We’ve all had aches and pains and question whether or not it merits a trip to the emergency room.
Dr. Brian Delligatti, an emergency room physician at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, answers some of our questions about what qualifies as a good reason to head to the emergency room.
Dr. Delligatti says if you have chest pressure and the pain feels a little different than your typical indigestion or you feel it in another part of your body, it might be time to go to the ER.
He also says if a child has fallen, and has a head injury, signs to look for could be vomiting, behaving bizarrely, or a large contusion on their scalp, they may need to be evaluated.
If you cut yourself, and it is deep and doesn’t stop bleeding, heading to the ER may be best so they can suture the cut.
If you are pregnant, it’s best to play it safe if you get injured. If you have symptoms such as bleeding, dizziness, or abdominal pain, a trip to the ER to be sure things with you and your baby are okay is best.
Stroke and heart attack symptoms are good reasons to head to the emergency room as well.
Dr. Delligatti says in general most emergency visits are appropriate and patients are good judges of their own bodies and know when something is wrong.
