What is discomfort in the chest

Read more about treating GORD. If your chest is painful and tender to touch, it may be caused by a strained muscle in your chest wall. This can be surprisingly painful, but with rest the pain should ease and the muscle will heal in time. If you have pain, swelling and tenderness around your ribs, and the pain is made worse by lying down, breathing deeply, coughing or sneezing, you may have a condition called costochondritis.

This is caused by inflammation in the joints between the cartilage that joins the ribs to the breastbone sternum. The symptoms often improve after a few weeks and may be relieved by painkillers. Some episodes of chest pain occur as part of an anxiety or panic attack. In addition to chest pain and overwhelming feelings of anxiety, these attacks can cause symptoms such as heart palpitations , sweating, breathlessness and dizziness.

Most panic attacks last for 5 to 20 minutes. In the long-term, you may benefit from psychological therapy and medication, or both. If you have sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in and out, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as a cough and breathlessness, it may be caused by a condition affecting the lungs or surrounding tissue, such as:. Mild cases of pneumonia can usually be treated with antibiotics , rest and fluids.

For people with other health conditions, the condition can be severe and they may need to be treated in hospital. Read on to learn about some potential causes of chest well pain, as well as some treatments and pain management options. Pain in the chest when swallowing can be caused by food, acid reflux, or underlying conditions, such as esophagitis. Learn more here. Chest pain and dizziness can occur due to a variety of reasons.

Learn more about the potential causes and their treatment options here. A sharp pain when breathing in has several possible causes. Some will resolve without medical care, while others will require treatment. Learn more….

What could cause chest pain? Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Causes When to see a doctor We include products we think are useful for our readers. Possible causes of chest pain. Share on Pinterest Chest pain affects 20 to 40 percent of the global population. Share on Pinterest A person should contact a doctor if chest pain comes on suddenly. When to see a doctor. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes.

Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. Possible causes of a bubbling feeling in the chest. Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD. What causes pain in the chest when swallowing? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What can cause chest pain and dizziness, and when to seek help. 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 an emergency, always call triple zero Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires urgent medical attention. Ankle sprain is a common sports injuries caused by overstretching and tearing the supporting ligaments. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.

All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Heart.

Chest pain. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Chest pain — symptoms of a heart attack Chest pain — angina Angina and heart attack — risk factors Other common causes of chest pain Seek urgent medical help for chest pain Diagnosis of chest pain Recovering from chest pain Reduce your risk of heart attack Where to get help.

If you have chest pain, seek urgent medical help. Call for an ambulance. Chest pain — symptoms of a heart attack Chest pain can be a warning sign of a heart attack.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include: Severe crushing pain in the centre of your chest or behind the breastbone. You may feel this as a squeezing, tightening, choking or heavy pressure feeling. Pain spreading to the shoulders, arms, neck, throat, jaw or back. Feeling anxious, dizzy or unwell. A sick feeling in the stomach. Shortness of breath. Often, the cause has nothing to do with the heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a health care provider. Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, many people with heart disease say they have a vague discomfort that isn't necessarily identified as pain.

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.