Flu, cold, sore throat, cough, fever
You’re sick, but is it a trip-to-the-ER type of sick? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges patients with these kinds of symptoms to visit their primary care physicians. But if you can’t get in right away or your doctor isn’t available, emergency rooms are an option. So how do you know when to go and when you can wait a little longer? Here are six signs that suggest emergency room care might be needed
Many symptoms are reasons enough to go straight to an emergency room. But before you schedule a visit, it’s important that you know whether you’re dealing with an urgent situation or a non-urgent one. Any time your health is affecting your ability to function normally, go see a doctor. In most cases that includes issues like chest pain and heavy bleeding from wounds or otherwise unexplained symptoms. Here are six situations in which even if you think nothing is seriously wrong—and especially if you can’t get an appointment for tomorrow—it’s probably better for you (and everyone else) if you head straight for ER instead
Tylenol, ibuprofen, Motrin and Advil are among over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can relieve mild symptoms of many common illnesses. In most cases, you won’t need a prescription for them or anything stronger. Take plenty of water with OTC drugs to help keep your body from becoming dehydrated. It’s best not to take any of these medicines if you have a fever higher than 103°F, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea; you could have an infection that needs immediate attention from a health care professional. If you think your symptoms are getting worse instead of better or if they last longer than three days in adults or five days in children younger than 12 years old, call your doctor immediately.
