Learn The Difference Between Emergency And Non
All too often, illness or injury appears out of the blue: You wake up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal pain. You stumble while carrying groceries up a flight of stairs, and cannot put weight on your swollen ankle. Or your baby spikes a high fever on the weekend.
When these situations occur, weâre often faced with uncertainty about where to go for care, especially if the symptoms seem severe and our regular doctorâs office is closed.
While the answer is not always simple, knowing the difference between a walk-in clinic, an urgent care center and a hospital emergency room can make a huge difference, especially if you have a medical emergency.
Whatâs the difference between ER, urgent care and walk-in clinic?
âRecognizing the differences between âemergencyâ and âurgentâ care can be confusing, because both terms imply there is a medical need that needs to be addressed quickly,â says Shawn Evans, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
âHowever, there are distinct differences between hospital emergency rooms, traditional urgent care centers or walk-in clinics, including the level of care that can be provided at each.â
Urgent care or walk-in clinics help fill a vital gap when you become sick or injured, but your regular doctor is not available and you canât wait for an appointment.
When to go to the ER
Symptoms that are best evaluated in an emergency room include:
When to call 911
Why Does My Stomach Hurt
Your stomachache can be mild or severe. Common causes of abdominal pain are infections, inflammation, menstrual cramps, blockages, growths, and abdominal diseases or conditions.
Most of the causes of belly aches are not serious and not a reason for concern. However, some stomach aches can be signs of a serious medical condition.
The causes of mild stomach pain include:
Severe stomachaches can be very painful and impact everyday functioning. If your pain is so intense that you cannot remain still or must curl into the fetal position, please seek medical care immediately from a Baptist Health provider.
The possible causes of more severe stomach pain include the following:
How To Know Where To Go For Sudden Health Care Needs
All too often, illness or injury appears out of the blue: You wake up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal pain. You stumble while carrying groceries up a flight of stairs, and can no longer put weight on your swollen ankle. Or your baby spikes a high fever on the weekend.
When these situations occur, were often faced with uncertainty about where to go for care, especially if the symptoms seem severe and our regular doctors office is closed.
While the answer is not always simple, knowing the difference between walk-in clinics, urgent care and emergency care and where to seek treatment could save your life in a medical emergency.
The differences between walk-in clinics, urgent care and the emergency room
Recognizing the differences between emergency and urgent care can be confusing, because both terms imply there is a medical need that needs to be addressed quickly, says Shawn Evans, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. However, there are distinct differences between hospital emergency rooms, traditional urgent care centers or walk-in clinics, including the level of care that can be provided at each.
Urgent care or walk-in clinics help fill a vital gap when you become sick or injured, but your regular doctor is not available and you cant wait for an appointment.
When to go to the ER
Symptoms that are best evaluated in an emergency room include:
When to call 911
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Is There A Peptic Ulcer Diet Plan
No particular diet is helpful for people with peptic ulcers. At one time, a bland diet and avoidance of spicy or greasy foods was recommended. Milk and dairy food have been used in the past for ulcer symptoms, but have not been proven to be effective. We now know diet has little effect on ulcers. In some people, however, certain foods seem to aggravate stomach ulcer symptoms. Keep a food diary with your intake and the resulting symptoms and avoid eating any foods that aggravate symptoms.
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How Common Are Stomach Ulcers
It’s not known exactly how common stomach ulcers are. They have become much less common since the 1980s because of much more effective treatments. So people with stomach ulcers now usually get better much more quickly.
The term ‘peptic ulcer’ is used to describe ulcers that are caused by too much acid in the stomach. This includes stomach ulcers and also ulcers in the first part of the gut known as the duodenum. Stomach ulcers are less common than duodenal ulcers.
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When To Go To Urgent Care For Stomach Pain
When to go to Urgent Care for Stomach pain
Many times, stomach pain is a symptom of an acute issue like food poisoning or appendicitis. And if you have abdominal pain on top of diarrhea and vomiting , go to urgent care. Delaying treatment for these acute issues can result in serious complications and long-term health problems. So remember: when youre vomiting blood or experiencing severe abdominal pain, dont hold offgo straight to urgent care.
Common stomach pain can be caused by a number of different factors, including gas, stress, overeating and more. If youre having constant severe pain or youre vomiting regularly, it may be a good idea to head over to urgent care. There are several signs and symptoms that should have you considering urgent care: Persistent Nausea : If your nausea is consistent and doesnt get better after taking an anti-nausea medication such as Zofran or Kytril , you may have something more serious than an upset stomach.
