Chest pain is a common symptom that affects people of all ages. It can feel sharp, dull, burning, or tight and while some causes are harmless, others may be serious. Heart-related conditions like angina or heart attack, digestive issues such as acid reflux or indigestion, musculoskeletal problems like costochondritis or muscle strain, and psychological factors including stress or anxiety can all trigger chest discomfort.
Chest pain may limit your ability to work, exercise, or sleep. That’s why timely diagnosis and personalised care are essential. Ramsay Health Care provides rapid access to specialists and diagnostic services to help you understand your symptoms and take the next step toward relief. Explore our pain management service and treatments here.
What is chest pain?
Chest pain is any discomfort felt in your chest area, and it’s more common than you might think. But not all chest pain feels the same. Some people experience a sharp, stabbing sensation. Others describe dull aches, pressure, burning, or squeezing. These are all different types of chest pain, and each one can point to a different cause.
Chest pain symptoms can show up on the left, right, or centre of your chest. Sometimes the pain spreads to your arm, jaw, back, or shoulder. These variations matter. For example, left-sided pain may suggest a heart-related issue, while right-sided pain could point to digestive or muscular causes, and central chest pain might be linked to stress, acid reflux, or cardiac concerns.
Understanding what chest pain feels like and where it’s located can help identify the cause. Whether it’s heart, lung, digestive, muscle, or stress-related, recognising the symptoms early is key to getting the right treatment.
If you’re experiencing chest discomfort, especially alongside risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, or anxiety, it’s important to speak to a specialist. Ramsay Health Care offers expert assessment and personalised care to help you feel confident about your next steps.
Learn more about our cardiology service that we provide.
What causes chest pain?
If you’ve ever asked, “Why is my chest painful?” or “Why do I get chest pains?” you’re not alone. Chest pain can range from mild and temporary to serious and life-threatening. Understanding the source of your discomfort is the first step toward getting the right care.
Here’s a breakdown of common chest pain causes:
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Heart-related causes - include angina, heart attack, and pericarditis. These often feel like pressure or tightness and may radiate to the arm, jaw, or back. These conditions require urgent medical attention.
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Digestive causes - like acid reflux and indigestion can also trigger chest pain. Many people ask, “Can acid reflux cause chest pain?” or “Can indigestion cause chest pain?” and the answer is yes. These conditions often cause burning or bloating, especially after eating. These are often treatable with lifestyle changes or medication. Explore anti-reflux surgery and causes of heartburn
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Musculoskeletal causes - such as muscle strain, costochondritis, or rib injury tend to produce sharp, localised pain that worsens with movement or deep breathing.
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Psychological factors - are also common. “Can anxiety cause chest pain?” Absolutely, stress and panic attacks can mimic heart symptoms. “Can stress cause chest pain?” Yes, especially when tension builds in your chest muscles or breathing becomes shallow.
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Other causes - in rare cases, chest pain may signal a serious condition like pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection, which requires emergency care. Learn more about anti reflux surgery and the causes of heartburn.
If you’re unsure what’s behind your chest discomfort, Ramsay Health Care offers expert assessment and personalised treatment to help you understand your next steps.
Symptoms of chest pain
Chest pain symptoms can vary widely, from mild discomfort to intense pressure. Some people feel a sharp, stabbing sensation. Others experience burning, squeezing, or a heavy, crushing feeling. These different types of chest pain often reflect the underlying cause.
In many cases, symptoms of chest pain are accompanied by other warning signs, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating or cold sweats
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or light-headedness.
The combination of chest pain symptoms and associated signs can help pinpoint the cause. For example, pressure with breathlessness may suggest a heart issue, while burning with nausea could point to acid reflux. Sharp pain that worsens with movement might be musculoskeletal.
Understanding the nature of your chest pain - how it feels, where it’s located, and what comes with it - is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to seek medical advice.
Pain location matters
Where you feel chest pain can offer important clues about its cause. Whether you have chest pain left side, pain the right side of chest, or pain in middle of chest, each location points to different possibilities.
- Chest pain left side is often linked to heart conditions like angina or heart attack but it can also result from muscle strain or inflammation around your ribs.
- Pain in the right side of the chest is usually digestive or musculoskeletal. It may stem from acid reflux, indigestion, or pulled muscles.
- Pain in the middle of the chest could be heart-related, digestive, or triggered by stress and anxiety. This type of pain is often harder to pinpoint and may need further investigation.
If you’re unsure what your chest pain means, especially if it’s persistent or severe, it’s important to speak with a specialist. You can find more information at when to see a cardiologist.
Chest pain treatment
If you’re searching for answers to “how to fix chest pain,” “how to relieve chest pain,” or “how to get rid of chest pain,” the first step is understanding what’s causing it. Treatment varies depending on whether the pain is heart-related, digestive, muscular, or stress-induced.
For non-emergency chest pain, short-term relief often starts with:
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Lifestyle adjustments - managing stress, improving posture, and making dietary changes can ease symptoms caused by reflux, anxiety, or muscle strain. Learn more at our pain management overview page and ways to manage stress
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Medications - heart medications, antacids, anti-inflammatories, and pain relief options may be recommended depending on your diagnosis.
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Physiotherapy - is another effective option, especially for chest pain caused by muscle strain, poor posture, or costochondritis. A tailored programme can help restore movement, reduce tension, and prevent recurrence.
If chest pain is sudden, severe, or accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath or dizziness, it may be heart-related and requires immediate medical attention.
Ramsay Health Care offers expert support across cardiology, gastroenterology, and physiotherapy. Explore our Pain Management and our Treatments pages.
Chest pain diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is essential when it comes to chest pain. The process begins with a detailed patient history and physical examination, helping doctors understand your symptoms, risk factors, and overall health.
Diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests to check for markers of heart damage or inflammation
- ECG (electrocardiogram) to assess your heart rhythm and detect abnormalities
- Echocardiogram to evaluate your heart structure and function
- Imaging such as X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to examine your lungs, chest wall, and internal organs.
These investigations help pinpoint the cause of your chest pain, whether it’s cardiac, digestive, muscular, or stress-related, and guide the most appropriate treatment plan.
Learn more about tests and scans.
When to see a doctor for chest pain
Many people ask, “When should I be worried about chest pain?” The answer is - if it’s persistent, severe, or feels unusual, it’s time to seek medical advice. Chest pain that lasts, worsens, or interferes with your breathing, movement, or daily activity should never be ignored.
You should speak to a doctor if you experience:
- Persistent or severe chest pain
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or fainting
- Sudden chest pain following trauma or injury.
Early assessment can save lives. Ramsay Health Care offers rapid access to cardiology and diagnostic services to help you feel safe, informed, and supported.
When is chest pain an emergency?
If you suspect a heart attack or serious condition, especially if the pain is crushing, radiates to your arm or jaw, or comes with breathlessness, call emergency services immediately.
Chest pain support at Ramsay
Ramsay Health Care offers comprehensive support for people experiencing chest pain, with access to expert teams in cardiology, gastroenterology, pain management and physiotherapy. Whether your symptoms are heart-related, digestive, muscular, or stress-induced, our specialists work together to provide accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment.
If your chest pain is persistent, severe, or causing concern, we encourage you to book a consultation. Early assessment can make all the difference, and our private hospitals are here to help you.
Contact us and speak to one of our friendly team members today who can help with your enquirym, discuss pricing and book an appointment with a specialist. You can also research consultants and book an appointment online.
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