When Should I Go to the ER for Chest Pain?
Heart attacks are emergencies. You should never question when to go to the ER for chest pain – Go! Ignoring your symptoms and delaying care can result in disability or even death. If you have chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes or comes and goes, call 911 or go to the closest Penn emergency room. Penn Highlands emergency cardiovascular care offers the best treatment for cardiac emergencies throughout central Pennsylvania.
What Are the Symptoms of Cardiac Emergencies?
Chest pain is the most commonly reported symptom of cardiac emergencies and heart attack in both men and women. But it doesn’t feel the same to everyone. Some people describe chest pain as discomfort or pressure and others describe the pain as crushing—as though someone is sitting on your chest.
And not everyone experiences chest pain during a heart attack or cardiac emergency. In fact, as many as one in three heart attack survivors report having no chest pain at all, according to the American College of Cardiology.
Aside from chest pain or discomfort, the following symptoms are common during heart attack, especially in women:
- Discomfort in the upper body, including one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Cold sweats
- Nausea or lightheadedness
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Should I Go to an Emergency Room for Heart Attack or Call 911?
Heart attack is a cardiac emergency that could lead to disability or death if not treated in time. Emergency rooms are equipped to rapidly diagnose and treat heart attacks.
Unless you’re just down the street from an ER, it’s best to call 911 if you think you’re having a heart attack. The medics can begin lifesaving treatment as soon as they reach you and continue care on the way to the hospital. They also will alert the Penn emergency room staff of your condition so a heart attack team can be assembled in preparation of your arrival. Ask to be transported to an emergency room for heart attack that specializes in cardiac emergencies and heart care.
Never drive yourself to the ER if you think you’re having a heart attack.
What Will Happen in the ER if I Come in with Chest Pain?
Whether you arrive by car or ambulance, if you show up to the ER with chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, you will be seen promptly. The first step will be to get an electrocardiogram (ECG). This painless test uses electrodes to check your heart’s electrical activity. It can signal a heart event.
Next an ER doctor will evaluate you. They will ask questions about your health history and symptoms and perform a physical exam. You’ll then likely have bloodwork and possibly an X-ray or other imaging test.
What Type of Treatment Will I Receive for my Cardiac Emergency?
If your emergency cardiovascular care team determines you’re having a heart attack, they will advise you of the treatment plan, which might include medication, heart catheterization, or heart surgery. Medication is designed to dissolve any blood clots causing your heart attack, but that’s not always enough. Heart catheterization is a procedure in which a physician threads a needle and a tiny balloon through a blood vessel to your heart. They then inflate the balloon where the blockage is in your heart to open the vessel and allow blood to flow.
Where Can I Find a Penn Emergency Room for Chest Pain Near Me?
If you think you are experiencing a cardiac emergency such as a heart attack, call 911 or get to the nearest Penn emergency room. The Penn Highlands hospitals across central Pennsylvania provide top emergency cardiovascular care. Our highly trained emergency room for heart attack teams are expert in chest pain and cardiovascular emergencies, and provide 24-hour care for all medical emergencies, 365 days a year. Adults and children of all ages, regardless of ability to pay, are always welcome in our Penn Highlands emergency rooms.
Located on the second floor of Penn Highlands Brookville, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury in Jefferson County. The team has earned the PA Hospital and Health System’s Excellence in Patient Safety Award and a Chartis Center for Rural Health Performance Leadership Award for outcomes. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Clearfield, the Emergency Department offers 24-hour care for serious illness and injury, backed by full on-site imaging — CT, ultrasound, and MRI — all ACR-accredited. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Connellsville, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury in Fayette County, with on-site CT and ultrasound for fast diagnosis. The hospital was named a 2024 Lown Institute Top Hospital for Fair Share Spending. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Elk, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury in St. Marys and Elk County. The hospital holds a Get With the Guidelines Rural Stroke (Bronze) designation and is a National Rural Health Association Top 20 Critical Access Hospital. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Huntingdon, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury, backed by an on-site, Corazon-accredited cardiac catheterization lab and general surgery team — so chest pain and certain surgical emergencies can be treated without a transfer. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Mon Valley, the Emergency Department is a Joint Commission–certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Advanced Primary Heart Attack Center, with an on-site cardiac catheterization lab for immediate intervention. Named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands State College, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury with direct access to Huntingdon’s surgical and cardiac resources. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands Tyrone, the Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for serious illness and injury to the Tyrone area, with a team voted a 2024 Centre County Favorites Silver winner for Best Hospital. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
Located on the first floor of Penn Highlands DuBois, the Emergency Department is home to the only Level II Adult Trauma Center in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with four trauma bays and a 20-room Neuro/Trauma ICU. The ER holds a Stroke Gold Plus designation and is a 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital. Pediatric emergency care is available for all ages.
