Why chest pain

Your doctor will ask you some questions, and your answers can help them diagnose the cause of your chest pain. Be prepared to discuss any related symptoms and to share information about any medications, treatments, or other medical conditions you may have.

Your doctor may order tests to help diagnose or eliminate heart-related problems as a cause of your chest pain. These may include:. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. Your doctor might treat chest pain with medication, noninvasive procedures, surgery, or a combination of these methods. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your chest pain. Shop for antacids. Your doctor can treat and resolve chest pain caused by many common conditions.

These may include acid reflux , anxiety attacks , and asthma or related disorders. However, chest pain can also be a symptom of a life-threatening condition.

Seek immediate medical treatment if you think you may be experiencing a heart attack or another heart problem. This can save your life. Once your doctor makes a diagnosis, they can recommend additional treatments to help you manage your condition. It can be frightening to have chest pain that comes and goes. If your chest pain is accompanied by pain in your arm, shortness of breath, sweating…. A heart attack happens when the blood supply to your heart becomes blocked and damages the heart muscle.

The longer a heart attack is left untreated more damage occurs. In some cases, a heart attack can be fatal. Symptoms of a heart attack may include:. Symptoms of a heart attack may vary from person to person, and some people have few symptoms or none at all. Angina is a short-lived chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough blood or oxygen — often when it has to work harder than usual. This can occur with exercise, stress, cold weather or after eating a large meal.

Angina is usually caused by underlying coronary artery disease, where the arteries of the heart become narrow due to the buildup of plaque fatty deposits in the artery walls.

This narrowing means that blood supply to the heart is reduced, causing chest pain angina. Angina does not usually cause damage to the heart. It is important to remember that people without these risk factors can also experience angina or a heart attack. The symptoms of a heart attack are similar to other conditions, so your chest pain may have nothing to do with your heart.

Do not take aspirin if you have an allergy to aspirin, or your doctor has told you not to take it. Do not drive yourself to hospital. Wait for the ambulance. It has specialised staff and equipment that may save your life. Before medical treatment can begin, the cause of the pain must be found.

You may a have a lot of tests done including:. If your healthcare professional thinks you may have angina, they may order further tests to check the state of the blood vessels that supply your heart. They may also arrange an exercise stress test on an exercise bike or treadmill or other tests — such as an angiogram or CT scan of your chest. It is not always easy to diagnose the cause of chest pain. Your doctor may need to see you more than once to be sure, and further tests may be needed, or you may be referred to a cardiologist heart doctor.

If your doctor has ruled out serious causes of chest pain, it is likely you will make a full recovery. General self-care suggestions include:. Ways to reduce your risk of heart attack include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.

The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment.

Severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:.

It can be difficult to distinguish heart-related chest pain from other types of chest pain. However, chest pain that is less likely due to a heart problem is more often associated with:. The classic symptoms of heartburn — a painful, burning sensation behind the breastbone — can be caused by problems with the heart or the stomach. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call or emergency medical assistance immediately.

Don't ignore the symptoms of a heart attack. If you can't get an ambulance or emergency vehicle to come to you, have a neighbor or a friend drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only if you have no other option. Some types of chest pain are associated with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall, including:.

Chest pain care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. They can determine whether your injury will be able to heal on its own or if treatment is necessary.

Heartburn refers to the burning sensation you feel in your chest after eating, bending over, working out, or even when lying down at night. Indigestion refers to an upset stomach. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back into your food pipe, or esophagus. Although you may be able to find relief with home remedies , you should see your doctor for a diagnosis.

They may be able to prescribe medication to help treat or prevent symptoms. Chest pain is one of the main symptoms of costochondritis. This condition happens when your rib cage cartilage becomes inflamed.

The pain can be severe or mild. Although the pain is typically felt on the left side of your chest, it may also occur on the right side. Other symptoms include pain in your back and abdomen and pain that worsens when you cough or take a deep breath. Chest pain caused by costochondritis may feel similar to a heart attack or other heart-related conditions, so you should seek emergency care. Your doctor can rule out any life-threatening conditions.

In most cases, cholecystitis is caused by gallstones blocking the tube that leads out of the organ. Your gallbladder may also become inflamed because of problems with your bile duct or tumors. If your gallbladder is inflamed, you may feel intense pain in your upper right abdomen that can shoot up to your right — not left — shoulder or back.

Pancreatitis can happen for a number of reasons, including alcoholism or gallstones. This pain can also radiate to your back, adding to the discomfort you feel in your chest. Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:. If pancreatitis becomes chronic , you may have oily stool and abnormal weight loss. Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Pleurisy occurs when the membrane lining the inner side of your chest cavity, known as the pleura, becomes inflamed. This can cause pain on either side of your chest when you breathe in and out, as well as pain in your shoulders and back. Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs.