Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. It can feel sharp, dull, tight, burning or pressure-like, and may spread to the arm, neck, jaw or back. It should never be ignored, but it is not always serious. Studies suggest most chest pain seen in general practice has a non-cardiac cause [1], though careful assessment is what tells the two apart.
Chest pain is any discomfort felt in the front of the body between the neck and the upper abdomen. It can come from the heart, but also from the muscles and joints of the chest wall, the lungs, the food pipe or the stomach. The character of the pain, what brings it on and what eases it all help point to the cause.
Chest pain is occasionally the sign of a serious heart problem that needs urgent care. Use the two tiers below as a general guide, not a diagnosis.
LivingCare is a specialist outpatient service and is not an emergency care facility. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, call 999.
A cardiologist starts with a thorough history and examination, then arranges only the tests your symptoms call for. These may include an ECG to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity, an exercise tolerance test to see how your heart copes under exertion, an echocardiogram - an ultrasound scan of the heart's structure and function - and cardiac blood tests to look for markers of heart strain or injury.
LivingCare's consultant cardiologists provide private cardiology assessment in Leeds and Sheffield - no GP referral needed, self-pay or insurance. You can book a private cardiology assessment or read more on our cardiology department page.
Chest pain can arise from several structures in the chest. Cardiac (heart-related) causes include:
Non-cardiac causes are common too, and include musculoskeletal pain such as costochondritis (inflammation of the rib cartilage), acid reflux (heartburn), anxiety or panic, and, less often, a clot on the lung. Many of these are best managed by your GP or another specialty. A cardiology assessment helps establish whether your heart is involved and points you toward the right care.
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