Overview You have been seen in the Emergency Department because of heart palpitations. This leaflet discusses possible causes, how to avoid a recurrence and when to seek help. Heart palpitations are heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable. Palpitations may seem alarming and be uncomfortable. Although palpitations can be caused by abnormal rhythms such as supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) and atrial fibrillation …
Read moreHeadaches emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019OverviewHeadaches are common and in the vast majority of cases are not life threatening although they can cause discomfort and interfere with our lives. You have been seen in the Emergency department and we do not believe that you have a life-threatening cause of headache. It may be that if the headache is interfering with your life or causing you …
Read moreGetting home from the Emergency Department
6th August 2019Going homeOur hospitals are generally well served by public transport. Unfortunately we are unable to provide transport home for most patients. If you have someone who can help collect you from hospital, we can help you contact them when we are close to discharging you home. If you want to order a taxi there is a free phone in the …
Read moreFacial fractures emergency department leaflet
6th August 2019OverviewYou have been assessed by staff in the Emergency Department and found to have broken a bone in your face, i.e. sustained a facial fracture. You have been assessed for other injuries before being discharged from the department. If you have a fracture of the cheek bone, you should not blow your nose for about ten days following the injury. …
Read moreAsthma advice for patients seen in the Emergency Department
6th August 2019What is asthma? Asthma is a common disease which makes the airways of the lungs more sensitive. When the airways become irritated by certain triggers, they become inflamed and narrowed, causing wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Asthma can sometimes get worse for no clear reason, but common triggers include pollen, dust and animal fur. Sometimes exposure to …
Read moreAllergic reactions ED
6th August 2019What is an allergic reaction? An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance, an ‘allergen’. This can cause a wide range of symptoms from a simple rash to problems with blood pressure or breathing. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is the most severe type of allergic reaction. The body over-reacts to the allergen and …
Read moreAcute kidney injury (AKI) ED
6th August 2019What do the kidneys do? Most people have two kidneys that sit in the back part of their abdomen. They are ‘bean-shaped’ and are usually about 10 to 12cm (4 to 5 inches) long. The kidneys remove fluid and waste products from the body by making urine. Urine passes down a tube from each kidney to the bladder where it …
Read moreChest pain ED
6th August 2019Overview Chest pain refers to pain felt anywhere in the chest area, from the level of your shoulders and lower neck to the top of your abdomen and base of your ribs. It may be described as pain, discomfort, tightness, pressure, or a feeling of burning or fullness in the chest. It may also be sharp, dull, throbbing, crushing, tearing, …
Read moreTIA Transient Ischaemic Attack ED
2nd August 2019Overview.You have been referred to the TIA team due to a suspected TIA (transient ischaemic attack or mini-stroke). A TIA is the sudden onset of stroke-like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours (but most commonly within thirty minutes). It usually occurs due to a temporary blockage in the blood supply to the brain. If your symptoms have lasted longer than …
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