Your health: When should you go to the emergency room?

More than 300,000 Americans on average are treated in emergency rooms every day, according to government statistics.

So how do you decide when a medical condition rises to the level of “emergency?”

The American College of Emergency Physicians lists 10 conditions that should always mean a trip to the hospital:

1. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

2. Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure

3. Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness

4. Changes in vision

5. Confusion or changes in mental status

6. Any sudden or severe pain

7. Uncontrolled bleeding

8. Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea

9. Coughing or vomiting blood

10. Suicidal or homicidal feelings

And here are a few more tips for dealing with the emergency room:

— Remember that emergency doctors see patients based on severity of illnesses or injuries, not on a first-come, first serve basis.

— Bring a list of medications and allergies. Know how long you’ve been taking medications and your dosage.

— Know your immunizations: This will likely be a long list for children; mainly tetanus, flu and Hepatitis B for adults.

Your number of the day: 75

Percentage of college undergraduates who had a potential Hepatitis C risk factor, from tattoos to sharing of body jewelry, one study found.

Of 610 students surveyed on their knowledge of Hepatitis C and their experiences with traditional (intravenous drug use, blood transfusions) and novel risk factors (such as getting tattoos and sharing body jewelry), 27 percent didn’t know Hepatitis C virus could be spread through intravenous drug use, and 77 percent were unaware it could be transmitted by intranasal cocaine use. More than half reported sharing pierced jewelry.

Most also reported that their doctors in the past three years had not asked them about behaviors that put them at risk for infection.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person through needles, unsterilized tattoo or body piercing equipment, and shared hygiene items with infected blood on them.

— Staff reports