Daily Mirror

HOME FIRST AID: When to call 999 for a medical condition

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1 Sudden loss of consciousn­ess Passing out can be either no big deal or the end of a life. At one end of the spectrum, some people pass out from the sight of blood and that’s not life-threatenin­g. On the other hand, cardiac arrest, for example, usually starts with unconsciou­sness. 2 Chest pain Chest pain is one of the most overlooked medical emergencie­s. Many people explain it as nothing more than heartburn or muscle soreness. In reality, chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack and may only go away when a heart attack becomes cardiac arrest. If you have a pain in your chest ring 999. 3 Weakness on one side strokes can be scary and most people know to call 999 when they can’t talk or they’re drooling and can’t stop, but weakness on one side and not the other is often explained as nothing more than a pinched nerve. If the leg and the arm on one side go numb or weak together, call 999. 4 Shortness of breath Trouble breathing is the symptom that comes with almost anything. The causes of shortness of breath can be anything from asthma, a heart attack, a blood clot in the lungs, a collapsed lung, anaphylact­ic shock and more. 5 Seizure Seizures can be from chronic conditions, such as epilepsy, or they can be from new damage to the brain or from things that affect the brain, like low blood sugar or heat stroke. If the person has never had a seizure before call 999.

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