This article is intentionally simple. It is designed to protect you from the most dangerous mistake: delaying urgent care while searching online.
The 7 red flags
1. Chest pain that is severe, persistent, or associated with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or radiation to the arm/jaw/back. This can be cardiac or pulmonary. Seek urgent care.
2. Sudden neurological symptoms -- Face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty -- treat as stroke until proven otherwise.
3. Severe or sudden shortness of breath -- Especially if unexpected, progressive, or associated with chest discomfort.
4. Confusion, fainting, or severe weakness -- New confusion or collapse can reflect sepsis, cardiac issues, or neurological events.
5. Uncontrolled bleeding -- Any bleeding that does not stop, or bleeding with dizziness, requires urgent assessment.
6. High fever with rigors, clammy skin, very fast heart rate, low urine output, or extreme pain -- These can be warning signs of sepsis, which is a medical emergency.
7. Rapid deterioration after surgery or chemotherapy -- Any sudden or progressive decline requires urgent review.
A final rule
If you are unsure whether it is urgent, treat it as urgent. Use your local emergency number. Do not rely on an internet tool to decide if you should seek help.