ER or not? The list I want every woman to know
My mother always put herself last. Women in my ER often wait longer than men to come in, and their heart attack symptoms are more likely to be dismissed, sometimes by themselves. Do not wait.
Call 911. Do not drive yourself.
- Chest pain, pressure or squeezing, or these heart attack signs that are more common in women: shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, or pain in the jaw, neck, back or arm.
- Stroke signs, BE FAST: Balance loss, Eyes (sudden vision loss), Face drooping, Arm or leg weakness, Speech trouble, Time to call 911.
- The worst headache of your life, or one that hits like a thunderclap
- Trouble breathing, coughing up blood, or lips turning blue
- Fainting, or a racing heartbeat with dizziness
- Thoughts of suicide with a plan: call 911, or call or text 988
Pregnant, or had a baby in the last year? Call 911 for:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding, or bleeding with severe belly or shoulder pain (early pregnancy can mean an ectopic pregnancy)
- A severe headache that will not go away, vision changes, or sudden swelling of the face and hands (signs of preeclampsia, which can happen even after birth)
- Chest pain or trouble breathing
- A seizure, or fainting
- Your baby moving less or not at all
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Not an emergency but struggling? The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, 24/7, in English and Spanish: call or text 1-833-852-6262.
Go to the ER today
- Pregnant or had a baby in the last year, with a fever of 100.4°F or higher
- Severe belly or pelvic pain, especially with fever or vomiting
- A positive pregnancy test with pain or bleeding
- A painful, swollen calf, especially if you are pregnant, just had a baby, or take birth control with estrogen
- Urinary symptoms with fever, back pain or vomiting
- A head injury on a blood thinner
- High fever with confusion or a stiff neck
Urgent care or your doctor can usually handle
- Sprains and simple cuts
- Colds, sore throat, ear pain, mild flu symptoms
- Bladder infection symptoms without fever or back pain
- Rashes without fever or facial swelling
Sources: CDC Hear Her urgent maternal warning signs; American Heart Association, Go Red for Women. Education only, not medical advice.
Be ready before you need it
Set these up on a calm day. The medical ID takes five minutes, and it speaks for you when you cannot.
Lock-screen medical ID
Free. Your allergies, medicines and emergency contact on your phone's lock screen, so a paramedic can read them if you cannot talk.
Make my free medical IDER wait times near you
Typical ER visit times for hospitals near your ZIP code, from public Medicare data.
Check by ZIP codeFind a micro hospital
Addresses and phone numbers for micro hospitals near your ZIP code.
Find one near meER, freestanding ER or urgent care?
Where to go for what, what each one costs, and your rights on a surprise bill.
Help me chooseStayed overnight but not admitted?
What "observation status" means for your bill and Medicare.
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Build a safe promptFree tools from DR GPT™ Labs by Harvey Castro, MD, MBA. Education only, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.