Chest Pain
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- Sudden crushing or squeezing chest pain
- Sudden chest pain or discomfort that does not go away — it may feel like squeezing, pressure, burning or indigestion
- Chest pain with sweating, feeling sick, light-headedness or shortness of breath
- Chest pain that spreads to your left or right arm, or your neck, jaw, shoulder, stomach or back
- Chest pain with loss of consciousness
- If in doubt — always call 999. It's better to be safe.
Key facts
Chest pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing sensation. While it can be frightening, most chest pain is not heart-related and can be caused by muscle strain, acid reflux, or anxiety.
Most often affects:Adults over 40SmokersPeople with high blood pressureThose with family history of heart disease
What commonly causes chest pain
- Muscle strain or costochondritis (rib cartilage inflammation)
- Acid reflux or heartburn — very common mimic of heart pain
- Anxiety or panic attack — can feel identical to a heart attack
- Chest wall injury or bruised ribs
- Respiratory infections (pleurisy, pneumonia)
- Heart-related conditions (angina, heart attack)
- Shingles — a tingling or burning patch of skin that develops into a blistering rash on one side
- Pericarditis — sudden sharp stabbing pain that is worse when you breathe deeply or lie down
What helps at home
- Do not start taking ibuprofen for chest pain — it is not suitable for people with heart, kidney or stomach problems. Rest, and ask a pharmacist or GP which painkiller is safe for you.
- For heartburn: take antacids and avoid lying flat after eating
- Try the NHS calming breathing exercise: breathe in gently through your nose counting steadily to 5, then let it flow out gently counting to 5 again. Repeat for at least 5 minutes.
- Keep a diary of when pain occurs — triggers, food, stress levels
- Avoid strenuous activity until the cause is identified
When to get help
These three levels are different. Getting the level right is the single most useful thing this page can do for you.
Non-urgent advice: see a GP if
- Chest discomfort is clearly linked to heartburn or indigestion and keeps returning
- The pain is worse when you press on your chest wall or move your arm
- You have had unexplained chest pain more than once, even if each episode passed quickly
- You want your blood pressure and cholesterol checked because heart disease runs in your family
Urgent advice: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if
- Chest pain comes on when you walk or climb stairs and settles when you rest
- Chest pain has now settled but you do not know what caused it
- The chest pain came on with a cough, a high temperature, or pain when breathing in
- You have chest pain and have recently had surgery or a long flight, or one calf is swollen and painful
What to do next
Do not wait this one out. If chest pain is severe or getting worse, get it looked at today.
Questions people ask about chest pain
Reducing the chance of it coming back
- Maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet
- Exercise regularly — at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week
- Don't smoke — smoking dramatically increases heart disease risk
- Manage stress with relaxation techniques
- Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol regularly after age 40
Conditions this can be part of
Listed alphabetically, not by likelihood — this page does not tell you which one you have.
- Angina
- Costochondritis
- Heart attack
- Pleurisy
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
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