Unlike muscular or digestive chest pain, cardiac pain may spread (radiate) to other areas of the body — particularly the left arm, jaw, neck, shoulder, or upper back. It is commonly triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, or cold weather, and may improve when you rest.
Cardiac chest pain happens when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, or when the structures surrounding the heart become inflamed or damaged. Several conditions can lead to chest pain:
This occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed by fatty plaque, reducing blood flow to the heart. Chest pain usually occurs during exercise or exertion and improves with rest.
A more serious form where chest pain can occur at rest or with minimal activity. It may signal that a heart attack could occur soon and requires urgent medical assessment.
This happens when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked. Symptoms often include severe chest pressure, sweating, nausea, breathlessness, and pain spreading to the arm or jaw.
Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. Pain is often sharp and worsens when lying down or breathing deeply, but may improve when sitting forward.
Inflammation of the heart muscle itself, often caused by viral infections. It can lead to chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and palpitations.
A rare but life threatening emergency where the inner layer of the aorta tears. It typically causes sudden, severe tearing chest or back pain and requires immediate emergency treatment.
Chest pain should never be ignored, especially if it is new, severe, or different from previous symptoms.
Seek urgent medical assessment if you experience:
New chest pain at rest or waking from sleep
Chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes
Pain spreading to jaw, left arm, or back
Chest pain with sweating or nausea
Collapse or fainting with chest pain
Chest pain in patients with diabetes or high BP
Chest pain in people with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, Smoking and Vaping, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart disease
Call 999 immediately if you suspect a heart attack.
Everything you need to know about Chest Pain and how private cardiac assessment works.
Cardiac chest pain often feels like pressure, heaviness, or squeezing in the centre of the chest. The pain may spread to the arm, jaw, neck, or back and can be triggered by physical activity or stress.
You should seek medical assessment if chest pain is new, occurs during exercise, lasts longer than several minutes, or is accompanied by breathlessness, nausea, dizziness, or sweating.
Doctors may recommend ECG, echocardiogram, exercise stress testing, or CT coronary imaging depending on your symptoms and risk profile.
