An emergency department doctor’s advice on life-threatening symptoms

Some medical symptoms cannot wait for a doctor’s appointment, as they might indicate a life-threatening condition requiring urgent medical intervention. An emergency clinician shares the critical symptoms that demand medical attention without delay.

“Medical emergencies don’t stick to consulting hours, and any concerning symptoms should be checked as soon as possible in the emergency department,” says Dr Bongani Nghondzweni, partner in the new emergency medical practice at Netcare Kroon Hospital.

“Recognising certain urgent symptoms and getting the person to an emergency department quickly can make a huge difference to their recovery. For some conditions, medical care at the earliest warning signs can prevent more serious consequences,” he says.

Dr Nghondzweni has spent years in emergency medicine, witnessing firsthand how quick action can change outcomes.

Here are five warning signs he says should never be ignored:

1. Pain or pressure in the chest: “Any tightness or crushing sensation, or pain radiating to the arm, jaw, or back must be checked by a healthcare professional as soon as possible, as it may indicate a heart attack. Do not wait to see if it passes, as every minute counts when it comes to heart muscle survival,” Dr Nghondzweni says.
2. Signs of acute stroke: Sudden facial drooping, arm or leg weakness, or slurred speech are classic warning signs that a person has had a stroke. “Remember to act FAST: F for face, A for arms, S for speech, and T for time, because stroke treatment is most effective within the first few hours of onset,” he explains.
3. Severe breathing difficulties: If breathlessness comes on suddenly, worsens rapidly, or is accompanied by chest tightness and bluish lips or fingertips, it requires immediate evaluation and treatment. Causes could range from severe asthma to pulmonary embolism, so never take a chance.
4. Sudden severe headache: A headache, particularly if it’s the worst you have ever experienced and especially if it comes on like a thunderclap, could signal a neurological emergency. “No one should take a chance with pain of this nature, rather come in to be checked so that if something of concern is identified, treatment can begin as soon as possible.”
5. Uncontrolled bleeding or major trauma: “Perhaps the most obvious signs of a medical emergency are deep wounds that won’t stop bleeding, suspected fractures, or any injury resulting in a loss of consciousness. These should always be assessed in the emergency department without delay, even if the person appears stable,” he says.

“For these and other medical emergencies that just can’t wait, we are open 24 hours a day. It is always better to be assessed and reassured than to wait,” says Dr Nghondzweni, of Prime Medical Casualty Group, which recently started operating the emergency department at the hospital.

Netcare Kroon Hospital’s emergency department is located at 18 North Road, off R76, Kroonstad.

Netcare 911 emergency medical services can be reached on 082 911 or via the Netcare app for medical emergencies requiring ambulance or pre-hospital care.