Chest pain at New Hall Hospital in Salisbury

Chest pain is a common symptom with many possible causes. It can feel sharp, dull, burning, tight, or crushing. While some causes are not serious, others can require urgent medical attention. 

Chest pain can be felt in the middle, left, or right side of the chest, and it may sometimes spread to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder. Heart-related conditions such as angina or a heart attack, digestive problems such as acid reflux, musculoskeletal problems such as costochondritis or a muscle strain, and stress or anxiety can all cause chest discomfort.

At Ramsay, we provide rapid access to specialists and diagnostic services to help you understand your symptoms and take the next step toward relief.

Contact us now to talk about your chest pain

What is chest pain?

Chest pain is any pain or discomfort you feel in your chest. 

Chest pain can vary considerably in how it feels. It may be sharp, stabbing, dull, aching, burning, tight, crushing or feel like pressure or squeezing.

The pain can occur in the middle, left or right side of your chest and may sometimes spread to your arm, jaw, back or shoulder. Its location and how it feels can provide clues about its possible cause, but chest pain cannot be reliably diagnosed from symptoms alone.

If you’re experiencing chest discomfort, especially alongside risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, or anxiety, it’s important to seek medical advice rather than trying to diagnose the cause yourself.

At Ramsay Health Care, we provide expert assessment and personalised care to help you understand the cause of your symptoms and your next steps.

Chest pain that comes and goes

Chest pain doesn’t have to be constant to need medical attention. Intermittent chest pain can have a range of causes, with symptoms sometimes triggered by particular situations or activities.

Common causes of chest pain that comes and goes include acid reflux, a muscle strain triggered by certain movements, stress or anxiety, and heart-related conditions, such as angina.

You may notice pain after eating, during certain movements, when you’re under stress, or during or after physical activity. Angina, for example, can be triggered by exercise or stress and may improve with rest.

Although an episode may pass quickly, recurring or worsening chest pain should still be assessed by a GP or a specialist. The fact that the pain has stopped does not rule out an underlying condition that needs treatment.

If you regularly experience chest pain that comes and goes, arrange an assessment even if each episode settles quickly.

Why does my chest hurt when I take a deep breath?

Chest pain that gets worse when you take a deep breath can have several causes, including:

• Muscle strain

• Rib injury

• Costochondritis - inflammation of the cartilage connecting your breastbone to your ribs

• Pleurisy - inflammation of the lining around the lungs 

While this kind of chest pain is more often related to the muscles, ribs, or respiratory system rather than your heart, it can also be a sign of a serious condition, such as:

• Pneumonia

• A collapsed lung (pneumothorax)

• A pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism can cause chest pain that is worse when breathing in and may also cause sudden difficulty breathing.

If you have chest pain when taking a deep breath, you should see a medical professional to have it diagnosed. If your chest pain when breathing is sudden or severe, particularly if it’s accompanied by breathlessness, seek urgent medical attention.

Chest pain location: What it might mean

Where you feel your chest pain can offer important clues about its causes, but the location alone cannot tell you what is causing the pain.

Chest pain left side

Chest pain on the left side of your chest can occur with heart conditions, such as angina or a heart attack, but it can also result from muscle strain, costochondritis, or other non-cardiac causes.

The location of chest pain should not be used to rule out or rule in a heart problem. If your pain is sudden, persistent, feels like pressure or squeezing, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as breathlessness, sweating or nausea, call 999.

Pain in right side of chest

Pain in the right side of your chest can have several causes, including musculoskeletal problems such as a muscle strain or digestive problems such as reflux. Chest pain on the right side can also have other causes, so it should not be self-diagnosed based on its location.

Pain in middle of chest

Pain in the middle of your chest could be heart-related, caused by a digestive issue, or triggered by stress and anxiety. Heart-related chest pain can cause pressure, tightness, or a squeezing sensation in the centre of the chest, while indigestion and reflux can cause burning or discomfort.

Because different conditions can cause similar symptoms, persistent, recurring or unexplained pain in the middle of your chest should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Read more about when to see a cardiologist.

What causes chest pain in a woman?

Most of the causes of chest pain in women are the same as those in men.

However, heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, and women may experience symptoms such as breathlessness, nausea, light-headedness, sweating, or pain that spreads to the back or jaw alongside chest pain. The more familiar ‘classic’ pattern of severe or crushing chest pain is not the only possible presentation.

These symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for indigestion, stress or anxiety, but they should not be dismissed without appropriate assessment if there is concern about a heart problem.

If chest pain is sudden and does not go away, feels like pressure, tightness or squeezing, spreads to your arm, neck, jaw or back, or is accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, nausea or light-headedness, call 999.

