Emergency Urgent Care: When to Go to an ER: Difficulty Speaking or Slurred Speech
Under normal condition, speaking is something that comes like second nature, and unless you are in a situation where you are extremely nervous such as when making a speech in front of a big crowd, for those with issues with public speaking, then you shouldn’t have trouble with speech. However, just like any function in the body, speaking is controlled and made possible by a number of organs in the body which include the mouth, the vocal cords, the voice box also known as the larynx and the tongue; all of these working in conjunction with the brain and nervous system. All these body organs and body parts work together to help us speak. However, there are situations where you may be experiencing problems with the muscles of these body parts and organs, causing difficulty speaking or slurred speech. As per the subject matter experts over at the excellent frontlineer.com, this condition is referred to as dysarthria. If you are experiencing dysarthria or difficulty speaking, it may be as a result of problems or disorders with nerves, brain or muscles that aid in speaking. This may lead to the muscles weakening or even getting paralyzed completely or they may be finding it difficult to work together. There are a number of things that could cause difficulty speaking, some not so serious such as mild alcohol intoxication when one is drunk, and others very serious and life-threatening such as stroke. It is important to know when to go to an ER for the same and this article will look to help with that by highlighting the instance when you should go to an ER for difficulty speaking or slurred speech.
One of the main reasons to go to an ER for difficulty speaking or slurred speech is if you are experiencing such issues as well as signs and symptoms of stroke. A stroke occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or stopped. Obviously, if blood supply to the brain is cut off for more than a few seconds, then the brain cells in that particular area will be denied important nutrients and oxygen and will die. This will cause lasting damage and may even be fatal. This is why a stroke should always be taken very seriously. Signs to look out for as far as a stroke is concerned, if you are experiencing difficulty speaking or slurred speech include a headache, weakness in one side of the body such as drooping of one side of the face or if when one attempts to lift up both arms, one of them drops downwards, personality changes, loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, incontinence, changes in vision such as double vision, blurred vision or even complete loss of vision among others, all of which are discussed in detail over at the excellent frontlineer.com. If you are experiencing difficulty speaking or slurred speech accompanied by other signs that indicate that you could be having a stroke, you need to call 911 as soon as possible so that you can be taken to an ER. Time is of the essence as the more time you go without treatment, the more damage your brain cells suffer.
Another instance when you should go to an ER for difficulty speaking or slurred speech is if this situation develops after having suffered trauma to the head, face or neck. Such trauma may lead to injuries to the brain, the nerves that supply and serve the muscles of the parts and organs that help you talk or could even injure the muscles of the parts and organs that help you talk themselves. Injury to the brain or traumatic brain injuries, such as a concussion, which is the least severe of the traumatic brain injuries, among others should always be taken seriously. Some of the signs and symptoms to look out for as far as traumatic brain injuries are concerned include a headache, nausea and vomiting, changes with your vision such as blurred vision among others, dizziness, loss of balance and coordination and even loss of consciousness. If your difficulty speaking or slurred speech is as a result of injury to the brain, then you should go to an ER as soon as possible. If it is as a result of injuries to the nerves of the muscles that help you talk, you are likely to experience numbness and tingling sensations and you should head over to an ER, such as the excellent frontlineer.com as soon as possible to be attended to, with the same applying to instances where you may have injured the parts and organs that help you speak, where you may experience severe pain or bleeding or both.
Difficulty speaking or slurred speech may also be as a result of medications you may be taking. Your doctor may tell you to expect dysarthria to be a side effect of a particular medication they may have prescribed. In such a situation, unless the difficulty speaking or slurred speech is severe, then you shouldn’t worry too much about it. However, if you start to experience difficulty speaking or slurred speech suddenly after having begun taking certain medications, then as per the gurus over at frontlineer.com, you should go to an ER as soon as possible for emergency urgent care. Although difficulty speaking due to alcohol intoxication is nothing to worry about, if it is severe and accompanied by other signs of alcohol poisoning, then you should also have the affected person taken to an ER as soon as possible. Alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening if not treated as soon as possible and should always be taken seriously. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include seizures, slow or irregular breathing, skin turning blue or pale, low body temperature, loss of consciousness among others. Remember, alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency and should be treated as such by having the affected person taken to an ER as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this article will help you know when to go to an ER for difficulty speaking or slurred speech, allowing you to get the emergency urgent care you need so as to avoid any unwanted consequences. For more information on this topic as well as the best emergency services, make sure to check out the excellent frontlineer.com
