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When you become sick or injured, the first thing you should do is assess the seriousness of the situation. This will allow you to gauge whether you need immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency room or walk-in clinic or if you can wait and schedule an appointment with your regular physician. At Island Hospital in Anacortes, WA, the emergency department consists of exemplary board-certified doctors trained on the latest emergency medicine procedures and technology for when treatment can’t wait.

To help avoid confusion and dangerous delays in the future, here are some ailments that definitely require a trip to the emergency room:

  • Difficemergency-room-anacortes-waulty Breathing: Although it is not always a cause for alarm, if you have recently started to have trouble breathing or if the issue is growing worse, it could be serious. Additionally, if you notice someone choking, call 911 and have the professionals come directly to you.
  • Sudden & Intense Headache: While most headaches are not dangerous, sudden pain can indicate a bigger issue. If a headache hits you suddenly and is severe, head to the emergency room right away. This could be a symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. If your headache is accompanied by a fever, neck pain, stiffness, and/or a rash, it could be a sign of meningitis—a deadly inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
  • Lower Right Abdominal Pain: According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, abdominal pain is the number one non-injury related reason adults visit the emergency room. If you are experiencing intense, localized pain in your lower right abdomen, there might be an issue with either your appendix or gallbladder. Either of these problems could require immediate surgery.

If you are in the Anacortes area and are unsure about the seriousness of your medical ailment, visit the emergency room at Island Hospital immediately. The hospital can be reached at (855) 440-4200. To speak directly with someone in the emergency department, call (360) 299-1311. You can also visit the hospital online to learn more about their emergency services and their walk-in clinic for when you can’t wait to receive non-emergency medical care.

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