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, blue or grey lips or skin, pauses in breathing, collapse, or inability to speak, cry, or feed because of breathlessness.
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
Contact the usual care team promptly if known symptoms become more frequent, feeding becomes harder, or breathing does not return to its usual pattern after an infection.
Seek urgent medical help for:
Increasing effort to breathe, including pulling in around the ribs or neck
Trouble swallowing liquids or saliva
Repeated choking or coughing without recovering normally
Unusual sleepiness or difficulty staying awake
Signs of dehydration, such as very little urine
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange a routine medical assessment for persistent noisy breathing, repeated chest infections, coughing during meals, slow feeding, poor weight gain, or a feeling that solid food sticks.
These symptoms have several possible causes and do not by themselves confirm a vascular ring.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Double aortic arch. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.