3 Most Common Medical Emergencies

When you are faced with an emergency situation, it is important to act quickly. This is because it could mean the difference between life and death.

3 Most Common Medical Emergencies

A medical emergency about the dentist in Fairview is an injury or illness that poses an immediate risk to a person’s life or the long-term health of that person. It requires the assistance of other people, who may include first aiders, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.

1. Heart Attack

Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, happen to about 805,000 people a year in the United States. They cause about one in four deaths, which is why they are the most common medical emergency.

A heart attack occurs when a blockage in your coronary artery (the main arteries that supply blood to the heart) prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of your heart. If not treated quickly, the affected part of your heart muscle will die.

When you have a heart attack, there are several signs and symptoms to look for. Chest pain is the most common symptom, but you may also feel discomfort in your arms, back, neck or jaw.

Other symptoms you might have include shortness of breath, pressure or pain in your lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, and extreme fatigue.

You can prevent a heart attack from happening by taking steps to manage your risk factors. These include eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.

2. Stroke

A stroke is a sudden interruption in blood flow to the brain, preventing it from getting oxygen and nutrients. This can cause damage to the brain cells and can lead to disability or death.

It’s a medical emergency and should be treated immediately. Prompt treatment can limit the effects of stroke and reduce disability.

You can tell if someone is having a stroke by looking for signs. Ask them to raise their arms, and watch to see if one arm droops down, or if they have weakness on one side of their body (especially if it wasn’t there before).

Another sign is difficulty speaking. If you notice a slurred or strange speech, that’s a good sign too.

There are many types of strokes. The most common is called an ischemic stroke, which happens when a clot blocks an artery and cuts off blood flow to the brain.

Ischemic strokes can occur because of a build-up of plaque in the arteries that carry blood to the brain (atherosclerosis). They may also happen from a piece of clot that sticks to a blood vessel and breaks off (embolism).

A less common type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when bleeding breaks out of or leaks into a weakened artery in the brain. This can happen from hypertension, head trauma or taking medications that thin the blood.

3. Burns

Burns are damage to the body’s tissues caused by a variety of factors. They can happen when flames, hot metals, scalding liquids, or steam come into contact with the skin.

First-degree burns, also called partial thickness or superficial burns, involve the top layer of skin (the epidermis) only. They look red and blistered, and they may be swollen and painful.

Second-degree burns are more serious because the damage goes deeper than the top layer of skin. They may cause the skin to blister and form a wet, scab-like area.

Third-degree burns, also called full thickness or deep dermal burns, go through both the upper and lower layers of skin. They are very serious because they destroy the skin’s ability to heal itself and may affect other organ systems.

These burns require urgent medical care, which is why you should seek immediate help if you or someone else has a burn injury. Treatment for burns can include a tetanus booster shot, oxygen through a mask or tube, and fluids to replace lost blood.

You can also receive surgery for a skin graft to repair the burned area. These grafts are usually made from the skin of animals, human cadavers, or artificial materials, but some doctors may do a graft with your own skin if the damage is severe.