Memorial Heights 24 HR Emergency Center

When Should You Visit the ER?

There is a common misconception that emergency room visits are strictly reserved for individuals who are experiencing dramatic, life-threatening medical symptoms. While a number of people are brought to the ER because of serious injuries, there are many patients who seek emergency services because they are experiencing mysterious medical symptoms. If you believe that you are in need of immediate care, you shouldn’t hesitate to visit an emergency center:

Chest Pains

Emergency room physicians are trained to handle emergency cardiac situations such as heart attacks. However, they can also help patients who are experiencing non-life threatening chest pains, which can indicate more serious health problems. Even though many patients brought to the ER with chest pains aren’t suffering heart attacks, it’s important for individuals to err on the side of caution and visit the ER if symptoms begin to develop.  

Abdominal Pain

Health complications including food poisoning, kidney stones, and bacterial infections can all lead to abdominal pain. When patients are brought to an emergency room with abdominal pain, physicians run tests to determine if the pain is related to the digestive system or if it is the result of a condition in another part of the body. Individuals who are experiencing continual nausea or uncontrollable vomiting should also seek emergency medical attention.  

Toothaches

Even though tooth pain isn’t commonly associated with emergency room care, there are a number of individuals who seek emergency treatment for gum infection, sudden tooth trauma, or tooth abscesses. Emergency room doctors can help patients alleviate pain by prescribing medication to take while they wait to see their dentists.

If you are experiencing a serious medical condition, the experienced physicians at Memorial Heights 24 Hour Emergency Center can help. We are a stand-alone emergency clinic in Houston offering high-quality, personalized service. Call (281) 914-4015 to learn more about our urgent care services.     

Understanding What Qualifies as an Eye Emergency

The eye is an extremely delicate structure, so injury to the area can cause permanent damage and lead to vision loss if not properly treated. For this reason, it’s important to seek emergency care following an eye injury. Even if an eye problem seems minor, there can still be some structural damage that can lead to permanent vision problems.

Black Eye

A black eye is an extremely common injury that can be directly caused by trauma to the eye or face. The bruised color around the eye is the result of bleeding underneath the skin. In most cases, the color and swelling will disappear within two weeks. However, in some cases, the swelling around the eye can create intense pressure and damage. Cases in which the injury was caused by direct force can lead to hyphema, or accumulating blood in the front area of the eye. 

Chemical Injury

Work-related chemicals or household cleaning products can cause chemical burns in delicate eye tissue. With acid burns, the cornea may temporarily cloud and heal in a few weeks following the incident. However, accidents involving alkaline substances, such as chemical drain cleaners or sodium hydroxide, can permanently damage the cornea and lead to permanent vision loss. Individuals who experience chemical eye injuries should immediately rinse their eyes with water and visit the nearest urgent care center.

Foreign Object in the Eye

The cornea is the clear tissue that protects the front surface of the eye, so any foreign object that enters the eye can lead to serious damage to the cornea. Not only do large foreign objects in the eye warrant immediate medical attention, but smaller substances such as sand, dust, and debris may also need to be looked at by a doctor.

To learn more about emergency care services in Houston, contact Memorial Heights 24 Hour Emergency Center. We are a freestanding emergency room equipped to handle a range of medical emergencies. You can reach us at (281) 914-4015.

A Look at Pneumonia

If you are experiencing a persistent cough, running a fever, or having difficulty breathing, you may have developed a serious lung infection called pneumonia. Most people who develop pneumonia can treat this condition at home in about two to three weeks. However, individuals with weakened immune systems, such as older adults or babies, may become very ill.

You can contract pneumonia from a variety of sources in your daily life, including school or work. Pneumonia is a bacterial infection, and the symptoms can manifest rather suddenly. One of the biggest signs that you have contracted pneumonia is if you begin to cough up mucus that is rusty or green in color. You may also feel tired and weak or begin to experience chest pains. Doctors can help you treat and alleviate these symptoms by prescribing antibiotics to fight the bacterial infection in your lungs.

Are you experiencing symptoms of pneumonia? Learn how Memorial Heights 24 Hour Emergency Center of Houston can help by giving us a call at (281) 914-4015.

What's That Pain in Your Chest?

One of the most common reasons that individuals are brought to the emergency room is because they are experiencing chest pain. While painful sensations in the chest may simply be heartburn, they can also be signs of a heart attack. Learning to recognize the difference between these symptoms can help people learn when to seek emergency care.

As this video explains, heart attacks typically lead to pain in the left arm along with shortness of breath and dizziness. With heartburn, chest pains may spread to the throat and cause chronic cough. If you are unsure of whether or not you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or heartburn, you should err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical care.

You can visit Memorial Heights 24 Hour Emergency Center of Houston 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us at (281) 914-4015 to learn more about our services.

Symptoms of a Severe Allergic Reaction

Although many allergic reactions are mild, in some cases, a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis occurs. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate emergency care to counteract. Because it is impossible to determine the extent of an allergic reaction, always seek medical care at the first indications of a severe reaction.  

Skin Reactions

Often, the first sign of an impending allergic reaction is a sensation of tingling or warmth. The skin may subsequently break out into hives, welts, wheals, or a rash, which can cause redness and intense itching. The hands, feet, and areas of the face may swell, causing difficulty moving, blinking, speaking, or even breathing.  

Difficulty Breathing

Severe allergic reactions are frequently marked by swelling of the nose, tongue, mouth, and throat. Wheezing, gasping, and trouble taking normal breaths may follow. This type of swelling can occur extremely quickly and cut off adequate oxygen supply to the body within minutes. Urgent care is needed to reestablish an open airway and prevent further difficulty or cessation of breathing.  

Fainting

Allergic reactions may cause a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, also called shock. An irregular or rapid heartbeat may also develop. Combined, these reactions cause dizziness, confusion, and sometimes fainting. Loss of consciousness is an immediate signal that medical care is needed to stabilize blood pressure and treat the cause of the reaction.  

Fear or Worry

Persons experiencing a severe allergic reaction report feelings of anxiety, fear, distress, and even intense feelings that they may die. Never ignore these feelings; seek medical care immediately to address the allergy regardless of whether physical symptoms have manifested.  

Recognizing the signs of a severe reaction can prepare you to act quickly and seek treatment to restore health. Memorial Heights 24 Hour Emergency Center provides prompt care for anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions. Our experienced physicians will help you understand the nature of your reaction and avoid future triggers. You can explore our full range of urgent care services in Houston by clicking on our website or calling (281) 914-4015.