A lot of Americans go to the emergency room each year. In fact, according to the CDC, there are 139.8 million visits annually. Many of them are for reasons ranging from sudden illness to accidents. However, there are some situations where someone should immediately seek medical care. Here are three scenarios that emergency rooms regularly see.

No matter how ready you are for the birth of a child, contractions start when your body is ready to deliver the baby. Unfortunately, unlike a Google calendar meeting, you're not able to simply reschedule your body going into labor. Especially with higher-risk pregnancies, you should make it a priority to make it to the emergency room as soon as contractions begin. That way, you can ensure a healthy delivery process for you and your baby.

There are some aches and pains that people can ignore or treat themselves. For example, you probably don't need to visit a doctor if you're suffering from a headache. However, chest pains are something that should alarm anyone. If you're feeling pains in your chest, there's a risk that your heart is under duress. Those are the tell-tale signs of a heart attack. In that situation, heading to the emergency room might be smarter than waiting it out.

There may be some times when people are backed up and can't get any relief. Especially with those who deal with digestive or stomach issues, like Crohn's disease, it may be extremely difficult for someone to handle that on their own. Visiting the emergency room means that you'll be able to unplug your digestive system while under the care of medical professionals.

The emergency room is a place where the staff, especially experienced doctors and nurses, have seen all kinds of situations. When you have unanswered questions regarding your health or have a pain that you just cannot find a solution for, consider the emergency room as your next stop. If you have to go to the emergency room, know that you're in good hands.

Do you live in or near New Braunfels, TX? Here at Lonestar 24 HR ER, we are an emergency room that is run by some of the best in the country. We have all kinds of medical equipment, including CT scans and X-rays. No matter the circumstances, we're here to help. Contact us today or visit us in person to learn more. In these situations, don't hesitate to come by should you need assistance.