Blog Post

A fall, cut, bruise, or other accidental injury may need medical attention, but not every problem requires a doctor. 

With over 155 million people going to the emergency room in the past year alone, you need a clear understanding of the kinds of injuries and illnesses that require immediate care to preserve good health.

This means knowing which symptoms of conditions are minor to moderate issues that may need medical assistance and which are indications of something severe enough to necessitate the emergency room. 

Our experienced medical providers at Houston Medical ER in Houston and Spring, Texas, are here to help you with a range of needs, including minor, moderate, and emergency health problems.

Urgent medical conditions

Some examples of serious medical issues that require urgent care include:

Severe injuries

Trauma from accidents that result in broken bones, major wounds, or severe bleeding needs immediate assistance.

Strokes

Strokes comprise the second highest cause of death globally and fifth in the United States. The obstructions in your blood vessels that keep blood from reaching your brain or dealing with bleeding in the brain can result in dangerous consequences.

Seizures

Seizures — abnormal electrical activity in the brain that leads to awareness changes and problems with muscle control — can be the result of epilepsy, abnormal blood sugar levels, high fever, sleep deprivation, substance abuse or withdrawal, and stress.

Severe allergic reactions

When allergies are bad enough to affect your ability to breathe, they can lead to severe asthma or anaphylaxis, which can cause swallowing problems, swelling, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Poisoning

Ingestion of, or exposure to, toxic substances from your environment, including household products, plant and animal materials, medications, and carbon monoxide, requires emergency care.

Heart attacks

This is the common term for one of two types of myocardial infarction, when your heart doesn’t receive enough oxygenated blood, often stemming from an artery blockage.

Sepsis

Sepsis is an overreaction to an infection by your immune system that damages healthy tissue. This is especially dangerous if it causes septic shock, and it can be fatal.

Symptoms to look for

With so many possible emergencies to look out for, be aware of the following signs to determine if an ER trip is necessary:

• Chest pain
• Slurred speech, along with drooping on one side of the face
• Sudden numbness or weakness
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing problems
• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Excessive vomiting
• Severe wounds, bleeding, or broken bones with deformation

To manage your ER issues, we have a state-of-the-art facility with on-site labs, medical imaging, and a range of treatment options to manage your medical needs. Don’t take chances with these medical issues; contact us at Houston Medical ER as soon as possible to get help.