(Flying Doctors Korea Crisis Education) Hello everyone. I am an emergency(EM) specialist, Choi Jae-hyeong
I will tell you about necessary illness and first aid when you are abroad
First, I’ll talk about dangerous symptoms
#Dangerous symptom-mental deterioration You should immediately report mental deterioration without hesitation
#mental deterioration: Various conditions such as cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, stroke, massive bleeding, heat stroke, and intoxication can cause altered consciousness
Fundamentally, losing consciousness means fainting or passing out
When there is no response even when calling loudly, immediately calling for help is advisable
You should also carefully observe
where someone has become unconscious after drinking or fell into a deep sleep after taking the sleeping pills
In such cases, it is common for the person to experience difficulty breathing, leading to potential respiratory distress
Therefore, you must report when a person is unconscious
#Dangerous symptoms - pleurodynia(chest pain) Conclusively, you can say that
when you can pinpoint the exact area of the pain or when it hurts while you move
or when touching the area causing pain, it is not that dangerous
#Chest pain - In dangerous cases, symptoms such as cold sweat, nausea, pain radiating to the shoulders and jaw, and accompanying breathing difficulties
occurs accompanied by chest pain, one should suspect a heart attack
You should call for emergency medical assistance and go to the hospital as soon as possible.
#Chest pain - Medical History Next, in the case of medical history
Those who have experienced a heart attack once are prone to recurrence
If the displayed content applies to you (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, family history), you should suspect a heart attack.
#Chest pain- Tension pneumothorax Separate from heart attack,
(Tension pneumothorax: Air enters the pleural cavity but cannot escape, causing difficulty breathing) If you experience chest trauma and have difficulty breathing
you should suspect tension pneumothorax
#Dangerous symptoms - Brain disease
[#Representative symptoms of brain disease: One-sided paralysis of the arms and legs, speech disorders, decreased consciousness, spinning dizziness] If one arm or leg is paralyzed or speech becomes slurred, it is naturally recognized as dangerous symptoms
#Brain disease - Extremely dangerous cases. Facial paralysis requires differential diagnosis
#Brain disease - Extremely dangerous cases In cases of one-sided facial paralysis where wrinkles appear on the forehead, there is a high possibility of central nervous system problems such as stroke
There is a high possibility of stroke (cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage)
#Brain diseases - less dangerous cases On the other hand, if there is no wrinkle on the forehead in cases of one-sided facial paralysis,
(Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy: A condition where the nerve that controls the facial muscles is damaged) it is and considered peripheral facial nerve paralysis, which damages the nerve that controls the facial muscles, is not considered to be very dangerous
#Dangerous symptom - Abdominal pain
#Abdominal pain - Dangerous cases: when the location of the pain changes
For example, if the pain moves from back or sternum area
towards the belly button with a tearing pain sensation
(Aortic Dissection: A condition that occurs when the inner layers of the aorta, the main artery, tear or separate, causing a rupture within the vessel wall) there is a high possibility that it's aortic dissection
When pressed on the painful area with the hand
(Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A disease in which the abdominal aorta, the largest blood vessel in the abdomen, expands or bulges by more than 50% compared to its normal size) If you can feel a pulsation, high possibility of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
In both cases, it is an emergency situation because
it is impossible to predict when the aorta will rupture
Pain that worsens when walking or moving may require surgery
(Infectious Disease: A condition caused by the invasion of bacteria, viruses, or fungi) If accompanied by fever, it may indicate an infectious disease
If symptoms of prolonged abdominal pain or discomfort suddenly worsens
(Gastric Perforation/Duodenal Perforation: A condition where there is a hole in the stomach or duodenum) it may indicate abdominal pain with the possibility of surgical intervention, such as gastric or duodenal perforation
If there is pain in the side or visible blood in the urine, it may be a kidney disorder
#Dangerous symptom - Vomiting
#Vomiting - Dangerous case. Vomiting blood is a dangerous symptom you may already know
If there are other symptoms such as cold sweat, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, myocardial infarction may be suspected
If there is dizziness, cerebral infarction/hemorrhage may be suspected
If severe headache and high fever are accompanied
(Meningitis: A disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) it raises suspicion of central nervous system infection, such as meningitis
If someone who has previously undergone abdominal surgery experiences abdominal distension
(Intestinal Obstruction: A condition where a portion or the entire intestine is blocked, preventing the passage of intestinal contents) has not had a bowel movement, and is experiencing vomiting, it may indicate the possibility of intestinal obstruction
If a person with diabetes who doesn't manage it experiences vomiting and their condition is not good
it is suspected that they may have a very dangerous complication of diabetes
(Hyperthyroidism: A condition characterized by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones) If someone with hyperthyroidism experiences severe vomiting
it is necessary to suspect a worsening of the condition
#Dangerous symptom - Diarrhea
Black stool and bloody stool are dangerous
#Dangerous case of diarrhea: bloody stool Bloody stool is caused by bleeding in the lower digestive tract
#Dangerous case of diarrhea: black stool Black stool is caused by bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, turning into black as it travels downward
In such cases, it is essential to go to the hospital
#Dangerous case of diarrhea: persistent diarrhea lasting more than 3 days Even if a person has watery diarrhea for more than 3 days, it can be a problem
#Dangerous case: diarrhea accompanied by fever Diarrhea accompanied by fever is also dangerous
(Adrenal Gland: An accessory organ of the kidney responsible for hormone production / Hyperthyroidism: A condition characterized by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones.) If someone with adrenal gland issues or hyperthyroidism experiences diarrhea
it may raise suspicion of a worsening of their underlying condition
If severe diarrhea occurs after taking antibiotics for a few days as there is a possibility of acute appendicitis,
(Gastrointestinal Clostridium difficile Infection: An inflammation of the intestine caused by the overgrowth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the colon, resulting from prolonged antibiotic use) it is essential to visit a hospital