Chest Pains : Reasons to Visit an Emergency Room over an Urgent Care
Chest pains can be scary, and in some cases, they indicate something serious that requires prompt medical attention. However, the majority of people who go to the emergency room with chest pains end up being admitted to the hospital, not because their condition is life-threatening but because their pain was misdiagnosed. Urgent care centers are more likely to give you an accurate diagnosis, so if you have chest pains and aren’t sure if it’s serious or not, visit an urgent care clinic before heading to the emergency room.
Chest pains can be caused by heart issues.
The most common cause of chest pain is angina, which is caused by blocked arteries. Typically, it’s not serious and doesn’t require an emergency room visit—but it can be. Some patients may be able to treat angina at home with rest and aspirin, while others need their heart condition monitored by doctors in an outpatient setting or can only have relief after undergoing surgery. By visiting an ER instead of an urgent care, you’ll get quicker access to advanced diagnostic testing and medical interventions if needed. Also, it’s important that you’re taking any medication prescribed by your doctor for your condition; failure to do so could put you at risk for further complications.
Monitors will keep watch on your vitals: When you seek treatment at an ER rather than urgent care, monitors are placed on you almost immediately because they know how life-threatening a case of cardiac arrest can be. A trained physician will take charge and monitor your vital signs until medicine administered through IV lines provide necessary stabilization. Your symptoms will be closely evaluated too: If it turns out that your symptoms aren’t life-threatening but still causing discomfort, treatments might include blood thinners or medications like nitroglycerin tablets to relieve pressure in blood vessels. You’ll also receive special attention from nursing staff who are trained in administering these medications properly until you feel better.
