What should I do if I have severe symptoms?

What to Do If You Have Severe Symptoms

If you are experiencing severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services or going directly to the nearest emergency department—do not wait for symptoms to resolve on their own, as this is a poor indicator of risk and early treatment can be life-saving. 1

Immediate Actions to Take

Call for Professional Help Immediately

• Make immediate contact with professional medical advice through emergency services (911 or your local emergency number) 1
• Do not attempt to "wait it out" or see if symptoms improve—severe symptoms require urgent evaluation regardless of the underlying cause 1
• If you suspect cardiac symptoms (chest pain, pressure, or discomfort), the risk of life-threatening complications like ventricular fibrillation is highest within the first hour of symptom onset 1

While Waiting for Emergency Services

For chest pain or suspected heart attack:

• Take a fast-acting aspirin tablet (250-500 mg) immediately—chew it or use water-soluble form for faster absorption 1
• Sit or lie down in a comfortable position 1
• If you have prescribed nitroglycerin and no contraindications (low blood pressure or bradycardia), you may take it 1

For severe respiratory symptoms:

• Avoid lying flat on your back if you have severe cough or breathing difficulty 1
• Try to remain calm and use controlled breathing techniques if possible 1

What Constitutes "Severe" Symptoms Requiring Emergency Care

Life-Threatening Warning Signs

Seek immediate emergency care if you experience:

• Chest pain or pressure that interrupts normal activity, especially if accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, or anxiety 1
• Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 1
• Neurological symptoms: weakness in one part or side of your body, slurred speech, confusion 2
• Signs of shock: chest pain with weakness, rapid pulse, pale/clammy skin 1
• Severe abdominal pain with distension, persistent vomiting, or signs of obstruction 1
• Vomiting blood or blood in stool (black, tarry stools or frank blood) 2
• Sudden swelling of face or throat suggesting allergic reaction 2

Context-Specific Severe Symptoms

For gastrointestinal conditions:

• Severe symptoms warrant immediate evaluation rather than waiting 48 hours, particularly if there is severe vomiting, signs of dehydration, persistent high fever, abdominal distension, or frank blood in stools 1

For chronic conditions (IBS, inflammatory bowel disease):

• Patients with severe, refractory symptoms who have constant pain and significant functional impairment may require referral to specialized centers or multidisciplinary pain management 1
• However, acute severe symptoms still require emergency evaluation to rule out complications like obstruction 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Do Not Delay Based on Symptom Characteristics

• Many patients mistakenly wait because symptoms seem "not that bad" or have gradual onset—but severe conditions like heart attacks often present with discrete, gradual discomfort rather than dramatic sudden pain 1
• Women and older adults are particularly prone to delaying care and may have atypical presentations 3
• The median time patients take to seek treatment for acute myocardial infarction is 130 minutes, with women taking significantly longer (240 minutes vs 120 minutes for men)—this delay increases mortality risk 3

Do Not Self-Treat Severe Symptoms

• While mild symptoms may be appropriate for self-management with over-the-counter medications, severe symptoms require professional evaluation before treatment 1
• The exception is taking aspirin for suspected cardiac symptoms while awaiting emergency services 1

Do Not Assume Symptoms Will Resolve

• Waiting for symptoms to disappear is a poor indicator of risk—many life-threatening conditions can temporarily improve before worsening 1
• For acute chest pain, pre-hospital thrombolysis studies show a mortality reduction of 17%, with 23 lives saved per 1000 patients per hour of earlier treatment 1

After Emergency Evaluation

Once you receive emergency care, follow-up will depend on the diagnosis:

• For conditions requiring ongoing management, treatment escalation plans should be established because some conditions can deteriorate rapidly 1
• Patients with severe symptoms from chronic conditions may benefit from antidepressant treatment, psychological interventions, or multidisciplinary pain management 1
• Regular monitoring and reevaluation in 3-6 weeks is typically recommended after treatment initiation 1