Emergency Room for Chest Pain
If you’re experiencing chest pain, don’t wait! Get to ER Katy right away.
Chest pain could be a symptom of a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention, such as heart attack, a blood clot in the lungs, inflammation of the heart or lungs, etc.
We’re staffed 24/7 with board-certified physicians who specialize in emergency medicine, so we’re always ready to diagnose the cause of your chest pain and get you started on the right treatment right away.
We’re conveniently located near the I-10 and Pin Oak Rd. intersection.
10 Years of Serving the Greater Kary Area
17,000 Number of Patients Served in the Katy area
Voted Best Emergency Room in Katy 2022
Should You Go to the ER for Chest Pain?
If your chest pain lasts for more than 5 minutes or is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you may need to go to the nearest ER:
- Pain that travels from the chest to the back
- Pain or tightness in the jaw or left arm
- A feeling of pressure, squeezing or tightness under the breastbone
- Confusion/disorientation
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Very low blood pressure
- Very low heart rate
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
Chest pain is a common symptom of many different types of medical problems. Some of these problems - such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or aortic dissection - could be life threatening. Some of these problems - such as muscle strains, heartburn, or panic attacks - are not life threatening. It can be very difficult to tell exactly what issue is causing your chest pain and how severe that issue is without getting examined by a medical professional.
When trying to decide between visiting an urgent care or ER for chest pain, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and visit ER Katy right away, especially if you have a family history of heart attacks, heart disease, or other serious conditions.
Urgent care centers can be equipped to handle minor injuries and illnesses during hours when your primary care physician is not available to see you. But for an issue like chest pain, which has a wide range of causes whose severity can range from a relatively mild injury to a life-threatening condition that needs immediate emergency treatment, it’s best to go to ER Katy to be evaluated and treated. We’re staffed 24/7 with board-certified emergency room physicians who specialize in all aspects of emergency medicine, and we have all of the necessary equipment to diagnose and treat life-threatening emergencies on-site with no time wasted.
Common Causes of Chest Pain
The chest is a particularly complex, sensitive area of the body. It’s home to the heart, the lungs, and parts of the digestive system, and it’s protected by the ribs, the sternum, and the associated muscles. Chest pain could arise from problems with any of these organs, bones, or muscles, which is why it’s so difficult to tell exactly what the cause of chest pain is without the help of a medical professional.
These are just some of the conditions that could have chest pain as a symptom:
- Heart attack
- Angina
- Coronary artery disease
- Aortic dissection
- Fractured ribs
- Heartburn
- Panic attack
- Pulmonary hypertension
- And more
Chest pain has a wide range of possible causes with a wide range of severity. This is why we recommend that you seek help for chest pain at ER Katy, where we’re equipped to diagnose and treat both emergency and non-emergency causes of chest pain. We’re here to help you 24/7, no matter how mild or severe the issue causing your chest pain is.
How to Tell If You’re Having a Heart Attack - Common Symptoms
Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms typically associated with a heart attack, but there are other signs and symptoms of heart attack that you should also be aware of.
Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms when having a heart attack or heart problems, and some people may have symptoms that are more subtle or atypical, but it’s good to know the most common heart attack symptoms so you can identify them quickly and get to ER Katy for immediate medical assistance.
The most common symptoms of heart attack include:
- Chest pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest - usually this pain can be described as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, tightness, or aching
- Pain in other areas of the upper body, including pain in one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach - this pain can also feel like pressure, squeezing, tightness, or aching
- Shortness of breath
- Excessive sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Anxiety or panic
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sudden extreme fatigue
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
Women can experience many of the same heart attack symptoms as men, but they are also more likely to experience the symptoms listed above that are unrelated to chest pain, such as shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
If you or someone you know experiences any of the above heart attack symptoms, you should get to ER Katy right away so you can be seen by a doctor who can determine if you are having a heart attack and start the appropriate treatments. Don’t wait. When it comes to heart attack, every second counts.
Heartburn vs. Heart Attack - How to Tell the Difference
Telling the difference between a heart attack and heartburn can sometimes be a challenge because they can both cause discomfort in the chest area. But there are some key differences in symptoms that can help you differentiate between them.
