Doctors Note Logo

Published on: 12/2/2025

How can you tell if chest pain is from the heart or from something else?

Chest pain from the heart often feels like pressure or squeezing and may come with shortness of breath, while pain from other causes can be sharp or related to movement.

answer background

Explanation

Chest pain can be scary and it is important to know where it might be coming from. Heart-related chest pain is often described as a pressure or squeezing feeling in the chest. It might also come with other symptoms like shortness of breath, sweating, or feeling sick to your stomach.

Heart vs. Other Causes:

  1. Heart-related pain: This type of pain can feel like a heavy weight pressing on your chest. It might spread to your arms, neck, or back, and usually happens during activity or stress.
  2. Other causes: Pain from muscles or bones usually feels different. It might be sharp or get worse when you move or touch your chest. Sometimes, athletes have pain from muscles or bones because they use their chest a lot.

If you ever have chest pain, it is important to talk to a doctor to find out what is causing it. They can help figure out if it is from your heart or something else, so you can get the right care.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

smily Shiba-inu looking

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about diseases

Frostbite

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.