What Should You Do if You Have Chest Pain or Breathing Difficulties?

If you have ever dealt with chest pain or difficulty breathing, then you know just frightening this experience can be. However, many people simply do not know how to handle such medical emergencies when they do arise. If you ever find yourself experiencing chest pain or difficulty breathing, here are a few key ideas to keep in mind.

Locate Emergency Care Centers in Your Area

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, only 3% of patients who come to an urgent care center need to be diverted to an emergency department. A lot of times chest pain can be an indicator of more severe health problems, so it’s never a good idea to cut any corners and try to ignore the signs that your body is trying to send you. In fact, doing say may even lead to disastrous health consequences. Being prepared in advance with a list of potential emergency medical centers in your local area will help you in your ability to act quickly and decisively through moments of medical crisis.

If you’re not sure how to find a facility that meets your needs, try asking around for a recommendation from a trusted friend, co-worker, or family member. Conversely, you can also contact your health insurance provider to find locations that will accept your current insurance policy.

Find Board-Certified Emergency Medical Physicians

When you’re dealing with a medical emergency, you want to be sure that you’re receiving the best medical help that’s available. For this reason, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re being seen by a board-certified medical physician. Board-certified physicians come with the assurance of quality and expertise that can help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment of whatever issue is causing you problems with your breathing.

Prepare for the Future

No one wants to think that they may have problems with their health in the future. But when it comes to symptoms as potentially severe and uncomfortable as chest pain or difficulty breathing, it’s a wise idea to make sure that you are prepared for any potential issues that may crop up in the future. As a matter of fact, when you’ve had one kind of problem with these symptoms, it puts you at a higher risk for further complications. However, you should not let this knowledge make you fearful, scared, or paranoid. Instead, you can act out of preparation in order to ensure that you’re ready the next time a medical emergency rears its ugly head.

Preparing for the future not only consists of staying in contact with a board-certified physician that you know and trust, but it also means paying attention to your lifestyle and making any necessary changes to contribute to your ongoing health and well being. Many times chest pain and breathing difficulties have to do with issues related to your heart, lungs, and respiratory system. While having troubles in the area is never fun, it can sometimes serve as a timely reminder of certain adjustments that you need to make to your lifestyle.

Consider the average cigarette smoker, for example. A lot of times a smoker may continue with their bad habit until something comes along to scare them into a healthier way of life. As many board-certified physicians can attest to, it’s not uncommon for patients with chest pain to make sudden, positive changes to their lifestyle in order to avoid more issues. Whether you’re a smoker or not, there are always steps you can take to prevent any further problems with your health. Staying proactive on your health is the best way to set yourself up for success in the future.

Not sure where to turn to if you’re dealing with severe health problems such as chest pain and breathing difficulties? Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact a member of our team today. At Legacy ER & Urgent Care, we are confident in offering a full range of emergency medical & urgent services. Our staff of board-certified physicians and experienced medical staff are here to ensure that your visit is as helpful and care-free as possible. Get in touch with us today for more information or to schedule your first appointment.