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Are your Symptoms an Emergency? Read before posting!
In response to a few very concerning posts I have seen I wanted to write something that hopefully folks will see before they leave their lives in the hands of the internet!
1. If you are experiencing ANY new and acute symptoms that lead you here you need to get off MedHelp and go to the emergency room!
- "New" means you have never felt this sensation before
- "Acute" means this sensation started just recently (i.e. within 48 hours)
If BOTH of these things are true, you need a prompt Emergency medical evaluation!
2. Chest Pain that meets any of this criteria:
- It comes and goes/ "Waxes and Wanes", at intervals of 5 Minutes - 2 hours
- Comes from the Middle of your Chest, the left pectoral, left ribcage, left jaw/neck or left arm.
***Especially if your pain travels from one location to another.
*** Especially if your arm pain is more severe on the same side of your arm as your triceps and your pinky finger.
- Your pain is difficult to localize/pinpoint and is described as 'dull', 'aching', 'constricting' or 'crushing'.
- Your pain does not get better or worse with anything you do. With the exception of physical activity or exertion (which may make it worse).
- Your pain makes it feel difficult to breath. However, breathing does NOT necessarily make your pain worse. E.G. It feels like someone is 'sitting on your chest'
3. Sudden Onset shortness of Breath at rest.
4. Nausea or 'Upset Stomach" with a feeling of extreme fatigue/exhaustion.
- Especially if you are female.
5. Sudden Numbness in any of the areas described for 'Chest Pain'
- Especially if it 'comes and goes"
6. Sudden unexplained sweating or pale skin
-Especially when combined with any of the above symptoms.
7. Any incident involving fainting, sudden fatigue or near fainting, when a cardiac origin is suspected. E.G with Palpitations
8. Any of the above symptoms that occur in individuals who are at risk:
-Over 40
-Obese/poor diet
-Smokers
-Family history of Heart Disease
-Personal history of Heart Disease
9. Overwhelming sense of "Impending Doom" in any individual not otherwise prone to anxiety attacks or other mental health issue.
10. Cardiac symptoms or fainting that occur at peak exercise (not cooldown or recovery).
This list is NOT by any means comprehensive! As a rule of thumb seeking real life medical advice is superior to anything you can get here!
***HOWEVER*** I am hoping this post may at least prevent anyone from dropping dead in their living room waiting for a response on the internet that may not come for several days!
Don't drop dead in your living room, just go see a doctor! It's not worth gambling your life on! Healthcare is expensive, but your value as a human being is superior to that!
Lastly;
1. NEVER drive yourself to the ED. If you can reach out to someone who can PROMPTLY (wothin 5 or 10 minutes) drive you, then have them do it. Otherwise dial 911.
- When making transportation decisions always place priority on the method which will get you to the ED in the smallest amount of time.
2. Make a record of your symptoms, be aware of the precise time they started.
3. If you are able to do so (do not have contraindications such as an allergy or a drug interaction) immediately take 324 MG of chewable Aspirin.
4. Immediately tell ER staff if you are Diabetic or have any knwon disease of your kidneys. Take your insulin packaging with you to the emergency room.
5. If you have a known history and are prescribed Nitroglycerin, self administer it. If your pain improves take note.
6. Do not take any other medications. Take note of any medications you are due to take that day prior to boarding the ambulance and immediately make the staff aware.
1. If you are experiencing ANY new and acute symptoms that lead you here you need to get off MedHelp and go to the emergency room!
- "New" means you have never felt this sensation before
- "Acute" means this sensation started just recently (i.e. within 48 hours)
If BOTH of these things are true, you need a prompt Emergency medical evaluation!
2. Chest Pain that meets any of this criteria:
- It comes and goes/ "Waxes and Wanes", at intervals of 5 Minutes - 2 hours
- Comes from the Middle of your Chest, the left pectoral, left ribcage, left jaw/neck or left arm.
***Especially if your pain travels from one location to another.
*** Especially if your arm pain is more severe on the same side of your arm as your triceps and your pinky finger.
- Your pain is difficult to localize/pinpoint and is described as 'dull', 'aching', 'constricting' or 'crushing'.
