How Do I Know If My Chest Pain Is Serious?

Medically reviewed by Lauren Labrador, MD, FPCP, DPCC · Cardiology

Written by Hello Doctor Medical Panel · Updated Dec 01, 2022

How do I know if my chest pain is serious? What could be the reason for sudden, sharp chest pain? Is it a heart attack? Learn more here.

What is unexpected, severe chest pain?

Chest pain may arise and subside every few minutes or over several days. The cause may be related to the heart, the muscles, the digestive system, or psychological factors. Underlying causes of chest pain may be mild, as in the case of acid reflux, or, they may be serious and indicate, for example, a heart attack.

Common Causes

The most common heart problems that cause chest pain include:

Angina or a heart attack. They have similar symptoms but a heart attack is potentially fatal,

Pericarditis typically causes a sudden, intense, stabbing pain that worsens when you breathe deeply or lie down

Coronary heart disease

Heartburn, also known as acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition where stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. It can cause an immediate discomfort or burning sensation in your chest.

Musculoskeletal Issues. You can strain a muscle in your chest wall, your ribs, and the muscles between them while exercising, carrying something heavy, or in a fall. These incidents can all cause sudden, acute chest discomfort. Examples include cervical disc disease or costochondritis.

Vascular Issues, such as pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension and aortic dissection.

Lung infection. The most frequent causes of pleuritic chest pain include bacterial or viral infections, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax. This condition is also known as pleurisy, and it is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the lungs and chest. You may experience sharp pain when you breathe, cough, or sneeze. Pneumonia and asthmatic episodes caused by viral or bacterial infection can also cause heart problems that trigger chest pain.

Pulmonary hypertension is the phrase used to describe high blood pressure in the lungs.

Panic attacks: Other people may experience panic attacks after a stressful or emotional event. And extreme anxiety and panic episodes can also cause abrupt, intense chest discomfort. This mental health issue might happen for no apparent reason.

Dermatologic Infections, such as Herpes Zoster.

When to seek medical attention

Get immediate medical attention if you experience any heart attack symptoms, such as:

High blood pressure: When you’re anxious, your brain releases a burst of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which quickly cause your heart rate and blood pressure to rise. As a result, many people experience chest tightness, sweating, or trouble breathing.
Nausea: Other signs of a heart attack include unusual or unexplained exhaustion, nausea, or vomiting; these symptoms are more common in women.
Spreading discomfort to the jaw or neck: The feeling of pressure, weight, tightness, or squeezing across your chest; pain in other parts of the body, such as the jaw, neck, back, or stomach; and the feeling that the pain is moving from your chest to your arms (often the left arm, but it can also affect both arms)
Widespread back, shoulder, or arm ache: This soreness may come and go, and it may affect the shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth, or jaw in addition to the chest.
Feeling unsteady or lightheaded: In addition to experiencing chest pressure, you may also feel dizzy or as though you might faint
Sweating. You may unexpectedly start to perspire with clammy, cold skin.

Other cardiac conditions can also cause chest pain. However, any condition that affects the heart has the potential to be dangerous and needs medical attention.

Other heart-related factors that might induce chest pain include:

Angina, a form of chest pain brought on by a blockage in the blood supply to the heart muscles and triggered by either physical or emotional stress.
Pericarditis, an infection or inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart, can cause a stabbing pain or a dull ache, and you may also experience a fever. Pericarditis may be brought on by a cold or a throat infection.
Cardiomyopathy, an illness that weakens the heart
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can affect both the electrical system that controls heartbeats and the heart muscles.

Key Takeaways

Although a heart attack is not the most common cause of abrupt, intense chest pain, several other causes of chest pain can be serious. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain. It is always preferable to have a doctor identify the cause of your sudden, acute chest pain, even though only a small percentage of people who have chest pain are actually experiencing a heart attack.

Learn more about Heart Failure here.

Disclaimer

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Sources

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Medically reviewed by

Lauren Labrador, MD, FPCP, DPCC

Cardiology

Written by Hello Doctor Medical Panel · Updated Dec 01, 2022

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