Common causes of chest pain

Chest pain can have many different causes. Some are related to the heart, while others affect the digestive system, muscles and joints, lungs or mental wellbeing. Because symptoms can overlap, it is important to have unexplained or recurring chest pain assessed rather than trying to identify the cause yourself.

Heart-related causes of chest pain

Some of the most serious causes of chest pain are heart-related, such as:

• Angina: When your heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood

• A heart attack: When blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked

• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sac surrounding the heart

Heart-related chest pain can feel like pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing and may spread to the arm, jaw, back, or stomach. 

If you experience sudden chest pain that does not go away, particularly if it feels like pressure or squeezing or is accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, nausea or light-headedness, call 999.

Digestive causes of chest pain - can acid reflux cause chest pain?

Yes, acid reflux can cause chest pain. Reflux can cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone and may be accompanied by an unpleasant taste in the mouth, bloating or indigestion, particularly after eating.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity and may include lifestyle changes and medication. Some people with severe or persistent reflux may be considered for further specialist treatment.

Find out more about the causes of heartburn and anti-reflux surgery.

Musculoskeletal causes of chest pain

Musculoskeletal means to do with your bones and muscles. 

A sharp pain in the chest can sometimes be caused by a musculoskeletal problem, particularly if it gets worse with movement, deep breathing or pressure on the affected area. 

Musculoskeletal causes of chest pain include:

• Rib injuries, such as bruised or broken ribs. These can cause sharp, localised pain that may worsen with movement or deep breathing,

• Muscle strains in the chest, which can cause soreness, tightness, or sudden sharp pain when the affected muscle is moved.

• Costochondritis. This is inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs join your breastbone. It can cause sharp chest pain that may worsen with movement, deep breathing, or pressing the affected area.

Whilst some musculoskeletal causes of chest pain will get better over time with rest, some may need treatment. Unexplained chest pain should still be assessed to rule out more serious causes.

Psychological causes of chest pain - can anxiety cause chest pain?

Yes, anxiety and stress can cause chest pain. The body's stress response can increase adrenaline, speed up your heart rate, change your breathing and cause muscles in the chest to tighten.

These physical changes can cause genuine chest discomfort and can sometimes feel similar to symptoms caused by a heart problem.

Because anxiety-related chest pain can feel similar to cardiac pain, it is important not to assume anxiety is the cause without appropriate assessment.

Other causes of chest pain

Other causes of chest pain include lung conditions such as pneumonia and pleurisy, and less common but serious conditions such as a pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection.

These conditions can require urgent medical treatment, particularly when chest pain is sudden or severe or is accompanied by difficulty breathing or other concerning symptoms.

Chest pain diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis is essential to understand the cause of chest pain. 

The process usually begins with a healthcare professional or specialist reviewing your medical history and performing a physical examination. This can help them understand your symptoms, risk factors, and overall health.

Diagnostic tests may include:

• Blood tests to check for markers of heart damage or inflammation

• An ECG (electrocardiogram) to assess your heart rhythm and detect abnormalities

• An echocardiogram to evaluate the structure and function of your heart

• Imaging scans, such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan, depending on your symptoms and suspected cause.

The tests you need will depend on your symptoms and the suspected cause. Investigations can help identify whether your chest pain is related to your heart, lungs, digestive system, muscles or another condition.

The results will help your specialist recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

Chest pain treatment

Treatment for chest pain will vary from patient to patient. It depends on the cause of your pain, whether it’s heart-related, digestive, muscular, or stress-induced.

Once the cause of your chest pain has been identified, treatment may include:

• Lifestyle adjustments: This may include managing stress, improving posture, changing your diet or making other changes recommended for your specific condition.

• Medication: Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include medicines for heart conditions, acid reflux, inflammation or pain management.

• Physiotherapy: This can be an effective treatment for musculoskeletal chest pain, including pain associated with muscle strain, posture or costochondritis. A tailored physiotherapy programme can help improve movement and function and reduce symptoms.

The right treatment depends on the underlying cause, so it is important to have unexplained chest pain assessed before trying to treat it yourself.

Chest pain support at Ramsay Health Care

At Ramsay Health Care, you can access specialist assessment, diagnostic services and treatment across a range of disciplines, including cardiology, gastroenterology and physiotherapy.

Our hospitals offer access to the expertise and facilities needed to investigate the possible cause of your chest pain and, where appropriate, plan your treatment. Your care will be based on your individual symptoms and diagnosis.

With hospitals across the UK, Ramsay Health Care provides convenient access to private specialist healthcare in a range of locations.

If you’re concerned about recurring or unexplained chest pain, contact us to discuss your symptoms and arrange a consultation.

Chest Pain FAQs