Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Sometimes it’s necessary, and sometimes it’s not, but it is certainly true that almost all of us have been to the emergency at one time or another. Maybe it was a broken leg, or the fear of one. Perhaps it was a poisoning or a burn. Whatever it was, we are certainly glad for the existence and accessibility of the ER, and we all want them to run as efficiently as possible.

Unfortunately many times people just don’t know the difference between a good reason to go to the ER, and a “not such a good reason” to go. The more people can tell the difference, the better the emergency rooms can service their patients.

Here are the five most common reasons people go the ER, whether they are good reasons or not.

1.    Stomach pain, cramps, and spasms- Severe stomach pain can be frightening. It is no wonder that this is the most common reason for visits to the ER. Stomach pain can also pose a more serious danger than simple food poisoning, so this is a reasonable reason to visit the ER.

2.    Chest pain and related symptoms- Since chest pains can mean the possibility of having a heart attack most people rush to the ER if they have this symptom.

3.    Fevers are the third most common reason for trips to the ER, but on the first day of a fever this is almost always not necessary. There are many reasons for people to exhibit a fever, from too much stress or even bad weather. However fever can be a sign of danger if it is already the third day of a fever which has not returned to normal, or if the fever is very high.

4.    Cough-There are many reasons a person can develop a cough, but almost always the cough is harmless, meaning that it does not present a threat to life in and of itself. Although coughs should definitely be checked by a doctor, especially persistent coughs; there is almost never a reason to go to the ER to do this. Just make an appointment with your doctor. An exception is if the cough is combined with blood or other symptoms. Then off to the ER with you.

5.    Headache- Head pain can be quite severe, and if it is people will go to the ER to get quick relief. But if your headache is not a recurrent symptom, it is most likely just a plain headache. Another thing to note; doctors can not treat a headache fast. If the only symptom is the headache, the doctor will want to run some tests to determine what is wrong.

Dr. Josyann Abisaab is an emergency room physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Josyann Abisaab: The Most Common Reasons for Going to the ER is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

Here are some guidelines to help decide what to do in different cases requiring a decision about the next step in treatment.

In the case of a child who is injured over the weekend who was already brought to the emergency room for treatment:

•    Contact your child’s pediatrician and tell him/her what the ER doctors said over the weekend. If your pediatrician agrees with the assessment, then have him make an appointment for you to see the specialist that the ER doctor recommended. It is very common to need a referral to see a specialist.

•    Make the appointment yourself if your pediatrician can’t get an appointment for you  soon enough. Call the specialist and tell him “My doctor (give his name) said that we need an appointment with you as soon possible.”

If you feel that you need a diagnosis of an illness or other similar situation urgently then it is best to proceed as follows:

•    Ask your doctor if he agrees with the urgency of the matter. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you can call a nurse’s hot-line. This is a good way to find out just how urgent it is. Just as you should not stay home if you have bronchitis, you should also not wait for hours at the emergency room for just a cold.

•    Before you leave for the ER, call a local urgent care center and find out how long the wait there is. Consider going to the urgent care center instead of the emergency room if the line there is not long. If it turns out the situation is a minor one, then you’ve saved yourself a trip to the ER, and if it is truly dire, then the urgent care referral will get you into to see an ER doctor sooner.

Josyann Abisaab is an emergency room doctor practicing medicine in New York City’s Presbyterian  Hospital.

Josyann Abisaab Urges Urgent Care When Appropriate is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

If you’re heading to the beach, make sure that all babies under six months of age are kept out of the direct sunlight. If the sun can’t be avoided completely, it is acceptable to apply a small amount of sunscreen to the baby. Whenever possible, dress babies in light weight clothing that covers their arms and legs and give them brimmed hats for protection.

Safety Issues Over Spring Break: Dr. Josyann Abisaab is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

•    First of all, use good judgment. Become knowledgeable about the signs of serious illnesses which need immediate attention such as heart attacks and strokes, and trust your instincts.

