Chest pain can feel scary. It can be hard to know whether you should call 911, go to the ER or urgent care or schedule a doctor’s visit.
Some chest pain is caused by heartburn, anxiety, sore muscles or other non-emergency issues. But chest pain can also be a sign of a serious heart or lung problem.
The safest choice depends on your symptoms, how long they last, what triggered them and whether you have other warning signs.
Call 911 for chest pain that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes or comes with:
- Trouble breathing
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back
Ankur Panchal, MD, a cardiologist with Banner Health, explained more about when chest pain needs emergency care, when urgent care may be appropriate and when to schedule an appointment with your doctor or a cardiologist.
When chest pain needs emergency care
“In the real world, heart attacks rarely look like the sudden, dramatic collapses you see on television. They tend to build slowly, starting with a vague sense of mild pressure, unusual fatigue or a bout of unexplained nausea,” Dr. Panchal said.
Call 911 for chest pain that:
- Lasts more than a few minutes
- Is severe, sudden or unusual
- Feels like pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing
- Spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, shoulder or back
- Happens during activity
- Happens after a major injury
- Happens with stroke-like symptoms, such as weakness, numbness or trouble speaking
- Comes with:
- Trouble breathing
- Sweating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting or dizziness
- Confusion
- Fast, irregular or pounding heartbeat
- Coughing blood
“Paramedics can start lifesaving treatment the second they reach your front door,” Dr. Panchal said. Do not drive yourself if symptoms could be a heart attack.
When urgent care may be appropriate for chest pain
Urgent care may be appropriate when symptoms are:
- Mild or lingering
- Improving
- Not related to exertion
- Not paired with heart attack symptoms like shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting or confusion
- Not spreading to your arm, jaw, neck or back
- Clearly linked to a minor muscle strain, cough or movement
- Noticeable only when you move your torso or press against the spot that hurts
“That said, if you are truly torn between the clinic and the ER, always default to the ER,” Dr. Panchal said.
When to schedule a doctor or cardiology visit
Schedule an appointment for:
- Brief, mild chest discomfort that doesn’t last long
- Chest pain with activity or stress
- Palpitations with chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath with mild activity
- Chest pain after eating that keeps coming back
- Symptoms that are mild but new for you
Need answers for chest discomfort or pain? A Banner Health provider can help evaluate your symptoms and guide your next step.
Quick guide: ER, urgent care or doctor?
- Choose the ER for severe, sudden or concerning chest pain
- Choose urgent care for mild symptoms that don’t include heart attack warning signs
- Schedule a doctor or cardiology visit for chest discomfort that keeps returning or happens with activity
How to tell different types of chest pain apart
Here are some clues that can help you figure out what’s behind your chest pain:
Heart-related chest pain
May feel like:
- Pressure
- Tightness
- Heaviness
- Squeezing
- Burning with activity
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back
Call 911 if you have these symptoms. “The biggest obstacle to saving a life during a heart attack is simple denial. People delay calling for help for hours because they are embarrassed about showing up to an emergency room for what might turn out to be bad indigestion,” Dr. Panchal said.
“Medical teams evaluate false alarms every day and no one will judge you for being cautious. It is infinitely better to be sent home with a prescription for an antacid than to stay home trying to tough out a cardiac event.”
Digestive-related chest pain
May feel like:
- Burning after eating
- Sour taste in your mouth
- Pain that gets worse when you’re lying down
- Upper belly discomfort
- Burping
- Nausea
Get emergency care if symptoms are severe, new, persistent or paired with warning signs.
Muscle or chest wall pain
May feel like:
- Soreness
- Sharp pain when you move
- Pain after lifting, exercise or coughing
- Tenderness when you press on the area
Severe pain after injury or trouble breathing needs emergency care.
Anxiety-related chest pain
May come with:
- Chest tightness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fast breathing
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Feeling panicked
Anxiety can cause chest pain but you should get care for new, severe or unusual chest pain. Do not assume symptoms are anxiety.
Lung-related chest pain
May come with:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Fever
- Pain when you breathe deeply
- Sudden sharp pain
- Coughing blood
Get emergency care for sudden chest pain with shortness of breath, coughing blood, fainting or severe symptoms.
Chest pain in women: Why symptoms can be harder to recognize
Heart symptoms in women may be subtle and women might not get care quickly if symptoms don’t feel like “classic” chest pain. Chest pain in women may feel like:
- Pressure
- Tightness
- Indigestion
- Jaw or back aching or pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Symptoms that come and go
Chest pain after eating, stress or exercise: Where should you go?
Chest pain after eating
Chest pain after eating could be caused by reflux or indigestion but you should be checked if you have severe or persistent pain in case it’s a heart-related cause.
- If symptoms are mild, familiar and improving, urgent care or primary care may be appropriate.
- If pain is severe, lasts more than a few minutes or comes with warning signs, call 911.
Chest pain during stress
Chest pain during stress may be related to anxiety but heart causes are still a possibility.
- If symptoms are new, severe or paired with warning signs, get emergency care.
- If symptoms return with stress, schedule a medical evaluation.
Chest pain during exercise
Chest pain during exercise can be a warning sign of reduced blood flow to the heart. You should have it checked, especially if it gets better when you rest or it comes with shortness of breath.
- If symptoms are happening now or do not improve quickly with rest, get emergency care.
What happens when you get care for chest pain?
When you seek care for chest pain, your care team may:
- Ask you about your symptoms and health history
- Check your vital signs
- Do a physical exam
- Check your oxygen
- Order an EKG, blood tests and/or a chest X-ray
- Order other testing based on your symptoms
How to lower your risk of heart-related chest pain
“Protecting your heart comes down to the daily habits you can control,” Dr. Panchal said.
- Manage blood pressure and cholesterol
- Stay physically active
- Avoid smoking and vaping
- Manage diabetes
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Treat sleep apnea
- Eat a heart-supportive diet built around whole foods, lean proteins and plenty of vegetables while cutting back on heavily processed snacks
- Manage stress
- Take medications as prescribed
- Keep up with preventive visits and screenings
Bottom line
Chest pain can have many causes but choosing the right care setting matters.
- Call 911 or go to the ER for severe, sudden or persistent chest pain.
- Urgent care may be appropriate for mild, improving symptoms without warning signs.
- For recurring or unexplained chest discomfort, schedule a visit with a Banner Health provider.
Frequently asked questions about where to go for chest pain
Should I go to urgent care or call 911 for chest pain?
Call 911 for severe, sudden or concerning chest pain, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, confusion or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back. Urgent care may be appropriate for mild, improving symptoms without warning signs.
Can urgent care evaluate chest pain?
Urgent care can evaluate some mild, stable chest symptoms but possible heart attack symptoms need emergency care.
What if I think chest pain is anxiety?
Anxiety can cause chest tightness or pain but new, severe or unusual chest pain should be evaluated. Seek emergency care if warning signs are present.
What if chest pain happens only with exercise?
Chest pain with exercise can signal reduced blood flow to the heart and should be evaluated. Seek emergency care if symptoms are happening now or do not improve quickly with rest.
Can heartburn chest pain go to urgent care?
Mild, familiar heartburn-like symptoms that are improving and do not include emergency warning signs may be appropriate for urgent care or primary care.
What doctor should I see for recurring chest pain?
Start with a primary care provider or cardiologist, depending on your symptoms and risk factors. If chest pain is severe or happening now with warning signs, go to the ER.
Should women seek care for unusual chest symptoms?
Yes. Women may have symptoms such as chest pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, jaw pain, back pain or lightheadedness. These symptoms should be taken seriously.
