Chest pain

Discomfort in the chest including a dull ache, a crushing or burning feeling, a sharp stabbing pain, and pain that radiates to the neck or shoulder.

Description

Pain in the chest that can have various causes and should be checked by a health care professional right away.

When to seek immediate medical care

Seek emergency help for:

• Chest pain that's new or has no clear cause.
• Pressure, fullness, burning or tightness in the chest.
• Crushing or searing pain that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms.
• Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or becomes more intense.
• Chest pain with shortness of breath, cold sweats, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting or racing heartbeats.