matters most in stroke and heart attack — every minute of delay narrows the window for the most effective treatments.
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