Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, collapse, unresponsiveness, or chest pain with sweating, nausea, breathlessness, or faintness.
A right-sided heart does not make chest pain harmless.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Seek urgent medical assessment for:
New or worsening shortness of breath
Fainting or near-fainting
A sustained fast or irregular heartbeat with weakness or dizziness
New bluish or gray lips, tongue, or skin
Severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, or a swollen abdomen
Fever in someone known to have no spleen or poor spleen function
Pain from a heart problem may be felt in an unusual place, but it still needs prompt assessment.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange routine medical follow-up if there are new but non-severe symptoms such as declining exercise tolerance, repeated palpitations, ankle swelling, persistent cough, frequent chest infections, or feeding and growth concerns in a child.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Dextrocardia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.