129.8 million Americans visit an emergency room each year. There’s a variety of symptoms that bring people to seek care at an ER and freestanding emergency center. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms for ER patients in the United States include:
Stomach Pain
Stomach or abdominal pain is the most commonly reported symptom in emergency rooms. Approximately 7 million adults come to the ER each year reporting stomach cramps, spasms and pains.
Abdominal pain may occur anywhere between your chest and groin, the area we usually refer to as our stomach or belly. Almost everyone has pain in the abdomen at some point. Stomach or abdominal pain can be easily diagnosed and treated. Abdominal pain is usually not a serious issue, but there are potential risks. Your level of pain does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition.
If you are experiencing stomach pain, it is important you are seen by a doctor for a thorough examination and diagnosis of your condition. Learn more about abdominal pain >>
Chest Pain
Chest pain, heart attack and related symptoms are reported by 6 million people visiting the emergency room each year. Common symptoms reported include chest pain, crushing or squeezing. These may be caused by a wide variety of conditions such as disease of the heart, aorta or lungs.
The symptoms you are experiencing could be from a variety of causes. The CDC reports a significant trend towards the increased use of advanced medical imaging in diagnosing chest pain in the ER. EKG and CT scans allow emergency room physicians to quickly evaluate your entire heart and chest to determine the cause of your pain
If you have chest pain, the freestanding emergency centers offer the same imaging options as hospital emergency departments with a focus on patient experience. Learn more about chest pain >>
Fever
A temperature above 105° in an adult is dangerous. Children over 1 should not reach above 104°.
High fever is usually a symptom of an infection in your body. Most physicians agree that fevers occur when your body is trying to fight off an infection. Fever is also a common symptom of heatstroke and other illnesses.
Fever is the most common cause for children to visit the emergency room. About 15% of all pediatric emergency visits are for fever. If you or your child is experiencing a high fever, seek immediate medical attention. Learn more about fevers here >>
