Chest Pain
Chest pain has many possible causes ranging from muscle strain and acid reflux to serious cardiac conditions. While most chest pain is not life-threatening, it should always be properly assessed by a doctor to identify the cause and rule out anything dangerous.
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If you are experiencing sudden severe chest pain, call 112 immediately. Do not wait for an online consultation.
Common causes of chest pain
Chest pain originates from many different structures — the heart, lungs, oesophagus, stomach, chest wall muscles, or even anxiety. Common causes include:
Cardiac causes
- Angina — chest tightness or pressure caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, typically triggered by exertion
- Heart attack — sustained chest pain at rest, often radiating to the arm, jaw, or back
- Pericarditis — inflammation of the sac around the heart causing sharp chest pain worse on lying down
Non-cardiac causes
- Acid reflux (GERD) — burning chest pain after eating, often with a sour taste in the mouth
- Costochondritis — inflammation of the cartilage joining ribs to the breastbone, causing localised tenderness
- Anxiety and panic attacks — chest tightness and palpitations that can closely mimic cardiac symptoms
- Pleurisy — sharp pain worsening with breathing, caused by inflammation of the lung lining
- Pulmonary embolism — sudden breathlessness and chest pain requiring emergency assessment
Emergency symptoms — call 112
Call 112 immediately if chest pain is severe or crushing, radiates to your arm, jaw, or back, is accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, or nausea, or if you feel faint or collapse. These may indicate a heart attack or pulmonary embolism — both are life-threatening emergencies.
When to see a doctor
Any new, unexplained, or recurrent chest pain that is not clearly related to a minor cause warrants medical assessment — even if it resolves on its own. Do not dismiss chest pain, particularly if you have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of cardiac problems.
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Diagnosis
Diagnosing the cause of chest pain requires a detailed history, physical examination, and often investigations including ECG, blood tests (including troponin for cardiac injury), chest X-ray, or further cardiac imaging. Our doctors will take a thorough history and direct you to the most appropriate investigations based on your symptoms and risk profile.
How eMedClinic can help
For chest pain that is not an emergency, our doctors provide a thorough initial assessment, arrange appropriate investigations, and refer you to the right specialist where needed. We can also help if you have been discharged from hospital and need follow-up care or clarification about your diagnosis.
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