How is chest pain related to COVID-19 symptoms?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Chest pain is a recognized symptom of COVID-19 and can occur during active infection or persist as part of long COVID (post-COVID conditions). It may feel like tightness, pressure, or a sharp sensation, and is often linked to inflammation of the lungs, heart, or chest wall. While many cases resolve on their own, chest pain should never be ignored—especially if it's severe, sudden, or accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, or radiating discomfort, as these can signal a medical emergency.

Because chest pain has many possible causes—ranging from mild viral inflammation to serious cardiac issues—understanding your specific symptoms is critical to knowing what to do next. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights based on your health profile and clear guidance on next steps. It takes just a few minutes and could help you decide whether to monitor at home, book a doctor's visit, or seek urgent care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if chest pain needs urgent care Discover likely causes of chest pain See if chest pain could be COVID-19 Find OTC options for chest pain relief Find doctors for chest pain evaluation Discover medically valid home remedies for chest pain Understand your chest pain with a symptom check

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Explanation

When you have COVID-19, the virus can affect your lungs and other parts of your body. This can cause chest pain because the virus makes the lungs work harder, sometimes hurting the lining around them. In some people, the infection can lead to pneumonia, blood clots or other problems in the heart and blood vessels, which may also result in chest pain.

Even after you recover from the main infection, some people experience what is called post-COVID conditions or long COVID, where chest pain can continue for a while. This lasting pain might be due to ongoing inflammation or stress on the heart and lungs after the body has been fighting the virus.

If you have chest pain during or after COVID-19, it is important to talk with a doctor. You can start by using a free symptom checker to better understand your symptoms and determine the right next steps for care. They may run tests like X-rays or blood work to be sure you get the proper care and to help ease your discomfort.

(References)

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Becker RC. Evaluating chest pain in patients with post COVID conditions permission to think outside of the box. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2023 May;55(4):592-603. doi: 10.1007/s11239-023-02808-8. Epub 2023 Apr 13. PMID: 37052772; PMCID: PMC10098243.
Alammouri I, Odeh AE, Alkhaled FA, Al-Zoubi RM, Alzagareet YM. Comparing the Prevalence and Characteristics of Chest Pain in Children and Adolescents Pre- and Post-COVID-19: A Retrospective Study. Cureus. 2024 Oct 14;16(10):e71407. doi: 10.7759/cureus.71407. PMID: 39539904; PMCID: PMC11558227.

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