With some medical problems, you can simply see your family doctor. If you are facing a serious medical emergency, such as an allergic reaction, you will need to go to the emergency room. However, if you are suffering severe symptoms, but aren't sure if they constitute an emergency, you may be wondering if you should seek out an emergency room or an urgent care center. However, learning more about certain symptoms will help you make that distinction. Not only will this get you the treatment that you need, but it can possibly save you money since urgent care tends to be less expensive.
Sprains and Broken Bones that Haven't Ruptured the Skin
If you have a minor broken bone or a sprained ankle, you can get the help you need at urgent care, like Harrison Medical Center. While your limb is likely to not fall off any time soon, prompt medical attention will ensure that you recover more quickly.
A Fever
When you have a fever or some other illness that does not involve a rash, severe weakness, dehydration, or another serious symptom, you will want to go to urgent care. While it is possible to treat something like the flu at home, recent outbreaks of serious illnesses like Ebola and the measles mean that it is better to be safe than sorry. If your fever doesn't improve, the urgent care unit will move you to emergency care.
Painful Urination
If you notice that you have painful urination, you will need to go to urgent care. Painful urination is often a result of a urinary tract infection and you will need to have it treated promptly.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Major digestive problems, such as vomiting or chronic diarrhea, require that you go to urgent care. While occasional vomiting or diarrhea is normal, you need help if cannot keep anything down and if none of your stools are improving.
Asthma
When you are suffering from a mild breathing problems and you have no prescribed method to treat an asthma attack, you should go to urgent care. You will need prompt treatment and your family doctor may need to send you to a specialist after you receive an initial treatment.
Bleeding that Requires Stitches
If you are bleeding enough to require stitches, you will need urgent care. This is often necessary when you have experienced a scalp injury. This is also necessary if you have persistent bleeding that will not stop.
Go to an emergency room if you have the following symptoms:
Seizures
Poisoning
Severe injuries
Broken bones that have ruptured the skin
Difficulty breathing or a severe asthma attack
Moderate to severe burns
Knowing the difference between an emergency and an urgent medical condition can ensure that you do not allow a serious condition to go on for too long.
Share16 February 2015
When was the last time you went to an optometrist? If you are like most people, you only go when your glasses break or you run out of contact lenses. Very few people actually follow the guidelines of having their eyes checked each year. Not sure why it is necessary to visit your optometrist each year? You can learn all about the different exams and tests that your optometrist runs and why they are done. Knowing what can go wrong with your eyes and what can be done if the ailments are detected early could help to encourage you to get to the optometrist more often.
