“Should I go to the ER if I have trouble breathing?”

If you have a problem breathing that is unquestionably different than is your usual and is relatively new, days, not weeks, go to the Emergency Department. One of the best ways to determine whether you are perceiving a problem that requires the ED, is to ask yourself, "if I knew it was crowded and/or that the circumstances might be uncomfortable for me, would I go to the ED?" If the answer is "NO," for most people, this would probably indicate that they do not have an emergent condition. However, there is a minority of people who are so stoic and/or frightened of medical care, that they might answer "no" to the above question, and yet have an emergent condition. They are the exception, not the rule.

Robert Werblin, M.D.

yes