Jul
When to Seek Emergency Care Without Delay
People often wait because they do not want to “bother” a hospital. At Mamata Hospital we would rather evaluate a false alarm than miss a stroke or heart attack. Use this guide as education, not a substitute for professional judgment in a crisis.
Stroke — think FAST. Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to get help. Sudden confusion, vision loss, or the worst headache of someone’s life also deserve emergency evaluation. Clot-busting treatment and imaging are time-sensitive.
Heart warning signs. Pressure or squeezing in the chest, pain in the jaw, neck, or left arm, cold sweat, nausea, and shortness of breath can signal a heart attack. Women and people with diabetes may have subtler symptoms such as unusual fatigue.
If you are unsure whether a symptom is “bad enough,” choose urgent evaluation. Delay is the greater risk.
Breathing and infection. Blue lips, struggling to speak full sentences, high fever with a stiff neck, or a rapidly spreading red wound need prompt care. Parents should seek urgent help for infants who are lethargic, not feeding, or working hard to breathe.
After an emergency visit, follow-up matters. Bring discharge papers to your primary clinician, fill new prescriptions, and schedule the tests that were ordered. Our appointment form can request an emergency follow-up so the story of your visit is not lost between departments.
Emergency Education Team
Neurology and emergency clinicians at Mamata Hospital who teach communities to recognize time-critical symptoms.