•    Call your family doctor and describe to him/her your symptoms. If your doctor feels it’s warranted, then he/she will recommend a trip to the emergency room. If the problem is not urgent enough for a trip to the emergency room, but nevertheless urgent, your doctor will make room in his schedule to see you. Also, a good primary care physician should ideally be available 24/7 or else he/she takes turns covering after-hours on-call responsibilities with other doctors. In other words there are alternatives to getting off-hour or last-minute care instead of going  to the emergency room.

•    Keep a booklet in your home which is easily accessible which describes the types of symptoms which need emergency room treatment.

Dr. Josyann Abisaab is an emergency room physician practicing in New York City at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Emergency Rooms are For Emergencies: Dr.Josyann Abisaab is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

There are a few things that can be done in advance to prevent such injuries:

1.       Train your instincts. Practice falling on a safer surface, and train yourself to react by tucking in your chin and rolling with the initial impact. If you can, try to fall on the back of your shoulder as this is a strong area of your body.

2.       Practice regaining your balance in a quick manner. Use a bike, or think of other ways to flex your balance muscles.

3.       It is important to wear a helmet and wrist guards. They may seem foolish, but they really can make a significant difference in a fall.

Avoiding the ER: Wrist Fractures is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

The careful behavior should begin at home; children should not be allowed to carve pumpkins on their own. Pumpkin carvers, adults as well, should make sure to use a carving knife instead of a regular kitchen knife, so that their movements can be smoother and more controlled, even while cutting through the pumpkin’s thick skin. Also, make sure the handle of the knife is dry before it is used, to avoid slipping. If a cut on a finger or hand does occur, raise the area above the heart and apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. If the bleeding persists, a visit to the ER might be necessary.

Halloween Safety Tips: Dr. Josyann Abisaab is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

If your child has an allergy attack at night, an antihistamine should help to calm the symptoms.  Keep one on hand, and ask your doctor for a recommendation about which one to have available.  If your child has asthma, make sure to have a bronchodilator, a peak flow meter to watch your child’s breathing and preventative medicines like steroid medications around.

Take preventative steps as well to keep your child’s room allergy and asthma free.  Close the child’s windows, ban animals from the room, put all bedding into an allergy-proof cover, install hardwood flooring and use HEPA filters in your vacuum.

Dealing with Asthma and Allergies at Night is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children.  Children shouldn’t be left unattended while in a bath, pool, lake or other body of water and home swimming pools should be protected and securely locked.

Since people drive more during the summer, there is an increased rate of car accidents.  Make sure that children are always buckled and that they are always in the age-appropriate car seats while traveling.  Heat and dehydration also cause a great deal of E.R. visits.  Never leave a child in the car and keep kids well hydrated during the summer.

3 Health Hazards for Kids During the Summer is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

Outdoor grills cause a great deal of accidents during the warmer months.  It’s important for the grill to be thoroughly cleaned before it is used and for all tubes leading into the burner to be checked before usage.  Don’t use the grill in a closed area such as a garage, carport or porch, or near a surface that can catch fire.

Drowning is, unfortunately, a common issue during the summer months.  Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating and wear a lifejacket if you are going onto a boat.  Keep your eye on your children at all times around water and never let anyone that you know swim alone.  Certainly, all children should be taught to swim when they are old enough to do so.

Summer Safety Precautions: Dr. Josyann Abisaab is a post from: Josyann Abisaab

ER doctors such as Josyann Abisaab will advise that you absolutely never turn on the engine to the car until everyone is buckled in – no matter how short the trip will be. In addition, air bags can kill and seriously injure children and children under 12 should always ride in the back. This is particularly true if the car has a passenger-side air bag.

Similarly, it’s essential to know which car seats to use for your children, and to use them correctly. Children who are under one and weigh less than 20 pounds need to be in rear-facing seats. The seat can be turned around when the baby is one and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. Once your child reaches 40 pounds, he can be in a booster seat, and should remain so until he is approximately 80 pounds.

Buckling Up Saves Lives: ER Advice with Josyann Abisaab is a post from: Josyann Abisaab