Helping Others Smile FoundationSmile Patient Toolkit
All symptom guides

A new symptom. A clearer next step.

When to get care

The symptom guides explain which signs need action. Your care team’s personal instructions take priority.

Examples of signs that need emergency help

  • New severe or persistent chest pain or pressure, especially with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to an arm, jaw, or back.
  • Severe trouble breathing, choking, or blue or grey lips; swelling of the tongue or throat with breathing or swallowing difficulty.
  • Sudden face drooping, weakness on one side, trouble speaking, new vision or balance problems, or a sudden severe headache—even if symptoms improve.
  • Collapse, inability to wake someone, new severe confusion, or a seizure that is not stopping.
  • Bleeding that will not stop, vomiting blood, or sudden severe belly pain.
  • Immediate danger of harming yourself or another person. Seek emergency help and, if possible, stay with a trusted person.

These are examples, not a complete list. If you think it is an emergency, get help now. Do not drive yourself when you may be having a heart attack, stroke, or are too unwell to travel safely.

United States · Call 911India · Call 112Elsewhere: call your local emergency number.

Choose the right kind of help

The symptom guides explain which signs need action. Your care team’s personal instructions take priority.

01

Emergency help now

For emergency warning signs, call emergency services. A routine appointment or message is not enough.

02

Contact a clinician today

For the “contact today” signs in a guide, call your clinic or an urgent-care service. If the clinic is closed or cannot see you, ask where to go today. If signs become severe, get emergency help.

03

Arrange a visit

For ongoing or returning symptoms without emergency or same-day signs, book a visit. Ask when you should be seen; do not use this page to rule out a serious problem.

Pregnant or gave birth in the past year?

Get medical care immediately for warning signs such as a severe or worsening headache, vision changes, trouble breathing, chest pain, fever of 38°C / 100.4°F or higher, severe belly pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. During pregnancy, fluid leaking or a baby moving less also needs immediate care. Tell the clinician about the pregnancy, even if it was months ago.

These guides are written for adults. Children need age-specific advice. Contact a clinician earlier if you are pregnant, gave birth in the last year, have weakened immunity, or have a serious ongoing condition. Tell them about recent surgery and any new medicines.

CDC maternal warning signs

What to tell your care team

Use paper or your own notebook. Do not send personal medical details through this website.

  1. When did it start? Was the change sudden?
  2. Where is it, how does it feel, and is it getting worse?
  3. What other symptoms happen with it?
  4. What medicines, recent illnesses, or health conditions should the team know about?

Do not delay urgent care to fill in notes. Avoid changing prescription medicines based on this guide.

My after-visit plan

Sources behind this original guide

Official references support this educational guide. Sources may open an external site in another language; the full English, Spanish, and Hindi guide is on this website.

Sources checked: · Medical and language review confirmed by the foundation