When is it serious enough to go to A&E?

Question

If i was having chest pains. Should i call an ambulance, even though its not constant and i am not dying on the floor?

Or if i have a pain in my stomach? IF I DO CALL AN AMBULANCE, and the pains stop when they arrive and i look all fine and dandy, what then?

I have this in my head that its ONLY serious enough when you ARE dying on the floor. Then its justifiable to get the emergency services out.

Am i right or way way wrong?

Answer 1

See a doctor

Answer 2

I think it's better to be safe then sorry.

If you were my twin sister or something then i would probably make you call and ambulance or drive you down to the hospital.

My aunt used to have slight pains in her legs. She ignored it because it wasn't acute, but she ended up having a blood clot. She had a heart attack because the clot had broken off and moved into her coronary artery. She died.

So get it checked out. If not at a hospital then at a drop in center of doctor's surgery.

Hope you feel better xx

Answer 3

You are WAY wrong.

Chest pain that can not be explained is assumed to be cardiac related until proved otherwise.  You have only ONE heart.

As a critical care paramedic (15 years), I would STRONGLY recommend calling EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and going to the ER.

Waiting can only cause more damage to the heart and going by car delays your treatment.  Once an EMS unit arrives treatment begins immediately!  The diagnosis of your chest pain also begins right away.

I've arrived to a patient with chest pain that went away and the ECG showed the patient was having a heart attack.  The field ECG also showed where the damage to the heart was.  Damage to the heart was minimized due to early treatment with proper medications and oxygen.  Chest pain was resolved quickly too!  After a visit to the cath lab the patient was released the next day and is doing fine.

As a paramedic I would rather help someone who has a good chance of surviving.  That really makes my day!  If a patient waits and has so much damage they don't survive we both have a bad day!

By the way....if you smoke, are over weight, a diabetic or have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke, please see your doctor about changing your habits and managing your blood sugar levels.  Most of the folks I end up resuscitating ARE smokers and are over weight.  Diabetics are also at greater risk for heart disease and stroke.



If you have high blood pressure (and the only way to know is to see your doctor), please follow you doctor's recommendations to control it.  Over time the high pressure plays havoc with your cardiovascular system and you WILL have a stroke or heart attack.  Don't stop taking your medications either!

Hope this answers your question.

Let me ask you a question.  If you don't call for help when you are having chest pain and die because you didn't, won't you feel really silly?

Heart disease is still the number one killer of Americans.  You don't have to be one of them.

Answer 4

I think you should just make an appointment for the doctor's, if it isn't very serious....and you don't feel like you're going to die soon...

Answer 5

Go to the doctor!