Chest Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Have chest pain
Chest pain on left side
Right side chest pain
Chest pain all over
Tight feeling in the chest
Chest pain when I breathe
Chest pain caused by exercise
Pain around the rib cage
Radiating chest pain
Pain in the rib
Chest pain at night
Tightening in the chest
About the Symptom
Pain or discomfort in the chest, including a dull ache, crushing or burning feeling, sharp stabbing pain, and pain that can radiate to the neck, shoulder, back, or jaw.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Chest pain
Possible Causes
Generally, Chest pain can be related to:
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) results from abnormal growth of muscle cells, particularly in the lungs and lymph system. This can lead to the formation of holes or cysts in the lung and blockage or rupture of lymph vessels, causing lymph and fatty acid accumulation in the chest cavity. It is caused by gene mutations that produce proteins which cannot regulate cell growth and movement in the body.
- Intercostal Neuralgia
Nerve pain caused by damage to the nerves running along the ribs. It can be caused by various factors, including rib injuries and viral infections like Shingles.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Chest pain may be related to these serious diseases:
- Costochondritis
Inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone. Causes include physical strain, prolonged vigorous coughing, and viral infections; though in many cases, no clear cause is found.
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax
- Tension Pneumothorax
- Acute Pericarditis
- Myocardial Infarction (MI) / Unstable Angina
- Aortic Dissection / Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
- Stable Angina
- Empyema
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing chest pain?
- When did you first notice your chest pain?
- Which of the following best describes how your chest pain appeared?
- How often do you experience chest pain?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your chest pain at its worst?
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Tatsuya Shiraishi, MD (Cardiology)
Dr. Shiraishi graduated from the Kyoto University School of Medicine. He worked as a cardiologist at Edogawa Hospital, and after joining Ubie, he became the Director of East Nihonbashi Internal Medicine Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try Free Symptom QuizHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Chest Pain quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
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Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- There is a feeling of pressure in the chest
- Pain in the very limited area of the chest (about the size of a fingertip)
- Chest pain with a change in temperature, when you move to a colder place
- Decreased effort tolerance with chest pain within the last few weeks
- Pain radiating to the ears, chin or abdomen/tummy from the neck
- Exacerbation of chest pain symptoms within the last 3 weeks
- Chest pain gets worse when pressing on the affected area
- Drinking alcohol led to vomiting that caused chest pain
- Chest pain started after vomiting from drinking alcohol
- I have the same pain as myocardial infarction
- Chest discomfort in the middle of the night
- Pain only on the right side of the chest
- I feel uncomfortable with the collarbone
- When I swallow something, my chest hurts
- Pain only on the left side of the chest
See full list
User Testimonials for Chest pain
Female, 30s
The AI doesn't overreact or make me panic when anything relating to the heart or chest is mentioned. I feel confident that I can check my symptoms and make an informed decision about seeking care.
(Jul 14, 2025)
Find Similar Symptoms
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FAQs
Q.
Chest Pressure? Why Your Thymus Is Reacting & Medical Next Steps
A.
Chest pressure from the thymus is possible but uncommon, usually when the gland enlarges or forms a tumor that compresses nearby structures, causing fullness, cough, or shortness of breath; most chest pressure instead comes from heart or lung problems that need prompt attention. Seek emergency care for red flags like spreading chest pain, breathlessness, heavy sweating, nausea, or fainting; otherwise, doctors assess with chest imaging, targeted blood tests for myasthenia gravis, and sometimes biopsy, with treatment ranging from watchful waiting to thymectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, or immune therapy. There are several factors to consider that could change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Scognamiglio M, Frongillo E, De Stefano C, et al. Thymoma: A comprehensive review of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. *J Thorac Dis*. 2019;11(Suppl 1):S1-S14. doi:10.21037/jtd.2018.11.109
* Seneviratne L, Al-Hajji R, Thillai M, et al. Thymic enlargement in adults presenting with chest pain: a case series. *BMJ Case Rep*. 2018;2018:bcr2018224536. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-224536
* Koga T, Tsuchida Y, Yagishita T, et al. Thymic hyperplasia: a review of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. *Jpn J Radiol*. 2018;36(3):195-204. doi:10.1007/s11604-018-0713-3
* Lardinois D, De Ruysscher D, Loehrer PJ, et al. European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) guidelines for the management of thymic tumours. *Eur J Cardiothorac Surg*. 2021;60(1):19-32. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezab011
* Marx A, Loehrer PJ, Schalke B, et al. Myasthenia gravis and the thymus: a review of current understanding and future directions. *Autoimmun Rev*. 2020;19(11):102661. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102661
Q.
