Some emergencies are obvious. Others aren’t.
Maybe your chest feels strange, but you’re not sure you’d call it “pain.” Your child has a fever but is still talking and drinking. You hit your head earlier and felt fine, but now you have a headache. Or your stomach has been hurting for hours and you’re starting to wonder whether waiting it out is still a good idea.
When something doesn’t feel right, it can be hard to know when symptoms have crossed the line from keep an eye on it to I need medical attention now.
Here are 25 questions people commonly ask when deciding whether it’s time to go to the emergency room.
1. Should I go to the ER for chest pain if I think it might be anxiety?
Yes, new, unexplained or severe chest pain should be taken seriously, even if you think anxiety may be causing it. Heart problems can cause pressure, squeezing, tightness, burning or discomfort rather than dramatic pain.
Chest discomfort accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck or jaw requires immediate medical attention.
2. When is a headache bad enough to go to the ER?
A headache that comes on suddenly and is extremely severe needs immediate evaluation. You should also seek emergency care for a headache accompanied by confusion, fainting, weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, vision changes, high fever, a stiff neck or persistent vomiting.
A significant headache following a head injury should also be evaluated.
3. Should I go to the ER if my blood pressure is really high?
A very high blood pressure reading can be an emergency when it occurs with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion, weakness, vision changes or difficulty speaking.
If you get an unusually high reading without symptoms, sit quietly and repeat the measurement correctly. If it remains extremely high, contact a healthcare professional promptly for guidance.
The American Heart Association recommends calling 911 when blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and is accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, vision changes or difficulty speaking.
4. When is stomach pain an emergency?
Abdominal pain deserves emergency evaluation when it is sudden, severe, worsening or accompanied by symptoms such as repeated vomiting, fever, a rigid or swollen abdomen, fainting, blood in vomit or stool, or an inability to keep fluids down.
The location of the pain matters too. Severe abdominal pain can have many causes, and determining what’s happening may require bloodwork and imaging.
5. Should I go to the ER if I can’t stop vomiting?
Vomiting becomes more concerning when you cannot keep fluids down, it continues for hours, or you begin showing signs of dehydration.
Seek emergency care for vomiting accompanied by severe abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, blood in the vomit, severe headache or other significant symptoms.
6. How do I know if I’m dehydrated enough to need the ER?
Severe dehydration can cause extreme thirst, very little or no urination, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion, weakness or fainting.
Young children and older adults can become dehydrated more quickly. If someone cannot keep fluids down or appears significantly weak, lethargic or confused, emergency evaluation may be appropriate.
7. Should I go to the ER for dizziness?
Brief dizziness can happen for many reasons, but sudden or severe dizziness can sometimes signal a more serious problem.
Go to the ER if dizziness occurs with difficulty walking, weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, severe headache, chest pain, fainting, vision changes or persistent vomiting.
8. Is numbness or tingling a reason to go to the ER?
Sudden numbness or weakness, particularly on one side of the body, can be a sign of stroke and requires immediate medical attention.
Numbness accompanied by trouble speaking, facial drooping, confusion, severe headache, dizziness or difficulty walking should never be ignored.
9. When is a fever high enough for the ER?
The number on the thermometer isn’t the only thing that matters. Age, symptoms and how sick the person appears are important.
A fever accompanied by difficulty breathing, confusion, seizures, severe headache, stiff neck, persistent vomiting, dehydration or unusual lethargy warrants prompt medical attention. Fever in a very young infant also requires urgent medical guidance.
10. Should I go to the ER after hitting my head if I didn’t pass out?
You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a significant head injury.
Seek emergency care after a head injury if you develop repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, unusual behavior, severe drowsiness, weakness, slurred speech, seizure, unequal pupils or difficulty walking. Anyone taking blood-thinning medication may need evaluation after a head injury even when symptoms initially seem mild.
MedlinePlus lists worsening headache, repeated vomiting, difficulty waking, slurred speech, weakness and increased confusion among the warning signs that require immediate medical attention after a head injury.
11. How do I know if a cut needs stitches?
A wound may need stitches or other closure if it is deep, gaping, continues bleeding despite firm pressure, or exposes deeper tissue.
Cuts involving the face, hands, joints or other functionally important areas may also benefit from prompt evaluation. Animal bites, human bites and heavily contaminated wounds have additional infection concerns.
12. Should I go to the ER after a fall if I can still walk?
Being able to walk doesn’t necessarily rule out a fracture or significant injury.
Severe pain, major swelling, obvious deformity, inability to use the injured area normally, numbness or worsening symptoms after a fall are reasons to seek medical evaluation. Falls involving the head, neck or back deserve particular attention.
13. When is back pain an emergency?
Most back pain isn’t an emergency, but certain symptoms change the picture.
Seek emergency care for severe back pain accompanied by new leg weakness, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, significant trauma, fever or sudden severe pain that feels very different from your usual back pain.