Frequent stomach pain is a symptom of many different conditions. Gastrointestinal distress can be caused by a number of things, such as indigestion or food allergies. Left untreated, it can lead to more serious issues like ulcers and even cancer. If you notice persistent stomach pain accompanied by vomiting, fever or other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Also consult your doctor if youre experiencing bloody stool, abdominal cramps that dont subside or sudden weight loss.
How Do You Know If You Have An Ulcer From Stress
The most common symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your abdomen between your chest and belly button. Typically, the pain will be more intense when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to several hours. Other common signs and symptoms of ulcers include: dull pain in the stomach.
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What Triggers Stomach Ulcer Symptoms
Stomach ulcers are irritated by stomach acid. Some people notice this irritation more after they eat, and some people notice it more on an empty stomach. There are also certain irritants that seem to make ulcer symptoms worse and make them more difficult to heal. Smoking and alcohol are the biggest ones.
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When To Go To The Er For Stomach Pain
Its important to seek medical care if you have ongoing or severe stomach pain.
Many of us have had stomach pain at some point in our lives. Maybe we ate too much, or ate something that didnt agree with us. In many cases, the pain can be enough to send a person to the emergency room. Indeed, abdominal pain is one of the most common causes of emergency room visits in the United States. However, since the emergency room isnt always the appropriate place to seek care, its important to know when to go to the ER for stomach pain and when to seek treatment elsewhere.
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What About Complicated Ulcers
While most ulcers are successfully treated with medication, some complicated ulcers may require surgery. Ulcers that are bleeding, or that have perforated your stomach or intestinal wall, will need to be surgically repaired. An ulcer that is malignant, or obstructing a passageway, will need to be surgically removed. In severe cases, an ulcer that keeps coming back may be treated by surgery to cut off some of the nerve supply to the stomach that produces stomach acid.
When To Seek Medical Help For An Ear Infection Or Ear Pain
Most ear infections do not begin in the ear. Instead, they start in the nose or throat. Germs from colds and flu enter the eustachian canals at the back of the mouth and then migrate up to the middle ear where they cause infection. As such, ear infections themselves arent usually contagious.
Pain from ear infections typically comes on fast but doesnt usually last more than a day or two in healthy adults. However, if your pain doesnt go away in a few days, you should go to the doctor. Pain that persists is unusual and suggests a complication.
When you go to the doctors office, your doctor will assess the severity of your ear infection. They will then determine whether bacteria or viruses are causing it. If it is bacterial, they may prescribe antibiotics to help the body clear the infection. If you are returning to the clinic because the first round of antibiotics didnt work, they may offer different medications, such as ear drops.
However, if the infection is viral in nature, they may simply tell you to go home, rest, and take on plenty of fluids. Symptoms should eventually resolve themselves unless you have a weakened immune system.
An isolated ear infection is unlikely to cause hearing loss in adults. However, recurrent infections can increase the risk. Therefore, if you get an ear infection that doesnt resolve itself quickly, or you have several in a row, you should consult your physician.
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Will Insurance Cover Telehealth For Peptic Ulcer
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, telehealth has become more available and more widely covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Some telehealth services are covered under Medicare Part B with a deductible, and Medicare Advantage Plans may include more access. Medicaid coverage for telehealth varies by state and may only be available when seeing certain providers.
Telehealth services may be covered under private insurance. The co-pay may be similar to an in-person office visit. Its important to contact your health insurer and the staff at your providers office to make sure that a visit will be covered and what the cost will be.
Access to telehealth is still a new concept for insurance carriers. It is important to stay informed about any changes to coverage during the public health emergency and beyond, when coverage may change again.
Mid 20s Female With Nausea
Q: What are some common causes of stomach pain for females in their mid 20s?
A: If the patient is a young lady in her mid 20âs whoâs complaining about abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, the first thing that comes to my mind is that sheâs pregnant. I would want to rule out right away. You can do that with a urine test or blood test to make sure the woman is not pregnant.
Other things that first come to mind are whatâs associated with the stomach pain. So, for example, is the abdominal pain associated with diarrhea? If so, that brings into play a whole host of infectious kinds of virus, for example, viral gastroenteritis or norovirus like the cruise ship virus. Those are the kinds of things that come to mind immediately.
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Signs You Need To Go To Urgent Care For Your Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical concerns that affect patients around the world. While most back injuries can heal on their own after six weeks, some instances of back pain can actually indicate a serious illness that requires emergency treatment.
