Emergency Care for Anxiety & Panic Attacks

Many people who struggle with anxiety experience panic attacks. The sudden feelings of a racing pulse, shortness of breath, and dizziness can be alarming, especially for those who are experiencing them for the first time. Unfortunately, a panic attack can look or feel similar to other life-threatening medical conditions, like a heart attack. The best way to determine if you are having a panic attack is to seek medical attention, so that other possible diagnoses can be ruled out.

If you are having a panic attack or feel like you can’t breathe, don’t wait! Get to ER Katy right away. We’re open 24/7, including holidays, and are conveniently located near the I-10 and Pin Oak Rd. intersection. No appointment needed–just walk in.

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What are the Symptoms of a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a sudden and intense feeling of fear that can come over you within minutes. Panic attacks happen when the body’s “fight or flight” response is triggered, causing the body to react as if it is in life-threatening danger–even when it’s not.

Panic attacks feel different for each person, but common symptoms of a panic attack include:

  • Rapid, pounding heart rate
  • Excessive sweating or hot flashes
  • Shortness of breath or tightness in chest
  • Dizziness or feeling faint
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Numbness or tingling sensation
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Headache

When you feel anxious and your body reacts in this way, it can make your anxiousness even worse, sometimes causing you to feel like you cannot breathe or may be dying. If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a panic attack, it’s always best to seek medical attention to determine what is going on.

Should You Go to the ER for a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks can happen to anyone, but they are most common with individuals who have an anxiety disorder, mood disorder, or other mental illness. If you have a known history of panic attacks, are generally healthy, and are experiencing symptoms that are typical of your anxiety, you may not need to see a doctor. However, the symptoms of severe anxiety and panic attacks can mimic many harmful conditions, including heart attacks, asthma and lung problems, blood clots, and more. For this reason, nearly anyone experiencing symptoms of a panic attack should go to the ER and be evaluated by a medical professional.

ER Katy’s doctors are board-certified in emergency medicine–they can quickly assess your condition and history to rule out potentially life-threatening conditions.

What Happens if You Go to the ER for a Panic Attack?

Diagnosing Panic Attacks at ER Katy

If you go to the hospital or emergency room for anxiety, the doctors are going to want to make sure there are no underlying physical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. Your doctor should take the time to rule out all other possible causes of the symptoms you are experiencing.

At ER Katy, patients can expect a thorough history check and physical examination. We will talk about your history with anxiety, what medications you have been taking, your recent caffeine intake, and any other stressors that contributed to your condition. If necessary, we have all the equipment and expertise for blood and urine testing, drug screens, and even X-rays or CT scans on-site in our emergency room.

Treating Panic Attacks at ER Katy

If a patient has been evaluated and found to have an anxiety disorder, a panic disorder, and/or is experiencing a panic attack, our expert physicians can prescribe and administer medication to treat the symptoms.

Once cleared medically, ER Katy can refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Our physicians provide follow-up calls and are available 24/7 for any questions.

What’s the Difference Between Anxiety Attacks and Panic Attacks?

The terms anxiety attack and panic attack are sometimes used interchangeably. Anxiety attacks tend to come on more gradually, as the feeling of anxiousness builds over time, whereas panic attacks come on suddenly. Both can be physically and emotionally distressing, but the symptoms of a panic attack are so sudden and severe they can feel like you have lost control over your body, your breathing, or your racing thoughts.

Regardless of whether it’s a panic attack or an anxiety attack you are experiencing, if you are unable to manage symptoms on your own and need medical attention, ER Katy is here for you.

We Offer Every Patient Our

THREE PILLARS OF PROMISE

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CONFIDENCE

When panic sets in, you deserve to feel confident in who you seek for medical help. At ER Katy, we seek to combine experience, connection, and comfort to eliminate as much of the stress of your visit as possible!

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TRUST

Trust is key between doctors and the community they serve. We firmly advocate for full trust through complete transparency. Our team will never chastise you for your questions, concerns, or beliefs.

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SERVICE

Your visit to our facility may be an emergency, but that doesn't mean you should suffer a lack of care or service. That's why our patients are treated promptly while maintaining top-notch bedside service from the entire staff!

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What to Expect When At ER Katy

We understand that medical emergencies are stressful all by themselves. That’s why we aim to make your visit to our emergency room as compassionate, comforting, and efficient as possible, starting with letting you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.

STEP ONE: Be led to your comfortable, private patient room, where you’ll be seen promptly by one of our board-certified emergency medicine physicians.

STEP TWO: Receive an in-depth discussion, diagnosis, and treatment plan for your specific condition or emergency.

STEP THREE: Get the recommended prescriptions or medications from our on-site pharmacy, so you can go straight home!

Conveniently Located in Katy, TX

ER Katy is conveniently located close to the southwest corner of Pin Oak Rd and I-10, near the H-E-B, next door to Alicia's Mexican Grille. Boasting a spacious 7,000-sq. foot facility to help keep you as calm and comfortable as possible in your most stressful of times, it's hard to miss us!

If you need urgent medical care or have experienced an emergency, we’re always ready to help. Walk into ER Katy and get seen fast by a board-certified ER doctor. No appointment required and no wait!

Open 24/7

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Took my 2 yr old son on New Year's Eve at 11 pm. They were very prompt and caring. Their treatment was right on the money. He had a very severe allergic reaction.

– Pijush Chatterjee


– Neha Bhakta


Everyone here was genuinely concerned, welcoming, and professional. They were knowledgeable and made sure I understood all possibilities, available services, and best practices. If I need them again, I know they will be my best option.


– Joanne Rodriguez


– Kaian Dislate


– Patti Burges


Had we not taken our son to ER Katy, it's likely he wouldn't have made it through the night!

"ER Katy Emergency Room saved our son's life. All I can say is that we went to an Urgent Care first, waited a ridiculous amount of time, and after we met [with our nurse we were] sent home. We did not feel comfortable with the "nurse" opinion; he seemed to be getting worse. At 1 AM, we rushed our son to a real doctor at ER Katy in the middle of the night and the doctor (real doctor!) and on-site X-Ray Tech found that my son's liver was cut in half. Had we not taken him to ER Katy (which was very local) it's likely he would not have made it through the night.

They reduced his pain immediately, the staff kept us sane and comfortable. The doctor made calls to transfer him to a specialist. ER Katy Doctors arranged everything. They were perfect, quick, professional, and efficient, and we owe them everything. They have doctors (real emergency room doctors) on staff 24 hours a day. I just thank God for ER Katy."

– Mindy Bakker

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