Symptoms Not To Ignore

While sore throats, earaches, and minor cough and cold symptoms can often wait until morning, some symptoms demand immediate medical attention, including loss of consciousness, uncontrollable bleeding, and signs of heart attack or stroke.

When certain health conditions, including heart attack and stroke, are left untreated, the risk of permanent disability or death increases by the minute. For example, according to the National Stroke Association, for every minute a stroke goes untreated, nearly 2 million brain cells die. If you experience the following symptoms, seek emergency care immediately.

Heart Attacks and Strokes

Women's heart attack and stroke symptoms, for example, can often differ from those experienced by men.

Stroke symptoms can include severe headache, disorientation, difficulty walking or speaking, and weakness or numbness on one side of the body. According to the National Stroke Association, women's stroke symptoms may include chest pain, heart palpitations, nausea, and shortness of breath.

And while you're probably familiar with the telltale symptoms of heart attack—such as chest pain, shortness of breath and upper-body discomfort—symptoms of this life-threatening emergency can also differ when it comes to women. Fatigue and nausea are their common heart attack symptoms.

Other symptoms include:

Heart Attack

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Extreme fatigue
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in the abdomen, neck, shoulder or arms
• Shortness of breath

Stroke

• Difficulty walking or speaking
• Disorientation
• Sudden, severe headache
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body

Head Injuries

If the death of beloved TV dad Bob Saget taught us anything in 2022, it was how serious a fall or trauma to the head could be. Just because an injury isn't bleeding doesn't mean you can just "walk it off." A bump to the head can cause skull fractures, internal bleeding or put pressure on the brain.

In 2018, 220,000 people suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Leana Wen, an ER doctor and professor at George Washington University, says more than 61,000 Americans die from TBIs annually—a lot of which are due to falls. Head injuries — especially those accompanied by loss of consciousness, vomiting, severe headache or deep wounds— require a visit to the ER. Even if the injury isn't fatal, long-term, untreated head trauma can lead to issues like concentration trouble and blurry vision.

Although these symptoms are commonly associated with medical emergencies, you know your body best. You should always feel comfortable seeking emergency medical care whenever you experience unusual or concerning symptoms. This will put your mind at ease and ensure you have quick access to potentially lifesaving medical care if needed. Identifying the signs of a medical emergency is the first step toward lifesaving care.

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