Chest pain comes from many sources, including the heart, lungs, esophagus and stomach, the chest wall muscles and ribs, and anxiety, and the pattern of the pain points toward the cause.
Heart-related pain often feels like pressure, tightness, or squeezing that lasts more than a few minutes, may spread to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, and can come with sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath. Pain that burns behind the breastbone after meals or when lying down usually points to acid reflux. Pain that gets worse when you press one spot, twist, or breathe deeply usually comes from muscles, cartilage, or ribs. Sharp pain with fever, cough, or breathlessness suggests a lung cause such as pneumonia or a blood clot. Keeping a note of what you were doing when the pain started, how long it lasted, and what made it better helps a clinician sort the cause quickly.
The causes that matter
Common questions
What causes chest pain?
Chest pain has many causes. Heart causes include angina and heart attack, where pressure, tightness, or squeezing may spread to the arm, jaw, or back along with sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath. Lung causes include pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, and blood clots in the lung. Digestive causes include acid reflux, esophageal spasm, ulcers, and gallbladder problems. Chest wall causes such as muscle strain or costochondritis hurt more when you press the area, twist, or breathe deeply. Panic attacks and shingles also cause chest pain. Call 911 for chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or comes with breathlessness, sweating, or fainting.