A medical emergency is a sudden illness or injury, posing threat to a person’s life and requires immediate attention. Recognizing a medical emergency will help in making a quick decision of calling for medical help. Discussed below are some common medical emergencies.

STROKE

This is a severe medical emergency that occurs due to the blockage of blood supply to the brain. Symptoms include slurred speech, dizziness, blurring of vision, and numbness in the face, arm or leg.

HEART ATTACK

This occurs when the flow of blood to a part of the heart suddenly gets blocked. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, sweating.

SEIZURE

This is an abnormal and uncontrolled activity in the brain. It is more common in people that have been diagnosed of epilepsy. Symptoms include involuntary jerking movement of arms and legs, loss of consciousness, staring, and stiffening of the body.

BLEEDING

Severe external bleeding and suspected internal bleeding are medical emergencies that require immediate attention.

SUDDEN DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING

A sudden difficulty in breathing is usually due to health issues such as asthma or a heart attack. There may also be associated symptoms such as cough and wheezing like it occurs in asthma or chest pain that radiates to the shoulder tip in a heart attack

POISONING

This can be by swallowing toxic substances or getting bitten by poisonous reptiles or insects. It requires urgent medical attention before an irreversible damage is made.

Having a knowledge of medical emergencies is important for individuals as getting medical help as early as possible can prevent many avoidable deaths.