You don’t have to figure out what’s wrong before coming to the ER.
If something doesn’t feel right, come to Family First ER. Our emergency physicians can evaluate your symptoms and use on-site lab testing and imaging when needed to help determine what’s going on and get you the appropriate treatment.
14. Should I go to the ER if my heart is racing?
A fast heartbeat can occur with exercise, stress, dehydration, fever or anxiety. But a racing or irregular heartbeat that doesn’t settle down deserves attention, particularly when it begins unexpectedly.
Seek emergency care if it is accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe dizziness or weakness.
15. When is an allergic reaction serious enough for the ER?
Difficulty breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, swelling of the tongue or throat, faintness or a rapidly progressing allergic reaction can indicate anaphylaxis.
If epinephrine has been prescribed, use it as directed and call 911. Anaphylaxis can progress quickly and requires emergency medical care.
16. Should I go to the ER if I feel like I’m going to pass out?
Feeling faint can result from something relatively simple, but it can also occur with heart problems, blood loss, dehydration and other serious conditions.
Seek emergency care when near-fainting or fainting occurs with chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing or irregular heartbeat, severe headache, neurological symptoms, significant bleeding or an injury from the fall.
17. When is bleeding serious enough for emergency care?
Bleeding that is heavy, won’t stop with firm direct pressure or is associated with weakness, dizziness or fainting requires immediate attention.
Vomiting blood, coughing up significant blood, passing black or bloody stool, or experiencing substantial unexplained bleeding are also reasons to seek emergency care.
18. Should I take my child to the ER if they’re unusually sleepy?
Parents know what normal tired looks like for their child. A child who is unusually difficult to wake, confused, limp, not interacting normally or significantly less responsive needs prompt medical attention.
This is especially concerning when accompanied by fever, breathing difficulty, dehydration, a head injury, seizure or other sudden symptoms.
19. When does a burn need emergency treatment?
Large or deep burns and burns involving the face, hands, feet, major joints or genital area may require emergency treatment.
Electrical and chemical burns also need prompt evaluation. Call 911 for severe burns or if the person has difficulty breathing, signs of smoke inhalation or extensive injuries.
20. Should I go to the ER for sudden blurry vision?
Sudden vision loss, double vision or a significant unexplained change in vision should be evaluated urgently.
Vision changes accompanied by weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, severe headache or dizziness can be symptoms of a neurological emergency.
21. Is sudden weakness a reason to go to the ER?
Yes, particularly when weakness begins suddenly or affects one side of the body.
Sudden weakness can be a sign of stroke or another serious condition. If it occurs with facial drooping, difficulty speaking, confusion, vision changes, dizziness or loss of coordination, call 911.
According to the CDC, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, vision problems, dizziness or a sudden severe headache can be signs of stroke and require immediate medical attention.
22. When is shortness of breath an emergency?
Shortness of breath that is sudden, severe or makes it difficult to speak normally requires immediate attention.
It is especially concerning when accompanied by chest pain, blue or gray lips or skin, confusion, fainting, wheezing, swelling of the face or throat, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
23. Should I go to the ER if my symptoms suddenly get much worse?
A sudden change matters.
Even if you’ve already been sick for several days, a rapid worsening of symptoms can signal a complication or a new problem. New difficulty breathing, severe pain, confusion, fainting, weakness or inability to keep fluids down shouldn’t be dismissed simply because the original illness seemed minor.
24. What if I don’t know whether I need the ER or urgent care?
It isn’t always easy to know which level of care you need. Urgent care is generally intended for medical problems that need prompt treatment but aren’t potentially life-threatening.
The ER is equipped for serious or potentially serious conditions that may require immediate testing, monitoring, imaging, IV medications or other emergency treatment.
Not sure which is right for your symptoms?
Learn more about the difference between an emergency room and urgent care and when each may be appropriate.
25. What if nothing on this list fits, but I know something is wrong?
Not every emergency fits neatly into a checklist.
A sudden, severe or unexplained change in how you feel deserves attention. If your symptoms are significant, worsening quickly or making you genuinely concerned that something serious is happening, seeking medical evaluation is reasonable.
And if someone is unconscious, having severe difficulty breathing, showing signs of stroke, experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction or appears to be having another immediately life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Not sure if it’s an emergency?
If your symptoms are sudden, severe, getting worse or simply have you concerned, come to Family First ER. Our emergency physicians are available 24/7 to evaluate your symptoms, with on-site lab testing and imaging.
Emergency Care When You Need It
When you’re worried enough to ask, “Should I go to the ER?” you shouldn’t also have to worry about whether you’ll be able to get the testing or treatment you need.
Family First ER provides 24/7 emergency care with experienced emergency medical teams and on-site diagnostic capabilities, including laboratory testing and imaging. Our freestanding emergency rooms serve families in Baytown, Atascocita, Tomball and surrounding communities.
We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends and holidays.
No appointment is needed.