- Your pain does not get better or worse with anything you do. With the exception of physical activity or exertion (which may make it worse).
- Your pain makes it feel difficult to breath. However, breathing does NOT necessarily make your pain worse. E.G. It feels like someone is 'sitting on your chest'
3. Sudden Onset shortness of Breath at rest.
4. Nausea or 'Upset Stomach" with a feeling of extreme fatigue/exhaustion.
- Especially if you are female.
5. Sudden Numbness in any of the areas described for 'Chest Pain'
- Especially if it 'comes and goes"
6. Sudden unexplained sweating or pale skin
-Especially when combined with any of the above symptoms.
7. Any incident involving fainting, sudden fatigue or near fainting, when a cardiac origin is suspected. E.G with Palpitations
8. Any of the above symptoms that occur in individuals who are at risk:
-Over 40
-Obese/poor diet
-Smokers
-Family history of Heart Disease
-Personal history of Heart Disease
9. Overwhelming sense of "Impending Doom" in any individual not otherwise prone to anxiety attacks or other mental health issue.
10. Cardiac symptoms or fainting that occur at peak exercise (not cooldown or recovery).
This list is NOT by any means comprehensive! As a rule of thumb seeking real life medical advice is superior to anything you can get here!
***HOWEVER*** I am hoping this post may at least prevent anyone from dropping dead in their living room waiting for a response on the internet that may not come for several days!
Don't drop dead in your living room, just go see a doctor! It's not worth gambling your life on! Healthcare is expensive, but your value as a human being is superior to that!
Lastly;
1. NEVER drive yourself to the ED. If you can reach out to someone who can PROMPTLY (wothin 5 or 10 minutes) drive you, then have them do it. Otherwise dial 911.
- When making transportation decisions always place priority on the method which will get you to the ED in the smallest amount of time.
2. Make a record of your symptoms, be aware of the precise time they started.
3. If you are able to do so (do not have contraindications such as an allergy or a drug interaction) immediately take 324 MG of chewable Aspirin.
4. Immediately tell ER staff if you are Diabetic or have any knwon disease of your kidneys. Take your insulin packaging with you to the emergency room.
5. If you have a known history and are prescribed Nitroglycerin, self administer it. If your pain improves take note.
6. Do not take any other medications. Take note of any medications you are due to take that day prior to boarding the ambulance and immediately make the staff aware.
Great post! I would just like to add one more thing: WOMEN often times feel this pain in their back between their shoulder blades.
1 Comments
Bumping this
As for chewable aspirin:
If you are one of the high risk individuals I described you should have chewable aspirin in your home, and probably in the car (somewhere out of direct sunlight).
They are cheap, and available otc at just about any pharmacy. It should be a critical component of your basic household first aid and hygiene type of products.
Every year 580,000 Americans experience their first heart attack.
The overwhelming majority are over the age of 40.
Roughly 25% of Americans are over 40.
That means every year you have almost a 1% chance of experiencing your first heart attack!
To put this into perspective, this is the same probability that you face to be involved in a car accident every year. Would you feel comfortable in a car without seatbelts or airbags? If not, buy chewable aspirin!
Your time to get treated after a heart attack is 6 hours. Your symptoms will likely not cause you concern until 2 hours in. That leaves you 4 hours to be treated and recovering in a hospital bed!
If you are one of the high risk individuals I described you should have chewable aspirin in your home, and probably in the car (somewhere out of direct sunlight).
They are cheap, and available otc at just about any pharmacy. It should be a critical component of your basic household first aid and hygiene type of products.
Every year 580,000 Americans experience their first heart attack.
The overwhelming majority are over the age of 40.
Roughly 25% of Americans are over 40.
That means every year you have almost a 1% chance of experiencing your first heart attack!
To put this into perspective, this is the same probability that you face to be involved in a car accident every year. Would you feel comfortable in a car without seatbelts or airbags? If not, buy chewable aspirin!
Your time to get treated after a heart attack is 6 hours. Your symptoms will likely not cause you concern until 2 hours in. That leaves you 4 hours to be treated and recovering in a hospital bed!
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