Location and Nature of Pain - During a heart attack, chest pain or discomfort is typically felt behind the breastbone (sternum) and may radiate to the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper back. The pain is usually more centralized and may feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or heaviness. Heartburn typically causes a burning sensation in the chest, usually behind the breastbone. The discomfort tends to be localized to the upper abdomen or lower chest and may worsen after eating or lying down.
Accompanying Symptoms - A heart attack is commonly accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, sweating, and pain or discomfort in other areas of the body like the arms, neck, or jaw. Heartburn is typically accompanied by a different set of symptoms, such as a sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation of food or liquid, bloating, burping, or a feeling of fullness.
Triggers - Heart attacks can occur suddenly and may not have an identifiable trigger. However, physical exertion or emotional stress can sometimes precede a heart attack. Heartburn often does have identifiable triggers, such as eating certain foods, eating large meals, or lying down after a meal.
Response to Medications - Pain or discomfort associated with a heart attack typically does not improve with medications used to treat heartburn. Heartburn symptoms can often improve after using medications like antacids, proton pump inhibitors, or H2 blockers.
If you’re not certain whether your chest pain is the result of heartburn or a heart attack, it’s best to be safe and get to ER Katy quickly for an examination. We’re staffed 24/7 with board-certified physicians who specialize in emergency medicine. We’ll be able to determine whether your chest pain is an emergency like a heart attack and make sure you receive the appropriate treatment.
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Chest Pains Are A (Real) Pain, But Don't Panic!
With ER Katy, never stress over who will take care of you when you're at your most vulnerable. We offer every patient our THREE PILLARS OF PROMISE:
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!
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.
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!
What To Expect When You're Here
Stressful situations or high-pressure emergencies may have brought you here, but that doesn't mean your experience should be anything short of efficient, kind, and comforting.
Knowing what will happen and when works wonders in reducing ER anxiety.
Where We're Located
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!
We are 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.
Hear from patients we've served in the Katy area that keeps us their go-to emergency room facility when times get tough.
"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
The Differences Make All The Difference
Knowing the options gives you the freedom to make a truly informed choice of care.
Urgent Care
What They Don't Offer:
Cannot service...chest pains
Cannot service...difficulty breathing
Cannot service...strokes
Cannot service...head trauma
Cannot service...severe blood loss
Cannot service...loss of vision
Cannot service...high severity cases
Cannot service...past regular business hours or holidays
Cannot service...with Physicians Board Certified in ER staff, 24/7
Cannot service...for CT Scans or Ultra Sounds
Cannot offer...an on-site, fully functioning lab for fast results
Cannot offer...an on-site, fully functioning lab for fast results
Cannot offer...an on-site pharmacy for your first round of prescriptions, causing you extra time & an extra trip before going home!
Cannot offer...industry-quick wait times
ER Katy
What We Do Offer:
Chest Pains
Difficulty Breathing
Stroke
Head Trauma
Severe Bleeding
Loss of Vision
Children's Pediatric Care
Capable of Handling High Severity Cases
On-site CT Scans & Ultra Sounds
On-site X-ray Cardiac & EKG Monitoring
Physicians Board Certified in ER, On-site 24/7
Warm Environment with Natural Lightining
Little-to-No Harsh Fluorescent Lighting
Child-Friendly Decor to Reduce Anxiety for Younger Patients
Open 24/7...even on holidays
Full Lab – Ready with Results in Minutes!
On-site Pharmacy – No Initial Prescription Referral Required!
Fast, Friendly, Stress-less Check-ins (ask about our pre-filled patient forms for future visits)**
Get Seen Fast! Quick 5-Min (Avg) Wait Times
Frequently Asked Questions
You ask we'll answer.
Yes, we do "accept" all major insurances- Blue Cross, Aetna, UHC, Cigna. However, we are out-of-network with all of them. We accept Medicare and Tricare (VA). We do not accept Medicaid.
Yes!
We accept and openly encourage you to come to ER Katy, even if you don't have insurance.
ER Katy does work closely with patients' budgets as we heavily discount bills and too often, offer 0% interest payment plans. From what we have learned, no one else takes this kind of approach.