Symptoms that require immediate medical attention

Signs of a major stroke include sudden numbness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion; and sudden trouble walking and/or seeing. Getting immediate treatment is critical

because “every minute counts,” Sacco emphasizes. If a patient comes to the ER after four and a half hours, he can't be treated with a clot-busting drug, which is prescribed for the most

common type of stroke. SUDDEN, SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN If you experience abdominal pain that strikes suddenly and worsens, you might have a serious condition that requires immediate

treatment. The most common causes are appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis or cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder). Initially, the pain may occur in a certain area, such as the lower

left part of the abdomen in the case of diverticulitis. Over time, however, the discomfort can spread throughout the abdomen. If any of these conditions goes untreated, it can lead to

perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. “Inflammation can lead to a tear in the lining of any of the organs affected by these conditions,” Lebwohl explains. “This can cause bacteria to

spill into the abdominal cavity, leading to a life-threatening infection that can spread to other parts of the body.” If you're unsure about the severity of your pain, contact your

physician for a telehealth appointment before heading to the ER. CONFUSION, LOW-GRADE FEVER AND/OR AN URGE TO URINATE You're probably familiar with the classic signs of a urinary tract

infection (UTI): a strong, frequent urge to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, blood in the urine, a low-grade fever and pain above the pubic bone. But when you get older,

symptoms may be more vague. “People over 70 may not experience a frequent urge to urinate,” Mitra notes. “They may feel generally unwell and more confused.” Indeed, one of the most common

causes of confusion in people 65 and over is a UTI, says Jennifer Stankus, an emergency physician at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. While this bacterial infection may

seem benign, it can become serious. Left untreated, a UTI may progress from the bladder to the kidney to the bloodstream. It's a leading cause of death in hospitals, says Mitra. An

elderly patient in Washington with UTI symptoms waited a few weeks to be treated. By the time she arrived at the hospital, the infection had spread to other parts of her body and she had

developed sepsis. As a result, she had a long ICU stay, Stankus says. “Most older people have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, and becoming septic can worsen those

conditions,” she says. LARGE AMOUNTS OF BLOOD IN YOUR STOOL The sight of blood in your stool may be alarming, but it doesn't always signal an emergency. For instance, hemorrhoids can

cause a small amount of bleeding, but they don't require a trip to the ER, says Lebwohl. A large amount of blood, on the other hand, calls for immediate evaluation, as it may signal a

peptic ulcer (an open sore on the lining of your stomach or small intestine) or diverticulosis, a condition in which there are small sacs in the wall of the colon. The blood may be red or

may appear as a black, tarry, liquid bowel movement. "Severe bleeding can cause a drop in blood count that can be dangerous for the heart,” Lebwohl cautions. “It can also cause

dehydration and a drop in blood pressure.” Excessive bleeding can also increase your chances of needing a transfusion, says Mitra. Report your symptoms to your doctor via a telehealth

appointment before heading to the ER.