Wynn Hospital doctor urges people not to wait to go to the ER if a situation arises — and a good time to go is during the holiday, when it’s quiet
By Barbara Pierce
“If you have health concerns over the holidays, we’re still here. We’re very much available,” said physician Avinash Kambhampati, assistant medical director for the emergency department at the Wynn Hospital.
You might be surprised to learn that the ER at Wynn Hospital is not expected to be a busy place during the Christmas holidays. Quite the opposite.
“On the holidays, we see a decrease in volume. People put off coming to the emergency room,” Kambhampati said.
People are in the middle of family celebrations and don’t want to disrupt the celebrations. Or they believe they’ll be fine tomorrow or assume the ER is filled with people who really need prompt medical care.
“We do see an increase in the days right after the holidays,” he added. “We ask people to be understanding of this; be patient with the staff.”
A good reason to not put off going to the ER if you have symptoms during the holidays: After the holidays, you’ll have a much longer wait.
“My best advice is to remember that we’re available during the holidays,” he added.
Medical emergencies are frightening and stressful. But it’s important to know how to recognize the signs and to not avoid going to the ER. That could potentially save your life. For many emergencies, time is critical; delays in treatment can often lead to more serious consequences.
When is it time to head off to the ER?
“If you have chest pain, don’t put it off,” Kambhampati said. “People do tend to overindulge during the holidays. It you have a heart condition, that can make things worse.”
Overeating causes burping, cramping, nausea and vomiting, as well as indigestion, heartburn or acid reflux and gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining. Consider skipping any fried or spicy dishes and take any preventive medications you may need beforehand.
Certain long-term illnesses, like congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease, can get worse when there’s an uptick of sodium in the diet, as can be the case with holiday dishes. If you have a long-term health condition, be mindful of what you eat.
Don’t wait to get help if you have any heart attack warning signs. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. Others start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. The American Heart Association online suggests you call 911 if you have discomfort in the center of your chest, uncomfortable pressure or squeezing, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, break out in a cold sweat, have nausea or a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
During a stroke, every minute counts. Fast treatment can lessen the brain damage that a stroke can cause. Call 911 if any of these symptoms come on suddenly: numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination; or an severe headache with no known cause.
Don’t brush off these potentially life-threatening issues. Checking symptoms and stabilizing emergencies is what the ER is for.
“In addition to not over-indulging in food, try not to drink too much alcohol,” Kambhampati said. “People do tend to binge on holidays.”
There’s no way to make good decisions when you’re intoxicated and there’s no way to sober up fast.
“We do see an increase in mental health issues during the holidays,’ he added. “Especially anxiety and depression. People get stressed because of the holidays. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If someone comes in with mental health issues, we help them get through it. If we can’t help them get through it, we admit them to the hospital.”
Other top risks that bring people to the ER during the holidays include winter weather injuries; slippery streets and sidewalks can cause falls, which can cause a variety of injuries. Wearing shoes or boots with good traction Is critical to avoiding slip-and-fall injuries.
The December holidays are the busiest travel times, which often coincide with bad weather. Leave extra time to help ease travel stress.
Forgetting to refill or pack medication before a trip is a common issue for travelers. If you do leave your medications behind, contact your pharmacy and ask them to transfer your prescriptions to a pharmacy near you. Keep an updated list of prescriptions on your phone or written somewhere in case you do wind up in the ER, as the doctors will need that information.
Another risk is kitchen risks. With all the slicing, dicing and carving taking place in the kitchen, injuries are common, along with dangerous kitchen flames. Make sure all kitchen equipment, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, are in good working condition. Keep flammable items like paper towels away from the stove and oven. Always supervise children.