10 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Most symptoms are not emergencies. But a small number are time-critical, meaning the difference between acting now and acting tomorrow is the difference between a good outcome and a bad one. These are the ones worth memorizing.
1. Chest pain or pressure
Especially with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, or back. Do not drive yourself. Call 911. See our guide to chest pain.
2. Sudden weakness or numbness on one side
Particularly in the face, arm, or leg. Combined with slurred speech or confusion, this suggests a stroke, where treatment is measured in minutes.
3. Sudden severe headache
A headache that arrives instantly and is the worst you have experienced needs emergency assessment, especially with a stiff neck, fever, or vision changes.
4. Difficulty breathing
Breathlessness at rest, gasping for air, or blue-tinged lips require immediate care. See our guide to shortness of breath.
5. Sudden vision loss
Loss of vision in one or both eyes, a curtain across your field of view, or a sudden burst of floaters and flashes. See our guide to blurred vision.
6. Coughing up or vomiting blood
Including vomit that resembles coffee grounds, which indicates digested blood.
7. Black or bloody stools
Black tarry stools suggest bleeding higher in the digestive tract and should never be attributed to diet without evaluation.
8. Sudden severe abdominal pain
Particularly with a rigid abdomen, fever, or persistent vomiting. See our guide to abdominal pain.
9. A first seizure
Any first-time seizure, or a seizure lasting more than five minutes, requires emergency care.
10. Thoughts of harming yourself
This is a medical emergency and treatable. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Symptoms that are not emergencies but should not be ignored
These do not require an emergency room, but they do warrant an appointment rather than indefinite waiting.
- Unexplained weight loss
- A mole that changes size, shape, or color
- A cough lasting more than eight weeks
- Persistent low mood lasting more than two weeks
- Any symptom that steadily worsens over weeks
When in doubt
If you are debating whether something is an emergency, that hesitation is itself a reason to seek care. Emergency departments would far rather assess a false alarm than miss a real one.
Related reading
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine (medlineplus.gov)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
- Relevant national medical specialty association guidance