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Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Your health and that of your loved ones is the most important thing in the world. However, it doesn’t become a priority for many people until there’s something wrong, something that needs a doctor’s help, urgently.

However, for some, going to see a doctor makes them uncomfortable. Or it might incur a hefty fee in some countries. So even if they’re in pain or very worried, they put off seeing a professional until it’s far too late. It is vital to recognize when you absolutely must get to the hospital ASAP. And a bunch of redditors shared their first-hand experiences with their health issues, noting the signs that indicate you should seek medical assistance immediately. Immediately.

When you’re done reading these tips, be sure to let us know in the comments if there are any other health-scare signs that you think are important for others to hear about, dear Pandas.

Bored Panda got in touch with labor and delivery nurse Holly D. to hear her advice on when pregnant women should rush to the hospital. She told us that false labor and actual labor can be difficult to distinguish. She explained to us what should be done in the case of painful contractions.

"We encourage patients that are having painful contractions to note contraction frequency when resting. A rule of thumb is drink two large cups of water and rest (lay down feet up) then start tracking contraction frequency. Most providers would recommend if you continue to have contractions 3-5 min apart for 1 hour, it’s appropriate for you to come to Labor and Delivery to be triaged," nurse Holly explained to us.

"Any bleeding or if the patient is experiencing leaking of fluid or decreased fetal movement or extreme pain it is recommended to come in to triage and be seen."

#1

If you feel like you have the worst migraine of your life, go to the emergency room. My sister has always dealt with bad migraines but one day she said she felt like she got hit by a bat on her head and she had a horrific migraine. The emergency room doctor would not give her an mri despite my father bringing it up. Because the doctor said it was just a migraine, my sister went on without medical treatment for a full 7 days. On that seventh day something told her they needed to go in again and what do you know? She has a brain aneurysm that has burst and she has been bleeding into her brain for an entire week. Thank god she ended up getting surgery and surviving it with little to no residual effects on her. Her neurologist said that he doesn’t believe in miracles, but her case is the closest thing to one he’s ever seen

AtGamesEnd Report

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    #2

    Woman sitting at desk with eyes closed and hands on temples, showing signs you should immediately go to the hospital. The worst headache of your life, which came on very quickly. (Also known as a 'Thunderclap headache'). Even with no other symptoms, this needs to be looked at immediately. Could be any range of things, but what they're most concerned with is a ruptured aneurysm.

    lillathrin , pexels Report

    #3

    Person looking worried and anxious in a dimly lit room, highlighting signs you should immediately go to the hospital A "feeling of impending doom". Really, it's actually considered a clinical sign and can indicate impending stroke, heart attack, or other things. Can also be a panic attack but if it comes out of nowhere and isn't associated with a known anxiety disorder, don't be afraid to take it seriously.

    Dragoness42 , pexels Report

    #4

    Man sitting on bed in pajamas, holding head and abdomen in pain showing signs you should immediately go to the hospital When you throw up and it looks like coffee grounds.

    StorageBusy1130 , pexels Report

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    #5

    Woman sitting on a couch holding medication and a glass of water, contemplating signs to immediately go to the hospital You took a new medicine and your throat is closing up. Anaphylaxis can kill you.

    twitch_delta_blues , unsplash Report

    #6

    Worried woman speaking to man, showing signs you should immediately go to the hospital for urgent health care advice. Signs of stroke. Face or mouth drooping Arm weakness Speech slurred Time to call an ambulance So think FAST

    Roaming_Pie , pexels Report

    #7

    Close-up of a focused eye with visible eyelashes, illustrating signs you should immediately go to the hospital. Losing the ability to see color in one or more eye, sign of major issue in brain.

    aladdyn2 , pexels Report

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    #8

    A close-up of a dark beverage in a glass, with foam on top, illustrating signs you should immediately go to the hospital. If your pee is so dark that it looks like Guinness, go to the hospital immediately.

    Bizarre_Protuberance , pexels Report

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    #9

    Brown dog behind a chain-link fence showing teeth outdoors, illustrating warning signs people share about hospital visits. You were bit by an animal. ALWAYS ASSUME IT WAS RABID. if you don’t get rabies treatment within something like 48 hours you could cross the threshold into guaranteed death.

    twitch_delta_blues , pexels Report

    #10

    Close-up of a human eye highlighting one of the helpful signs to immediately go to the hospital in a medical context. If one of your pupils is fully dilated to the point you can barely see your iris, but the other eye is normal. Get your butt to the E.R Stat.

    VenomousViperz , pexels Report

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    #11

    Young woman sitting on bed in pain, showing signs you should immediately go to the hospital for medical help. You were told 48 hours ago that you had gastroenteritis ("stomach flu") and you did everything the doc said and not only don't you feel better, you feel worse. There are a lot of things it could be, but gastroenteritis is probably not it, and some of the other possibilities are potentially lethal.

    nakedonmygoat , pexels Report

    #12

    Woman sitting on couch looking worried and tired, representing signs you should immediately go to the hospital. For women on birth control: serious shortness of breath (as in a relatively healthy person being winded just walking to/from car) and unexplained pain in your legs, mainly inside thighs. Blood clots/embolisms. They can kill you VERY fast if they break loose and travel.

    damndingashrubbery , pexels Report

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    #13

    Woman holding her head in pain resting on table with glass of water, illustrating signs you should immediately go to hospital I had a headache for a week and was getting confused at work. 2 brain tumors and hydrocephalus led to immediate intake

    Dano4600 , pexels Report

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    #14

    Man showing palm forward as a warning sign while coughing, symbolizing helpful signs to go to the hospital immediately When you're dehydrated and still throwing up

    dogomummy , unsplash Report

    #15

    Person experiencing back pain being examined by a healthcare professional highlighting signs to go to the hospital immediately Growing pain in your back near your kidney? Stones. Go to the hospital before the pain gets unbearable.

    twitch_delta_blues , pexels Report

    #16

    Woman leaning on a chair in dim room, illustrating signs you should immediately go to the hospital for help. Skin/white of the eyes turning yellow. This probably caused by accumulation of bilirubin in the blood which can be caused by severe liver failure.

    Mouthfullofcrabss , unsplash Report

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    #17

    Woman with worried expression covering ears against a stone wall, illustrating signs you should immediately go to the hospital. Sudden hearing loss. The faster you get to the hospital the better the chances of reversing it (statistically) In my case I left it two weeks and I’m now living with tinnitus.

    codeniv , unsplash Report

    #18

    Person lying on bed with feet visible and shoes on the floor, illustrating signs you should immediately go to the hospital Sudden or gradually increasing numbness or weakness in either or both legs. Recent urinary retention or incontinence. Numbness / lack of sensation around the saddle region (groin and inner thighs). All of these are signs of spinal cord compression and suggest an issue called Cauda Equina which can result in paralysis of the lower body or reduced strength and control.

    Meta-Squirrel , pexels Report

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    #19

    Person removing black running shoes, highlighting signs you should immediately go to the hospital for health reasons. When that wound you got on your foot by stepping on a rusty nail smells like rot.

    Luxny , pexels Report

    #20

    Man clutching chest in pain wearing a light shirt, illustrating helpful signs you should immediately go to the hospital. If you have chest pain and especially if it's combined with sweating, nausea/vomiting, left arm pain, and/or a sense of impending doom.

    Zoo_In_The_Bathtub , pexels Report

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