6 Surprising Reasons You Might Visit The Emergency Room In Winter
Changes in seasons affect many people in different ways. Cold weather can come with surprising changes to your health. In some cases, these are minor and can be treated at home.
However, there are instances where you may require emergency care. For instance, if the cold triggers a heart attack or severe cases of muscle or joint pain. Read on to find out about the six surprising reasons you might visit the emergency room in winter.
The Flu
The flu can be a manageable illness for the young and healthy. However, that’s not the case for the elderly and people with chronic conditions. If you fall under this high-risk category, you shouldn’t hesitate to go to the emergency room when your flu symptoms become extreme.
In winter, you can become vulnerable to the flu which can lead to complications. When your symptoms worsen, you should consider emergency care. You can prevent complications such as bacterial pneumonia, severe infections, and prolonged hospitalisation when you go to the ER when you notice the following:
- Persistent or severe vomiting.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Abdomen or chest pains.
- Confusion or dizziness.
- Flu-like symptoms that keep returning.
Fever
An increase in your body temperature can indicate an illness that needs immediate treatment. When your fever is severe and prolonged it can cause significant complications. It’s risky to try and self-diagnose a fever.
As a result, when you experience a high body temperature accompanied by sweating, chills, body aches and fatigue you should head to the emergency room. In most cases, a fever is caused by the following:
- Infection.
- Virus.
- Heat exhaustion.
- Allergic reaction to medication.
- Stomach bug.
Heart Attacks
Did you know that you’re likely to experience heart attacks during the colder months compared to warmer ones? Most importantly, even if you are healthy, you are still at risk of a sudden heart attack due to the cold. There are specific changes that your heart and circulatory system undergo to accommodate the drop in temperatures around this time of the year.
Since it’s cold and you’re less likely to be active in winter, your heart and body don’t get enough exercise recommended for healthy functioning. This can result in narrowed blood vessels, raised blood pressure, and an increased pulse rate. If you experience sudden chest pain with shortness of breath and heartburn that moves through the back of your chest, you should rush to the emergency room.
Joint and Muscle Pain
In most cases, joint and muscle pain goes away with the help of home remedies. However, there are times when the pain is extreme and requires emergency care. If you have arthritis or chronic joint pain, you’re most likely to experience varied degrees of joint and muscle pain throughout winter.
There are instances when this pain is severe enough to warrant emergency care. If your joints swell up, show signs of redness, or you feel significant discomfort when you apply pressure, you should head to the emergency room Joint pain shouldn’t be ignored as it can cause major complications like loss of function that can require joint replacement or lead to permanent disability.
Chest Pains and Respiratory Issues
If you have any acute respiratory problems that are associated with asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia, you should receive emergency care. The consequence of leaving these respiratory issues untreated is respiratory failure that can lead to loss of consciousness or death. The cold and dry winter air can irritate your lungs and trigger shortness of breath.
You can also feel chest pains and tightness in your chest that resemble spasms like an asthma attack. It’s crucial to insulate your body by staying warm in winter. You don’t want the risk of rushing to emergency care when your respiratory problems become severe.
Abdominal Pain
In the colder months, many people are vulnerable to persistent stomach pain. There are various reasons why abdominal pain can be a problem for you when temperatures drop. The reason why this happens is that the internal pressure in your digestive system increases.
Low temperatures affect the functioning of your digestive enzymes causing pain and stomach cramps that lead to bloating and indigestion. If your abdominal pain becomes chronic and severe, you should receive immediate emergency care. You require correct diagnosis and treatment for chronic pain before it leads to major complications.
In conclusion, the chances of visiting the emergency room increase during winter. If you experience any severe complications to your health that are triggered by the cold, you should receive emergency care. Affinity Rescue is here for you should you require emergency response to stabilise your condition this winter.