At times, it can be difficult to know whether your symptoms are a medical emergency or not. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, these 12 symptoms require immediate medical attention. These do not represent every medical emergency.

Emergency symptoms

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Chest pain or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting 2 minutes or more
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Changes in vision
• Difficulty speaking
• Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior, difficulty walking
• Any sudden or severe pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or continued vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings
• Unusual abdominal pain

More emergency symptoms

Additional symptoms or conditions requiring emergency care include:

• Poisoning
• Drug overdose
• Loss of consciousness
• Major burn
• Spinal, head, or brain injury
• Severe allergic reaction

Symptoms to report

Other medical symptoms that may not require emergent treatment still need to be seen by your healthcare provider. The following are examples of some of these symptoms.

Blood in the urine

Although it may indicate a simple bladder infection, this symptom could also mean something more serious like a kidney stone or even a malignancy. To find out what’s going on, your healthcare provider may order a series of tests. These could include urinalysis and blood tests, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Urinalysis examines the urine for red blood cells, as well as white blood cells. These are signs of a urinary tract infection. Casts may also be found. They are clumps of cells that are signs of kidney disease. Other tests like X-rays, ultrasounds, or even cystoscopic exams may be necessary. A cystoscopic exam involves looking inside the bladder with a very small tube.

Rectal bleeding

Blood in the stool could be from hemorrhoids, or it could be caused by an active ulcer or colon cancer. Bright-red blood may indicate active bleeding. If there’s a lot of blood, it could be life-threatening. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If the amount of blood is small, you can usually be evaluated in the healthcare provider’s office, but call your healthcare provider right away for advice. Simple tests can discover the presence of blood in the stool and estimate how much you’re losing. If tests confirm bleeding, an upper endoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy will let the healthcare provider see what’s going on.

Unusual sores, lumps or lesions

These symptoms usually are benign, but you should have them checked by a healthcare provider. If you live in a sunny climate or if you spend a lot of time outside, you should be especially suspicious of all kinds of skin lesions. These may be signs of skin cancer. Look for sores that always seem to be irritated or moles that change size, have irregular shapes, or change color.

Sarah Bush Lincoln offers two Walk-In clinics for those times when you cannot see your own medical provider. Located in Mattoon and Charleston, the clinics offer extended hours in the eveing and weekends. For more information on the Walk-In Clinics, click here.

Sarah Bush Lincoln also offers 24/7 emergency care. For more information on the Emergency Department, click here.