Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.

What kind of doctor treats Chest Pain?

A cardiologist (a heart doctor) treats heart-related chest pain, and an emergency medicine doctor handles urgent cases. Chest pain can come from the heart, lungs, esophagus (the food pipe), muscles, ribs, or nerves. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.

What is chest pain?

Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen. It can feel like a dull ache, a sharp stab, tightness, pressure, squeezing or burning.

Many people with chest pain fear a heart attack (myocardial infarction). However, there are many possible causes of chest pain. Some causes are not dangerous to your health. Other causes are serious and, in some cases, life threatening.

Symptoms

People describe chest pain as:

  • Tightness, heavy pressure, squeezing, or crushing pain.
  • Sharp, stabbing, or burning pain.
  • Aching, dull, or heavy pain.

Heart-related pain may spread to the arm, shoulder, jaw, or back. With a heart attack (myocardial infarction), chest discomfort can last more than a few minutes, or it may go away and then return. Other signs include a cold sweat, nausea, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, feeling lightheaded, and shortness of breath.

Pneumonia or pleurisy (swelling of the lining around the lung) can cause sharp chest pain that often gets worse when you take a deep breath or cough. Costochondritis (swelling where the ribs join the breast bone) can also cause chest pain.

Causes and who gets it

Any organ or tissue in your chest can be the source of pain. That includes your heart, lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs, tendons, or nerves. Pain may also spread to the chest from the neck, abdomen, and back. Causes may include:

  • Heart or blood vessel problems, such as angina or a heart attack, a tear in the wall of the aorta (the large blood vessel from the heart), or swelling around the heart.
  • Lung problems, such as a blood clot in the lung, a collapsed lung, pneumonia, or pleurisy (swelling of the lining around the lung).
  • Other causes, such as a panic attack, costochondritis, shingles, or a strain of the muscles and tendons between the ribs.
  • Digestive problems, such as spasms of the esophagus, gallstones (which cause pain that gets worse after a meal), heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux or GERD), or a stomach ulcer.

In children, most chest pain is not caused by the heart. Your risk of a heart attack is greater if heart disease runs in your family, if you smoke, use cocaine, or are overweight, or if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

How doctors diagnose it

Your provider will ask where the pain is and what it feels like. You may be asked if the pain begins suddenly, if it gets better or worse when you walk or change positions, and if pressing on your chest makes it happen. Your provider may also ask if the pain is worse when you breathe deeply, cough, eat, or exercise.

The types of tests that are done depend on the cause of the pain, and what other medical problems or risk factors you have.

Treatment

For most causes of chest pain, it is best to check with your health care provider before treating yourself at home. If you have heart attack warning signs, call 911 instead of waiting at home.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening, or pressure in your chest. Call 911 if pain spreads to your jaw, left arm, or between your shoulder blades, or if you have nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, or shortness of breath. Call 911 if you faint, or if you have sudden, sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long trip or a stretch of bedrest. Do not wait to get help if you have any heart attack warning signs.

How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in

A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Your doctor can examine you, ask the key questions about your pain, and refer you to a heart doctor or the emergency room when needed. Follow-up visits can track risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.

Common questions

Does chest pain always mean a heart attack?

No. Chest pain can feel like a dull ache, a sharp stab, tightness, pressure, squeezing or burning. Chest pain does not always mean a heart attack, but it can. There are many possible causes of chest pain.

The most common symptom is chest pain that may feel like tightness, heavy pressure, squeezing, or crushing pain. The pain may spread to the arm, shoulder, jaw, or back. Chest discomfort during a heart attack can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

What should I do if I think it is a heart attack?

Call 911 if you have any symptoms of heart attack. An emergency medical services (EMS) team can begin treatment when they arrive. People with chest pain who arrive by ambulance may also get faster treatment at the hospital.

Can a panic attack cause chest pain?

Yes. A panic attack can cause chest pain and often occurs with fast breathing. Since chest pain can also be serious, call 911 if it is sudden, severe, or comes with nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

Sources

  1. MedlinePlus - Chest pain
  2. American Heart Association - What is causing your chest pain?
  3. American Heart Association - Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.