What Would George Clooney Do? 7 Simple Ways For Knowing It's Time To Go To The ER

Have you ever driven yourself to the emergency unit of your local hospital only to wonder, while sitting there for three hours at 11:00 at night, that you could've just stayed at home?

Alternatively, have you ever sat at home believing that the pain in your chest is merely indigestion only to realize that a rapid trip to the ER was absolutely critical?

How do you know when you or a friend or loved one should go to ER and when not to? Are there certain symptoms that you should just give the benefit of the doubt to, and, if so, what are they?

Here is a simple list of symptoms that should alarm you that it's time to get to ER:

1. Chest Pain or Pressure: Yes, this could be too much caffeine or too rich a meal--or both--or just feeling run down after having a cold and still working 80 hours over the past week. However, it could just as well be a heart attack or other heart issue. Don't mess with this one--best to get checked out.

2. Uncontrolled Bleeding: This one should be obvious. Whenever things on House MD go wrong and the whole story turns and makes your break out into a cringe, it's when someone starts spontaneously bleeding out of their nose, mouth or further south-- Not good. If you suddenly start bleeding uncontrollably, get plenty of gauze and linen, and get to the ER.

3. Sudden or Severe Pain: We've covered off chest in #1; but other severe and sudden pain isn't good either, such as abdomen, which could alarm you to an appendix attack or abdominal aneurism.  If you're a female with sudden and severe abdominal pain, and your pregnant, it's important to get to the ER: you could be having a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.

4. Coughing or Vomiting Blood: This again falls in the House MD crisis criteria. If you, following #2, start to spontaneously cough and/or vomit blood, go to the ER.

5. Sudden Dizziness, Weakness, or Blurred Vision: These could be signs of stroke. Many people tend to ignore these signs because they tend to come and go; but if a blood vessel is blocked and there's a lack of oxygen to the brain, the stroke could take place even 23 hours from the initial symptoms.  Better safe than sorry.

6. Severe and Persistent Vomiting and Diarrhea: With Ebola still being an issue, this one is particularly salient. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you have to get yourself to the hospital, and limit your contact with other people.

7. Mental Confusion: This could be the sign of a number of things, such as low blood sugar, stroke, psychosis, seizure. If you experience this, and are aware that you are experiencing this, or you have friends and family who are worried about you, just go to the ER.

8. Complete Immobility: If you are having, for example, back spasms and severe back pain, and can't get up off the floor without feeling that you'll have a stroke or heart attack from the pain, it's time to call 911 and get to the hospital for tests and medication.

The most important thing in all of this is if you feel that you need to go, just go--don't second guess it. Just by being in a safe place with all kinds of doctors around with sophisticated equipment could be enough to help you feel better. When in doubt, go.