| Condition |
Description |
Signs and Symptoms |
| Deep vein thrombosis |
A blood clot that develops in the deep veins of the body, generally in the legs |
Persistent, severe pain in one leg, sometimes with swelling or red skin. |
| Ectopic pregnancy |
Pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants in tissue outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube but sometimes in the cervix or abdominal cavity |
In the early stages of ectopic pregnancy, symptoms may be absent or mild, but eventually they become severe. A combination of these signs and symptoms should increase suspicion of ectopic pregnancy:
- Unusual abdominal pain or tenderness
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or no monthly bleeding—especially if a change from her usual bleeding pattern
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Fainting
|
| Heart attack |
Occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, usually due to a build-up of cholesterol and other substances in the coronary arteries |
Chest discomfort or uncomfortable pressure; fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes or that comes and goes; spreading pain or numbness in one or both arms, back, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; cold sweats; nausea. |
| Liver disorders |
Infection with hepatitis inflames the liver; cirrhosis scars tissue, which blocks blood flow through the liver |
Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice) and abdominal swelling, tenderness, or pain, especially in the upper abdomen. |
| Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) |
An infection of the upper genital tract, caused by various types of bacteria |
Lower abdominal pain; pain during sex, pelvic examination, or urination; abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge; fever; cervix bleeds when touched. In a pelvic examination, signs of PID include tenderness in the ovaries or fallopian tubes, yellowish cervical discharge containing mucus and pus, bleeding easily when the cervix is touched with a swab, or a positive swab test, and tenderness or pain when moving the cervix and uterus during pelvic examination. |
| Pulmonary embolism |
A blood clot that travels through the bloodstream to the lungs |
Sudden shortness of breath, that may worsen with a deep breath, cough that may bring up blood, fast heart rate, and a light-headed feeling. |
| Ruptured ectopic pregnancy |
When a fallopian tube breaks due to an ectopic pregnancy |
Sudden sharp or stabbing pain in lower abdomen, sometimes on one side. Possible right shoulder pain. Usually, within hours the abdomen becomes rigid and the woman goes into shock. |
| Severe allergic reaction to latex |
When a person's body has a strong reaction to contact with latex |
Rash over much of the body, dizziness brought on by a sudden drop in blood pressure, difficult breathing, loss of consciousness (anaphylactic shock). |
| Stroke |
When arteries to the brain become blocked or burst, preventing normal blood flow and leading to the death of brain tissue |
Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; severe headache with no other known cause. Signs and symptoms develop suddenly. |
| Toxic shock syndrome |
A severe reaction throughout the body to toxins released by bacteria |
High fever, body rash, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, muscle aches. Signs and symptoms develop suddenly. |
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