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CDC warns Sepsis is a "Medical Emergency"

Posted at 8:21 AM, Aug 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-25 12:09:13-04

This morning the CDC is warning us about a deadly condition you may not know much about.

It's called Sepsis.
 
Right now the CDC is calling it a "medical emergency."
 
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication from an infection.
 
It's how boxing legend Muhammad Ali and actress Patty Duke both died earlier this year.
 
Now the new CDC evaluation found doctors may not be catching it early enough. The report shows seven in ten people who had recently been to the doctor had Sepsis, and the doctor didn't recognize it. 
 
The CDC says that you need to know if you are at higher risk and know the symptoms so you can talk with your doctor.
 
Sepsis happens most often if you're 65 or older or have a chronic medical condition like diabetes. 
 
If you have a lung, urinary tract, skin or gut infection you're also more likely to develop Sepsis. Symptoms can include extreme pain, disorientation, and a high heart rate.
 
Catching the condition early can save your life.