"Friends always want tricks for making a trip to the hospital faster. The truth is, unless you arrive between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. — or are facing a truly life-threatening emergency — you're probably going to have to wait. So I suggest people use that time to prep an answer to the doctor's first question: 'What brings you in today?'

Get your story down to about three sentences that cover the specifics of your current symptoms. Details like 'I had high blood pressure years ago' aren't helpful and can send us down the wrong path. Instead, talk about what you've been feeling and when:

'I've been getting winded over the last couple of weeks, and now my chest has started to hurt. The symptoms get worse when I climb the stairs to my condo. It usually stops after I've been sitting for minutes or so.' I'd know right away that something was wrong with your heart and we needed to rule out a heart attack."

—Andra Blomkalns, M.D., vice chair of academic a airs in the department of emergency medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas

"I saw a woman in the ER who had a tampon lodged deep inside her. She had forgotten to take it out, and it was stuck there for a good two weeks. By then things had gotten aromatic, which was embarrassing for her.

Another time, a friend sheepishly messaged me because he had something stuck in his rectum. I told them that there was absolutely no need to be embarrassed. Trust me, somebody has already done the same thing that's landed you in our care. We're not going to judge you or laugh at you, so don't let guilt or shame keep you from getting help.

The woman was lucky she didn't end up with toxic shock syndrome, and I was able to remove her tampon fairly easily, but my friend needed surgery. It's better to be open and honest with a doctor before things take a turn for the worse.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

—Angela Mattke, M.D., M.P.H., spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians and traveling physician for US Acute Care Solutions in Canton, Ohio

"Here's something that happens a lot: You have tests done, and then the doctor pops into your room and says, 'Everything is normal. I'm sending you home — just read your discharge instructions.'

I know doctors are busy, but I tell friends not to leave without asking questions. Make them open-ended to slow him down: 'What does "normal" mean?' The doctor might say, 'You had abdominal pain, so we checked your stomach and gallbladder. You have gastritis, which can be treated at home.'

Or he may tell you he has only a presumptive diagnosis — that means you'll need further testing. In that case, a good question would be 'What's next?' You want to know who you need to see and how soon. And don't be afraid to ask a doctor to explain something in terms you can understand!"

—David Farcy, M.D., chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida

"My stepfather once broke his hip while changing a lightbulb — he was standing on a chair when he fell. ER docs see that kind of thing a lot, so I tell friends to keep a sturdy ladder in the house and use it for any task that involves climbing, no matter how small.

Have someone spot you too. And while this wasn't the case for my stepdad, please don't attempt any home repairs after a glass of wine or two — drinking alcohol and doing almost anything else increases your chances of meeting an emergency physician."

—Dr. Mattke

This story originally appeared in the July/August 2018 issue of Redbook.