Medical Emergencies vs. Non-Emergencies

Making sure your health is in top form is crucial, but sometimes being able to tell the difference between a medical emergency and non-emergency can be difficult, and this can be due to a number of reasons. A patient may not want to present to their nearest emergency room or doctor’s office out of fear that their health concerns aren’t valid or considered serious enough to seek immediate attention. Another reason may be that patients simply aren’t familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of certain conditions. Heart attacks, for example. While the classic symptoms of a heart attack include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and pain in one side of the body (usually an arm and/or leg), not all heart attacks are the same, therefore the symptoms that one patient experiences might be completely different to the symptoms that another patient would develop. Still, even if you do not have “classic” symptoms of this or other medical conditions, it’s much better to get yourself checked out by a healthcare professional. As they say, better safe than sorry.

The first step Dr. Ali Ghahary recommends when dealing with any kind of medical crisis or health concern is to stay as calm as possible. Panic and anxiety can often exacerbate certain conditions and symptoms. It’s also not a good idea to Google your medical conditions or symptoms. While the internet certainly holds a plethora of great information, not everything you read is always accurate. You’re much better off speaking directly to a physician or pharmacist rather than making a self-diagnosis online. It’s also a good idea to be aware of what situations might call for emergency intervention, and which do not.

The following is a list of NON-EMERGENCY medical situations:

• Minor burns or lacerations
• Earaches or ear infections
• Pink eye
• Sore throats
• Colds and coughs
• Rashes (unless it’s the result of a medication allergy)
• Gastrointestinal problems (i.e. acid reflux, upset stomach)
• Seasonal allergies

The majority of these conditions are not considered medical emergencies. If you are experiencing anything listed above, it’s recommended that you book an appointment with your family doctor at your convenience or go to a local walk-in clinic – like Brentwood Medical Clinic in Burnaby, where Dr. Ali Ghahary can see patients on a walk-in basis.

The following is a list of EMERGENCY medical situations:

• High-grade fever
• Large lacerations or skin wounds with excessive, non-stop bleeding
• Severe burns
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bone breaks
• Sudden body numbness/tingling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Blue-ish tinge to the lips, skin or fingernails
• Vomiting and/or coughing of blood
• Persisting, severe diarrhea
• Sudden visual changes (such as blurred vision) and/or eye pain
• Venomous infect bites/stings
• Sudden mood changes and/or suicidal thoughts/behaviour

In some instances, patients may be able to take themselves or have a friend/family member drive them to their local emergency room or doctor’s office. However, in other instances, these situations may be more severe and require the attendance of paramedics by calling 911.