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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffA wide range of health problems can cause chest pain. In many cases, the underlying cause has nothing to do with your heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a doctor.
Chest pain related to cardiac problems
In general, chest pain related to a heart attack or another heart problem is associated with one or more of the following:
- Pressure, fullness or tightness in your chest
- Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders and arms, especially your left arm
- Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, goes away and comes back or varies in intensity
- Shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness or nausea
Chest pain related to noncardiac problems
Chest pain that isn't related to a heart problem is more often associated with:
- A burning sensation behind your breastbone (sternum)
- A sour taste or a sensation of food re-entering your mouth
- Trouble swallowing
- Pain that gets better or worse when you change your body position
- Pain that intensifies when you breathe deeply or cough
- Tenderness when you push on your chest
When to see a doctor
If you have new or unexplained chest pain or suspect you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don't waste time trying to diagnose heart attack symptoms yourself.
Every minute is crucial if you're having a heart attack. A trip to the emergency room could save your life — or bring you peace of mind if nothing is seriously wrong with your health.
Don't drive yourself to the hospital, unless you have no other option. Driving yourself puts you and others at risk if your condition suddenly worsens.
- Meisel JL. Diagnostic approach to chest pain in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Cannon CP, et al. Approach to the patient with chest pain. In: Libby P, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50052-2&uniq=159657875&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=887271424. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Talley NJ. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: Irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and noncardiac chest pain. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/159657875-6/887271424/1492/531.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50144-0--cesec86_5963. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- What is angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angina/Angina_WhatIs.html. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- What is a heart attack? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/HeartAttack/HeartAttack_WhatIs.html. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Shingles disease: Questions and answers (herpes zoster). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/dis-faqs.htm. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Mercier LR. Costochondritis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/160691114-3/889462700/2088/162.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00012-5--sc0235_3245. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- What are pleurisy and other disorders of the pleura. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pleurisy/pleurisy_treatments.html. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Ferri FF. Angina pectoris. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/160691114-8/889471687/2088/48.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00010-1--s4220_886. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest warning signs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053. Accessed Sept. 20, 2009.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 25, 2009.
