Urgent symptoms

Topics to discuss

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness, especially with sweating, nausea, or pain in the arm, jaw, or back
• Fainting, or palpitations with chest pain or shortness of breath
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side, a drooping face, or trouble speaking
• A very high blood-pressure reading with severe headache, confusion, or vision changes
• One leg that is suddenly swollen and painful, or cold and pale
• If you have any of these, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Choosing the next step

Use the warning signs above to decide when emergency help is needed. This page cannot check your symptoms or tell you that it is safe to wait. If symptoms are severe, sudden, or getting worse quickly, seek urgent medical help. A routine appointment request is not an emergency service, and a message may not be read right away.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, confused, or unable to travel safely. If possible, have someone stay with you while help arrives. Bring your medicine list and allergy information if they are easy to reach, but do not delay emergency care to collect records.

Sources

• High Blood Pressure — NHLBI (NIH)
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) — MedlinePlus
• Hypertension in Adults: Screening — USPSTF
• Blood Cholesterol — NHLBI (NIH)
• Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults — USPSTF
• Heart Palpitations — MedlinePlus
• Arrhythmias — NHLBI (NIH)
• Varicose Veins — MedlinePlus