Doctors Note Logo

Back

Published on: 5/15/2025

What Could Cause Chest Pain After Taking Pre-Workout Supplements?

Pre-workout supplements may contain stimulants. These stimulants can cause chest pain by elevating heart rate and blood pressure, placing increased stress on the heart.

answer background

Explanation

Pre-workout supplements contain various ingredients, with many including caffeine and other stimulants that increase heart rate and blood pressure. Some supplements also contain chemicals that can affect heart rhythm, leading to irregular heartbeats or palpitations. The combination of these ingredients with intense exercise can further increase the strain on your heart and blood vessels - which might trigger chest pain, especially if you're sensitive to stimulants or take more than the recommended amount. The resulting chest pain can feel similar to a heart attack. Some people—even young, healthy individuals—have experienced serious cardiac problems, including heart attacks, after taking these supplements. This illustrates how the increased cardiac workload from high doses of stimulants can cause chest discomfort or more severe complications. You should consult with a healthcare provider or nutritionist about any supplements you're taking to ensure safe use.

(References)

  • Rodriguez Guerra MA, Urena Neme AP, Shaban M, Matos Noboa C, Trinh T. Pre-workout Induced Demand Ischemia. Cureus. 2023 Jan 12;15(1):e33694. doi: 10.7759/cureus.33694. PMID: 36793833; PMCID: PMC9925028.

  • Pallangyo P, Bhalia SV, Komba M, Mkojera ZS, Manji ES, Millinga J, Gandye Y, Kisenge PR. Acute myocardial infarction following "dry scooping" of a pre-workout supplement in a healthy young man of African origin: A case report. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2024 Jun 14;12:2050313X241261157. doi: 10.1177/2050313X241261157. PMID: 38881969; PMCID: PMC11179451.

  • de Jonge MLL, Kieviet LC, Sierts M, Egberink LB, van der Heyden MAG. Review of Case Reports on Adverse Events Related to Pre-workout Supplements Containing Synephrine. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2023 Jan;23(1):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s12012-022-09777-z. Epub 2023 Jan 13. PMID: 36639595; PMCID: PMC9859859.

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 symptoms

Chest pain

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

AI Symptom Check

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes


Tips to try:

  • Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
  • Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
  • Answer all follow-up questions

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.