24/7 Emergency Care. Our patients are first.
Chest pain isn’t something to “watch and wait.” It can be caused by heart problems, blood clots, lung issues, or other conditions that need urgent treatment — and you can’t tell the difference at home.
If your chest pain is new, severe, or feels wrong: call 911 or go to the nearest ER now. Major medical organizations specifically advise emergency care for new/unexplained chest pain or suspected heart attack symptoms.
Go to the ER right away (or call 911) if chest pain is:
Pressure, squeezing, tightness, or crushing in the chest
Sudden, severe, or getting worse
Not going away after a few minutes
Spreading to the arm(s), back, neck, jaw, or stomach
With shortness of breath
With cold sweats, ashen/gray color, or you look very ill
With nausea/vomiting, lightheadedness, or fainting
Also treat it as an emergency if:
Pain is worse when you breathe in, especially with sudden shortness of breath or coughing blood (possible clot/lung emergency)
Chest pain happens after a fall, car accident, or blow to the chest
You have chest pain plus symptoms that feel like a heart attack, even if the pain is “mild”
Most chest pain in kids is not from a heart attack — but some patterns are urgent.
Bring your child/teen to the ER now if chest pain comes with:
Trouble breathing, blue/gray lips, or severe wheezing
Fainting, near-fainting, severe dizziness, or confusion
Fast heartbeat they can’t calm down from, or they look very unwell
Pain that starts during exercise or they can’t continue normal activity
Chest pain after injury/trauma
A known heart condition, or strong family history of sudden cardiac death (play it safe and get evaluated)
Why chest pain can be serious
Chest pain can come from the heart, lungs, blood vessels, digestive tract, muscles, or ribs. Some causes are not life-threatening (like reflux or muscle strain). Others can be deadly (like heart attack or a blood clot in the lung). The problem is that symptoms can overlap — so the safest move with concerning chest pain is urgent evaluation.
“Should I call 911 or just drive?”
If you think you may be having a heart attack or serious symptoms, calling 911 is safer than driving because paramedics can start care immediately and take you to the right facility.
“ER or urgent care?”
For chest pain, the threshold for ER care is low.
Choose the ER if pain is new/unexplained, severe, persistent, or paired with any red-flag symptoms (shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, fainting, radiating pain).
Only consider urgent care/primary care if discomfort is mild, clearly non-cardiac, improving, and you have no red flags—and even then, if you’re unsure, ER is appropriate.
What Post Oak ER can do for chest pain (Houston)
At Post Oak ER, our team can evaluate chest pain quickly and treat urgent causes immediately. Depending on your symptoms, care may include:
Immediate assessment and monitoring
Cardiac care when heart-related symptoms are suspected
IV treatments (fluids/medications) as needed
On-site imaging (CT, X-ray, ultrasound) when clinically appropriate to check for dangerous causes
Trauma care support when chest pain follows injury
Care for adults and children, 24/7 — no appointment needed
Whether you’re in Westchase, Midtown, or the Heights, getting to Post Oak ER is simple. We’re centrally located near major Houston routes like I‑610 and San Felipe — just a short drive from Memorial Park and River Oaks. Many patients reach us via Westheimer or Woodway Dr., depending on their neighborhood.
We accept most major insurance plans and also welcome self-pay patients with transparent, upfront pricing. Many Memorial-area patients visit us using Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Molina, and United Healthcare.
Yes. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our freestanding ER model is designed to minimize or eliminate wait times so you’re seen fast.
No. Walk in anytime. If it’s an emergency, come straight in or call ahead and we’ll be ready: 832-581-2277.
5018 San Felipe St, Houston, TX 77056 — near The Galleria/Uptown. Free, convenient parking right by the entrance.
Yes. Our board-certified emergency physicians care for all ages, including pediatric emergencies.
Chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache/migraine, abdominal pain, injuries and fractures, cuts requiring stitches, high fever, dehydration, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and more. If you believe it’s life-threatening, call 911.
Yes. We offer on-site CT scans, digital X-rays, and a full laboratory, so most tests and results are done during your visit.
Absolutely. We routinely see patients from Uptown, The Galleria, River Oaks, Tanglewood, and Memorial.
A photo ID, insurance card (if available), a list of medications/allergies, and any recent medical records you have.
We accept most major private insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan; our team will help verify benefits and discuss any out-of-pocket costs. Questions? Call 832-581-2277.
Urgent care handles minor illnesses/injuries. ERs have advanced imaging, lab, medications, and emergency physicians for time-sensitive or severe conditions (e.g., chest pain, severe abdominal pain, serious injury, difficulty breathing).
Yes. If inpatient care or surgery is required, we coordinate a direct transfer to the appropriate hospital.
Times vary by condition and testing, but our no-wait intake and on-site diagnostics help you get answers and treatment as quickly as possible.