This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, contact routes and treatment arrangements may differ in other countries.
Call 999 if:
- you get sudden pain or discomfort in your chest that does not go away – the pain can feel like squeezing or pressure inside your chest, burning or indigestion
- you get pain that spreads to your left or right arm, or your neck, jaw, stomach or back
- you have chest pain and you feel sweaty, sick, light headed or short of breath
You could be having a heart attack. Call 999 straight away as you need immediate treatment in hospital.
See a GP if:
- you have chest pain that comes and goes
- you have chest pain that goes away quickly but you're still worried
It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious.
Common causes of chest pain
Chest pain has many different causes. In most cases, chest pain is not caused by a heart problem.
Your symptoms might give you an idea of the cause. Do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.
Chest pain
Common causes of chest pain include heartburn, sprains, anxiety and chest infections. Less often, it might be caused by a heart problem like angina.
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
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