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Red flags that mean you should seek medical care today
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Red flags that mean you should seek medical care today

Truth be told, no one loves to go to the doctor, let alone to the hospital, even when they are dealing with some serious health issues for a very long time. In these types of situations, people tend to comfort themselves by thinking that it’s hardly anything serious and that it will probably pass anytime soon.

Even though that may be the case, the reality is that only healthcare providers can confirm this, not Google, not your basic knowledge about health, or anything else that people resort to when they go through something like this.

There are numerous signs and signals that your body is trying to send you when something is wrong. If they last for a couple of days, then yes, it’s most likely something benign; however, if you’re dealing with it for a pretty long time, then it’s time to seek medical help as soon as you can.

If you find it hard to distinguish what’s minor and what’s potentially serious in terms of your health, then take a look at these red flags that shouldn’t be ignored.

The Importance Of Paying Attention To Them

Keep in mind that your body isn’t sending these signals out of boredom or randomly. It is trying to tell you that something’s wrong, whether it’s a minor problem or not. Things that occur suddenly should never be ignored, because if you do, you will:

  • Allow things to escalate
  • Make things far more complicated when it comes to medications and medical treatments, in general
  • It’s going to take a lot more time to heal

That’s precisely why you should always be very diligent as far as this goes. It doesn’t mean that you are imagining things or exaggerating. It just means that you are properly taking care of your well-being, which is nothing but a huge plus.

You Are Not Dealing With A Typical Cold 

In most cases, a cold isn’t anything you should be worried about; however, at times, it can be a sign of something more serious. So, when are you supposed to take things seriously? If you have a cough that lasts for more than two weeks, it may indicate that you are dealing with a sinus infection or whooping cough.

On the other hand, if you have symptoms that resemble flu, then that’s probably the case, and you should go to the doctor as soon as possible (if it lasts for more than a few days); otherwise, you may further complicate things.

If your cold is accompanied by chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath, then the emergency room must be your next stop. In these circumstances, NasonCare urgent care, or any other similar healthcare facility are the best option because they are equipped with the necessary tools and physicians to help the patients uncover the underlying cause, and, simultaneously, successfully treat this issue. Wherever you go, it’s essential to pick the institution that truly cares about its patients and that will do whatever is in its power to provide you with the right level of care.

Chest Pain Should Never Be Ignored

Most people have had some sort of chest pain at some point in their lives. If it lasts for a few seconds, then it’s probably nothing and most likely isn’t heart-related. On the flip side, if it’s sudden, and you have a feeling like something extremely heavy is sitting on your chest, plus the heaviness and pain radiate to your arm, jaw, back, or neck, then you must immediately seek medical assistance.

All of these symptoms could indicate that you are going through something that’s pretty serious and that requires a thorough medical assessment. You cannot rely on “self-diagnosis” because this is a problem that only experienced and knowledgeable healthcare providers can properly evaluate. Do not postpone anything if, God forbid, you ever find yourself in this situation.

Headaches That Aren’t Benign

Headaches, just like some other symptoms, are nothing scary, and are generally temporary, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t those that don’t require medical help and that are even life-threatening. 

If you conclude that the headache you have is one of the worst headaches you’ve had in your life, then this could be a sign that you are dealing with a stroke or an aneurysm. Of course, it could also be the sign that you’ve “encountered” a migraine, but it’s still advisable to talk to the doctor, and do not put your health at risk.

Speaking of headaches, some aren’t as painful, but are still quite dangerous and should be assessed. If you notice one of these symptoms, then you must urgently talk to the healthcare provider:

  • Headaches that are coupled with vomiting and/or a stiff neck
  • Aside from the headache, you experience problems with vision, dizziness, and slurred speech
  • Headaches that appear after a head trauma
  • Headaches that may not be as painful, but still feel pretty unusual, and you haven’t had them so far. Plus, if you took a medicine to alleviate the pain and it still didn’t help, then, yes, this could be a reason for concern

Problems With Breathing

Shortness of breath can be caused by anxiety and panic attacks; however, if it lasts for longer than a couple of minutes and generally doesn’t get better, then it’s highly unlikely you are dealing with any of these two.

Bear in mind that breathing should never feel unnatural, and if you find it difficult to breathe, then it’s probably a sign that it’s time to immediately do something about it. If you notice any of these red flags, go to the emergency room right away:

  1. You cannot get enough air, regardless of what you do
  2. It appears suddenly and escalates fast
  3. You are gasping or wheezing

All of the abovementioned symptoms could potentially be a sign of heart-related issues, asthma, blood clots, and other serious health problems.

At times, it can be difficult to tell the difference between something serious and something that isn’t. And that’s exactly why this guide is here: to show you the signs that should never be taken lightly.

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