Sudden CP? Why Your Chest is Tight & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Sudden chest pain or tightness can come from benign causes like reflux or muscle strain, but it can also signal emergencies such as a heart attack, a blood clot in the lung, or a collapsed lung, so recognize red flags and treat new or severe symptoms as urgent. Medically approved next steps range from calling emergency services for warning signs to resting and monitoring mild symptoms and arranging prompt medical evaluation, and important details on risks, testing, and prevention that could change your next move are explained below.
References:
* Januzzi JL Jr, Baggish AL. Acute Chest Pain: Evaluation and Management. A Review. JAMA. 2023 Aug 22;330(8):745-753. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.12555. PMID: 37625129.
* Kontos MC, Diercks DB, Kirk JD. Acute Chest Pain: A Practical Approach. Am J Med. 2020 Feb;133(2):167-172. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.08.037. PMID: 32015093.
* Fass R, Achem SR, Gerson L, Sharma N. Management of non-cardiac chest pain: a guide for gastroenterologists. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Oct;18(10):734-749. doi: 10.1038/s41575-021-00482-9. Epub 2021 Jul 22. PMID: 34293529.
* Handa K, Cundiff P. Evaluation and Management of Chest Pain in the Emergency Department. Prim Care. 2022 Dec;49(4):599-611. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2022.08.003. Epub 2022 Oct 26. PMID: 36395919.
* Collet JP, Thiele H, Barbato E, Barthélémy O, Bauersachs J, Bhatt DL, Dendale P, Dorobantu M, Edvardsen T, Faurie B, Filippatos G, Haude S, Heusch G, Jüni P, Massey R, Merchant N, Müller R, Nickenig G, Pedersen DL, Rubini P, Schoenenberger AW, Siontis GCM, Ten Berg JM, Trost JC, Valgimigli M, Vranckx P, Witkowski A. 2020 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation. Eur Heart J. 2021 Apr 12;42(14):1289-1367. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa575. Erratum in: Eur Heart J. 2021 Jul 14;42(27):2653. PMID: 33139886.
Q.
Is it heart disease? Why your chest is tightening and the medical steps to take now.
A.
There are several factors to consider; chest tightening can be heart disease, especially when pressure lasts more than 5 minutes, spreads to the arm, jaw, or back, or comes with shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or fainting; call emergency services in these cases. See below to understand the key differences from anxiety, reflux, muscle strain, and lung causes. For milder or uncertain symptoms, stop activity, rest, and arrange prompt medical evaluation with tests like an ECG and cardiac enzymes even if symptoms improve; fuller guidance on risk factors, noncardiac look-alikes, and exactly what to do next is detailed below.
References:
* Gulati, M., Levy, P. D., Mukherjee, D., Amsterdam, E., Bhave, P. D., Chen, M. H., ... & Kligfield, P. (2021). 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Guideline for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. *Circulation*, *144*(22), e368-e454.
* Fanaroff, A. C., & Goldstein, S. A. (2020). Evaluation of Acute Chest Pain in the Emergency Department: A Review. *JAMA*, *324*(21), 2198-2207.
* Kahrilas, P. J., & Fass, R. (2021). Noncardiac chest pain: a review of current medical approaches. *Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology*, *55*(2), 99-106.
* Thygesen, K., Alpert, J. S., Jaffe, A. S., Chaitman, B. R., Bax, J. J., Morrow, D. A., ... & White, H. D. (2018). Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (2018). *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*, *72*(18), 2231-2264.
* Ibanez, B., Boekstegers, P., & Al-Lami, S. A. (2023). Acute Coronary Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management. A Narrative Review. *Circulation Research*, *132*(12), 1735-1755.
Q.
Why would a woman feel right-side armpit pain out of nowhere?
A.
There are several factors to consider: sudden right‑side armpit pain is often from muscle strain, swollen lymph nodes, or skin issues, but can also arise from shingles or nerve irritation, or be referred from deeper conditions like gallbladder disease, liver/diaphragm irritation, atypical heart symptoms, or (rarely) a lung apex tumor. Seek urgent care for severe or unexplained pain, fever/redness or pus, a hard or rapidly enlarging lump, chest tightness/shortness of breath or sweating, jaundice, or new arm weakness/numbness. See below for key details that can guide your next steps, including what to watch for, home care, prevention, and when to call a doctor.
References:
van Alfen N, & van Engelen BG. (2006). The clinical features of neuralgic amyotrophy. Muscle Nerve, 16497012.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16497012/
Chon YE, Kim SU, Park JY, Kim DY, Han KH, Park MS, Ahn SH, & Kim DS. (2012). Liver stiffness measurement predicts decompensation in patients… Journal of Hepatology, 22302563.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22302563/
Kamath PS, & Kim WR. (2007). The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and allocation of… Gastroenterology, 17484861.
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