So how do you know whether its time to visit urgent care for your back pain? If your back problem does not have an unexplained cause and is accompanied by certain symptoms, then you should consult with a medical professional as soon as possible. Some signs to watch out for are:
Abdominal Pain Accompanied By Additional Serious Symptoms
If you find these serious symptoms accompanying your abdominal pain experience, then its ideal to visit an emergency room instead of an urgent care center:
- Abdominal issues and bleeding while expectant
- Severe pain with a fever above 102°F
- Abdominal pain accompanied by the passing of bloody or black stool or the vomiting of blood
- Chest tightness and/or shortness of breath
- Concentrated, sudden, and severe abdominal pain accompanied by the loss of consciousness
- Abdominal pain accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting and chest pain
If youre experiencing moderate to mild pain resulting from non-serious abdominal pain causes then you can visit an urgent care center. This will be ideal if youre not experiencing any accompanying serious symptoms. Non-serious abdominal pain causes, in this case, may include menstrual cramps, constipation, gas, acid reflux, gastroenteritis, and I.B.S among others.
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Abdominal Pain Symptoms To Watch For
If your abdominal pain feels like indigestion or isnt bothering you much, its generally safe to wait out the day and reevaluate how youre feeling tomorrow. However, if the pain doesnt worsen but youre still feeling uncomfortable in a few days, its a good idea to see a doctor.
When should you seek medical care right away? Your abdominal pain could be a sign of an emergency if youre experiencing:
- Nausea that wont go away
- A yellow tinge in your skin
All of the above could indicate that your abdominal pain is a symptom of something serious going on in your body. See a doctor as soon as possible.
How Are Stomach Ulcers Diagnosed
Diagnosis and treatment will depend on your symptoms and the severity of your ulcer. To diagnose a stomach ulcer, your doctor will review your medical history along with your symptoms and any prescription or over-the-counter medications youre taking.
To rule out H. pylori infection, a blood, stool, or breath test may be ordered. With a breath test, youll be instructed to drink a clear liquid and breathe into a bag, which is then sealed. If H. pylori is present, the breath sample will contain higher-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide.
Other tests and procedures used to diagnose stomach ulcers include:
- Barium swallow: You drink a thick white liquid that coats your upper gastrointestinal tract and helps your doctor see your stomach and small intestine on X-rays.
- Endoscopy : A thin, lighted tube is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. This test is used to look for ulcers, bleeding, and any tissue that looks abnormal.
- Endoscopic biopsy: A piece of stomach tissue is removed so it can be analyzed in a lab.
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How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better
If you take all medicines as prescribed and avoid irritating the ulcer with NSAIDs, alcohol or smoking, your ulcer should heal well within a few weeks. Surgical cases may take a few weeks more. Your healthcare provider will follow up with you at the end of your course of medication to make sure the ulcer has healed and any infection has cleared. They will probably take follow-up tests, including an upper endoscopy to look at the site of the ulcer and tests for H. pylori, if you had it, to make sure the infection is gone.
What To Expect During Your Visit
Your evaluation starts with a check of your vital signs and your personal and family medical history. We ask you about the type of pain youre experiencing and about your diet in the days before the start of your pain.
We may follow your physical exam with diagnostic blood work, ultrasound, or other diagnostic imaging tests to identify inflammation, infection, or any other issues that could be contributing to your stomach pain.
Upon diagnosis, we develop an appropriate treatment plan to relieve pain and protect your stomach. The plan could include over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as antacids to neutralize stomach acids, laxatives to treat constipation, or antibiotics to clear infections.
If your pain is due to more serious issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome or kidney stones, we recommend a long-term treatment plan to manage your condition, along with referrals to specialists for additional care.
When stomach pain gets in the way of your life, connect with American River Urgent Care by phone or online to schedule your examination.
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Older Woman With Skin Changes
Q: What are some common causes of skin changes in woman in their 70s or 80s?
A: If the patient is an older woman in her 70âs or 80âs and she also has irregular heart beat with skin changes, then I would start to think itâs something vascular. In other words, I would be thinking about things like venous ischemia or Ischemic Colitis.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Mouth Ulcer
There are three types of mouth ulcer that each have various looking sores.
- Minor- these sores are small, oval, and round ulcers in the mouth that heal within a week or two with no scarring.
- Major- these sores are larger and deeper than minor ulcers. They have irregular edges and take up to 6 weeks to heal. Long-time scarring is highly likely with these kinds of sores.
- Herpetiform- these sores are pinpoint size and occur in clusters. These have irregular edges and heals within 1-2 weeks. Scarring is not very likely.
You should see a healthcare provider if you develop any of the following:
- Unusually large sores
- New ulcers form before old ones heal or any sores that last for more than 3 weeks
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