Emergency Symptoms
Heart attacks are not always sudden and intense. Many heart attacks start slowly with only mild pain or discomfort. Some people do not experience chest pain but instead have other signs. Signs of a heart attack include:
Chest discomfort
- Uncomfortable pressure, heaviness
- Squeezing, tightness
- Discomfort lasts more than two minutes, may come and go
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
- One or both arms
- BackNeck or jaw
- Stomach or abdomen
Other signs (with or without chest discomfort)
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Nausea, vomiting
- Light-headedness
- Extreme weakness/fatigue
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are at risk for heart disease or have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, heart disease kills 1 out of 4 women in the United States. For many women, a heart attack may present itself with symptoms that are easy to ignore instead of crushing chest pain.
The most common warning signals for a woman experiencing a heart attack may include:
- Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
- Chest discomfort with sweating
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the arm, neck, or jaw
- Shortness of breath, tiredness, or upset stomach
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue
When you're having a heart attack, every second counts. The longer the heart blockage remains untreated, the more heart muscle can die. Drugs that break down blockages must be administered in the first hours after a heart attack to be successful and minimize lasting damage.
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are at risk for heart disease or have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately.
Basic symptoms of heart attack include chest tightness or pressure and/or pain in the chest, neck, jaw, arms or back.
Men may experience other symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Unusual fatigue
- Cold sweat
- Dizziness
When you're having a heart attack, every second counts. The longer the heart blockage remains untreated, the more heart muscle can die. Drugs that break down blockages must be administered in the first hours after a heart attack to be successful and minimize lasting damage.
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are at risk for heart disease or have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately.
If not due to an injury, most pain should be addressed with your primary care or pain management physician.
Go to your nearest ER or call 911 if any of these conditions apply:
- Headache that comes on suddenly and is especially violent
- Headache following any type of head injury
- Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck and/or vomiting
- Headache accompanied by slurred speech, confusion, changes in vision or movement
- Back pain with difficulty urinating or controlling urine
- Back pain with blood in urine
- Back pain with loss of bowel control
- Leg pain if you've had recent surgery, or been on a long plane or car ride
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe abdominal pain
Common causes of sudden and severe pain include:
- Stroke - occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is stopped or reduced
- Heart Attack - typically severe pain in chest, back or arm, accompanied by sweating, chest pressure or difficulty breathing
- Blood Clots - can be the cause of severe leg pain; can be life-threatening
- Appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix; typically causes severe pain in right side of abdomen
- Kidney or Gall Stones - severe pain in the abdomen that can come on slowly and move around
- Herniated Disc or Pinched Nerve - typically a more chronic problem but can come on suddenly
- Migraine Headaches - pulsating headaches that can include nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity
- Muscle Sprains and Strains - sudden pain due to overuse or improper movement
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
Go to the nearest ER or call 9-1-1 if you have abdominal pain and experience:
- High fever
- Black or bloody stools
- Vomiting blood
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Dizziness or feeling you might pass out
- Pain that extends to your back
Stomach pain can be associated with any of the following conditions:
- Appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix; typically causes pain in lower right abdomen and worsens over time.
- Kidney stones or gallstones - severe pain can start on either side and move around
- Stomach flu - also known as gastroenteritis, a viral or bacterial infection causing irritation in the stomach lining
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - common disorder of the large intestine/colon, causing cramping, pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
- Bladder or urinary tract infection - bacterial infection anywhere in the urinary tract, pain can be sudden or increase over time
- Food poisoning - caused by eating contaminated food, symptoms typically include vomiting, diarrhea and high or sudden fever
- Menstrual cramps - can be very severe for some women, and can include vomiting, diarrhea and/or severe pain
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you have recently had abdominal or weight loss surgery, are pregnant and are experiencing any of the symptoms above, or are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Go to the nearest ER or call 9-1-1 if you experience:
- Chest pain or racing heart
- Change in vision
- Slurred or difficult speech
- Head injury
- Fever, headache or very stiff neck
- Weakness or inability to move an arm or leg
- Loss of consciousness
Feelings of dizziness, weakness or confusion can often be the result of conditions such as:
- Stroke - occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is stopped or reduced
- Seizures - changes in the brain's electrical activity
- Bleeding - inside the body or brain can cause weakness and dizziness
- Concussion - the most minor type of traumatic brain injury, can cause headache, dizziness and confusion
- Vertigo - feeling like the room is spinning, or that you yourself are moving or spinning while standing still
- Blood Pressure - sudden drops in blood pressure, due to getting up too quickly; typically only affects older adults
- Dehydration - when your body doesn't have enough water, due to vomiting, diarrhea, fever or other conditions
- Low Blood Sugar - also known as hypoglycemia; very low levels can cause serious mental confusion and other symptoms
- Inner Ear Problems
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and is often extremely painful. It’s most commonly seen in people from ages 10 to 30. It does require immediate care and can result in surgery which removes the appendix. If this isn’t treated quickly, the appendix can rupture and cause severe infection – which can be life threatening.
With appendicitis, the primary symptom is severe abdominal pain that comes on suddenly. Other characteristics of appendicitis pain include:
- Being primarily located near the belly button and shifting a bit lower and to the right
- Consistently getting worse over time
- Being easily exacerbated by movements or something as simple as a deep breath or cough
Pain is not always the only appendicitis symptom that may be present. Other indications that the pain may be appendix related can be:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Low-grade fever
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
Symptoms can vary from person to person, and abdominal pain can often mirror other illnesses, such as constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and other abdominal issues. If you believe that you or a family member or child is dealing with appendicitis, go as soon as possible to an emergency department to have a medical evaluation performed by a qualified provider.
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you have recently had abdominal or weight loss surgery, are pregnant and are experiencing any of the symptoms above, or are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
While not always heart-related, some causes of chest pain, such as a heart attack, can be life threatening.
Go to the nearest ER or call 9-1-1 if you have chest pain and experience:
- Sweating
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the neck, jaw, or one or both shoulders or arms
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fast or irregular pulse
- Signs of shock (severe weakness, inability to stand or walk)
Chest pain can be associated with any of the following conditions:
- Heart Attack - blockage in the coronary arteries; often accompanied by chest pressure, sweating and other symptoms
- Angina - caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) - the most common type of heart disease; can lead to a heart attack
- Blood clot or blockage
- Gallstones - often occurring soon after a meal or consuming fatty foods
- Heartburn or acid reflux - indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest, caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus
- Pneumonia - infection in the lung(s) can cause pain with breathing
- Muscle sprain or strain - most commonly in the muscles and tendons between the ribs, due to improper movement or overuse
- Panic attacks - usually accompanied by fast breathing and/or stress
This list is not inclusive of all possible medical emergencies. If you are at risk for heart disease or have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately.