When chest pain strikes at 3 AM or your child’s fever won’t break, knowing whether to rush to the ER or wait until morning can be terrifying. Making the wrong choice could mean severe complications or even death.
Each year, Americans make over 139 million ER visits – that’s about 43 visits per 100 people¹. Yet many struggle to identify legitimate reasons to go to emergency room, either hesitating when they should rush or flooding ERs with non-urgent cases.
This guide helps you recognize true emergency warning signs for common health issues, so you can make confident decisions about emergency medical care.
Top 10 Reasons for Emergency Room Visits
Chest Pain
Chest pain has conventionally been considered a severe symptom because of its well-known associations with heart attacks, angina, and other heart conditions. However, chest pain can also result from anxiety disorders, heartburn, and muscle strain.
Regardless of its origin, it’s crucial to prioritize caution and seek immediate medical attention for chest pain, as it remains one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits.
When to Seek Help:
Chest pain that feels like pressure or tightness, especially when combined with shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, nausea, or pain radiating to the arm, jaw, or back, requires immediate attention. These signs have been commonly associated with a heart attack, which is considered a medical emergency.
Doctors in the ER will usually carry out a series of tests on the patient, like an EKG, blood or imaging tests to rule out heart-related causes. In the case of a heart attack, early intervention is imperative to limit damage to the cardiac tissues.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits. Stomach pain can arise from innocuous causes, such as indigestion or constipation, to life-threatening conditions involving appendicitis, gallstones, or even the rupture of an organ.
The nature of the pain, its severity, and location are crucial clues that doctors use to try and identify the underlying cause.
When to Seek Help:
Severe, sudden abdominal pain, especially if localized, such as in the lower right side of the abdomen, could be appendicitis and should be treated as an emergency. Fever, vomiting, or changes in bowel movements might also indicate an infection or obstruction that requires urgent attention.
Imaging techniques are often used in the ER to locate problems, including tests such as blood work, ultrasounds, and CT scans. Serious conditions, such as appendicitis, may require surgery.
Injuries and Trauma
Injuries are among the most common reasons for ER visits, especially when trauma from accidents, falls, or sports activities occur. Some injuries might be minor; however, others can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment. Examples include fractures, concussions, and heavy bleeding.
When to Seek Help:
If the injury involves deep cuts, heavy bleeding, broken bones, or a head injury—especially with the loss of consciousness or confusion—urgent care should be sought. Even minor injuries, such as sprains or strains, may necessitate medical attention if they do not improve or worsen over time.
In the ER, doctors evaluate the injury and may also order the necessary imaging studies (such as MRIs or CT scans). Additionally, they will administer the appropriate treatment, which may include sutures, splinting, or pain management.
Difficulty Breathing
Breathing difficulty is a significant hazard associated with conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, allergic reactions, and even heart disorders. In severe cases, it can escalate rapidly, making it one of the most urgent reasons to report to the emergency room.
When to Seek Help:
Get immediate assistance if breathing difficulty starts suddenly or is accompanied by chest pain, wheezing, or confusion. Signs like rapid breathing or a bluish discoloration of the lips or nails also indicate a critical lack of oxygen.
Allergic reactions in children can sometimes trigger breathing difficulties, presenting as wheezing or throat tightness. While rare, severe reactions like anaphylaxis require urgent medical attention.
Emergency treatment may involve oxygen therapy, inhalers, or medications to open the airways. In extreme cases, procedures like intubation may be necessary to restore proper breathing.
Back Pain
Though back pain is dismissed as a common problem, at times, it may indicate some severe problems, such as a herniated disc, kidney infection, or other disorders related to the spinal cord. Severe back pain, if ignored, may result in long-term complications.
When to Seek Help:
Visit the ER of Fort Worth if your back pain suddenly appears, has severe intensity, or radiates down your legs. A combination of warning signs like numbness, tingling, or loss of bladder/bowel control could mean nerve compression or some other neurological issue.
Imaging at the ER, possibly an MRI, can quickly identify the cause of back pain and set a course for treatment.
Fever in Children
Fever is one of the primary reasons for ER visits among children, usually indicating some kind of infection. Although most pediatric fevers are often manageable at home, there are specific cases where the guardian must ring the doctor immediately, particularly in infants and young children.
When to Seek Help:
A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in children younger than three months should be treated as an emergency. In children above three months, medical attention should be sought if the fever exceeds three days in duration or accompanied by neck stiffness, irritability, breathing difficulties, or seizures. Tests can be performed in the ER to rule out serious infections like meningitis or pneumonia.
Severe Headaches or Migraines
Headaches, most of the time are benign. However, sudden, severe headaches can signal serious conditions such as stroke, hemorrhages, or tumors of the brain. Persistent migraines that don’t respond to over the counter medications may affect day-to-day living and call for an urgent evaluation.
When to Seek Help:
Seek emergency treatment if your headache comes on suddenly, especially if it feels like it is the worst headache you have ever had.
Symptoms such as nausea, confusion, vision changes, or difficulty speaking may prompt immediate medical attention due to the possibility of ischemic stroke or a brain bleed. In the ER, imaging studies, including MRIs or CT scans, can help rule out some of the most serious causes.
Cuts, Lacerations, and Wounds
Cuts and wounds are among the most visible reasons for ER visits,covering a range of situations from minor scrapes to deep lacerations requiring stitches. Infections or other complications may result from certain wounds if they are not treated right away.
When to Seek Help:
Visit the emergency room if the bleeding doesn’t stop after applying direct pressure for ten to fifteen minutes, if the incision is deep, or if a contaminated or rusty instrument is to blame. Professional care is particularly necessary for injuries to delicate regions like the hands, face, or joints in order to promote appropriate healing. Usually, ER care consists of cleaning the wound, stitching it up, and administering a tetanus shot if deemed necessary.
Stroke
Strokes are among the most time-sensitive reasons to go to the ER. A stroke is a potentially fatal condition that happens when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Early detection of symptoms can lead to much better outcomes.
When to Seek Help:
If you have symptoms like abrupt weakness or numbness (particularly on one side of the body), slurred speech, or confusion, seek emergency care right away. Time is crucial because, in order to reduce brain damage, treatments like clot-busting medications must be given within a specific window of time. Emergency room will do diagnostic imaging tests to identify the type of stroke and start treatment right away.
Seizures
Seizures can be frightening-especially for people who have one for the first time or if it lasts longer than usual. They often result from epilepsy, high fevers, head injuries, and other conditions. Prompt medical care is essential to prevent complications.
When to Seek Help:
Seek emergency care if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, occurs repeatedly without regaining consciousness in between, or causes injury. First-time seizures or those accompanied by difficulty breathing also require immediate attention. ER teams will stabilize the patient, conduct tests like EEGs or imaging, and determine the cause to guide long-term treatment.
Key Takeaway
There are several reasons to go to the ER that should never be ignored, such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, intense abdominal pain, or symptoms of a stroke.
Recognizing when to seek emergency care and acting quickly can quicken your recovery and impact your overall health. Trust your instincts—if you’re ever unsure about the severity of your symptoms, it’s always better to seek professional medical advice.
At the ER of Fort Worth, we provide 24-hour emergency care services for all the conditions listed above. Our expert medical team is always available to provide immediate attention, ensuring you receive the care you need without unnecessary delays.
FAQs
What is the most common avoidable ER visit?
The most common avoidable ER visit is for non-severe illnesses or injuries, like minor sprains, cuts, or common colds, which could often be treated at urgent care centers or through primary care.
What is the best time to go to the emergency room?
The best time to go to the emergency room is when you experience a life-threatening or serious medical emergency, such as chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness.
Should I go to the ER if I haven’t slept in 3 days?
If you haven’t slept in 3 days and are experiencing severe symptoms like confusion, hallucinations, or impaired judgment, it’s a good idea to go to the ER.
