Chest pain

Most chest pain isn't a sign of anything serious but you should get medical advice just in case. Get immediate medical help if you think you're having a heart attack.

Call 999 if you have sudden chest pain that:

• spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw
• makes your chest feel tight or heavy
• also started with shortness of breath, sweating and feeling or being sick
• lasts more than 15 minutes

You could be having a heart attack. Call 999 immediately as you need immediate treatment in hospital.

Common causes of chest pain

Chest pain has many different causes – only the most common are listed below. In most cases, chest pain is not caused by a heart problem.

Your symptoms might give you an idea of the cause. Don't self-diagnose – see your GP if you're worried.

Chest pain and heart problems

The most common heart problems that cause chest pain include:

• pericarditis – which usually causes a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or lie down
• angina or a heart attack – which have similar symptoms but a heart attack is life-threatening

You're more likely to have heart problems if you're older or know you're at risk of coronary heart disease.

For example, if you:

• smoke
• are very overweight (obese)
• have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
• have a history of heart attacks or angina in family members under 60 years old