Natural Health

I’m always intrigued when someone seems to know to go to the ER for something I might decide to wait out–even given everything I know about health and wellness. Maybe when something’s really wrong you can just sense it, but I also realize the importance of knowing what kinds of pain can be a sign of something more serious. Here’s a quick description of eight signs and symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored.

1. Really, really bad headache.
A severe and sudden headache–the worst headache of your life–could be a sinus headache, but could also be a brain aneurism. If you also have stiffness and you can’t move your neck, meningitis is a possibility and you’ll need antibiotics immediately to prevent permanent damage. It seriously can’t hurt to go to the ER.

2. Pain in the chest, arms, back, neck or jaw.
The most commonly reported heart attack symptom among men is chest discomfort, often described as a heaviness, tightness, or even a burning sensation. The feeling usually starts in the center of the chest and may or may not radiate to other areas of the body. It may go away and then come back, or it may be continuous.

But sometimes the pain of a heart attack doesn’t occur in the chest. Instead there might be discomfort or pain in one or both arms or back, neck, jaw, or even stomach. Women are more likely than men to experience pain in the jaw or back during an attack. It can be hard to tell if the discomfort is related to a heart attack or something else entirely, but if the pain came on suddenly or if you are experiencing another symptom as well, call 911.

3. Flashes of light.
The sudden sensation of flashing lights can indicate retinal detachment. Immediate medical attention is important as it may prevent permanent vision loss.

4. Pain in the lower back or between shoulder blades.
This can often be arthritis, but other possibilities include a heart attack, abdominal problems, or aortic dissection–which can appear as either a nagging or sudden pain. People who are at risk for aortic dissection have conditions that can change the integrity of the vessel wall, such as high blood pressure, a history of circulation problems, smoking, and diabetes.