Should I Go to the ER? 4 Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Visiting an urgent care clinic instead of taking a trip to the ER can certainly save you money. A recent study showed that 14 to 27% of visits to emergency centers could have been handled by urgent care -- and would have saved $4.4 billion a year in health costs as a result.

Although emergency room crowding is a real problem in the U.S., there are certain symptoms and conditions that absolutely warrant a trip to the ER. Being able to recognize these symptoms for their severity should help you decide when to seek emergency care and treatment. We encourage you to visit one of our emergency centers if you experience one of these four symptoms:

1. Chest pain
   If you are experiencing chest pains, do not dismiss your symptoms. If you cannot contact your regular physician or do not want to wait, it's best to seek emergency medical attention. If you're over 35, this could be a sign of a heart attack, especially coupled with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, breathing problems, or excessive sweating. Even if the cause of the pain turns out to be something routine, it's not worth the risk you take by not receiving emergency care.


2. Abdominal pain
   Although abdominal pain causes range from indigestion to internal bleeding, if your pain persists, seek care at one of our emergency centers. Your abdominal pain could signal appendicitis or even an ectopic pregnancy. Even if your stomach pains turns out to be from a particularly bad case of heartburn, you don't want to ignore severe symptoms like these.


3. Falls
   A fall can cause anything from a minor sprain to a major head injury. Some people brush off their injuries, never knowing that they've sustained a concussion and need a medical evaluation. If you've suffered a fall, do not delay in receiving treatment. Although you may check out fine in the end, you do not want to take a chance with potentially dangerous complications. Brushing off these symptoms can result in future disabilities or even fatalities.


4. Numbness or disorientation
   When you experience numbness or weakness in your body, it may not feel like pain -- so you may not realize you need help from emergency services. But feeling dizzy, disoriented, or numb may be signs of a stroke, seizure, or dehydration. If you feel numb on one side of the body, have temporary vision loss, or a huge headache, do not stay home and wait it out. These symptoms may come and go, but don't hesitate to head to the emergency room if they persist.

Because our facility offers walk-in urgent care as well as emergency treatment, our staff can assess the best course of action for your illness or injury. We urge you not to wait if you experience any of these emergency-level symptoms. If you have a health question or concern, it's better to be safe than sorry. Contact us today or walk right into our clinic to find out more about your care and treatment options.

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