Understanding Chest Pain and When to Seek Emergency Care
Chest pain can be alarming and uncomfortable, often leaving you unsure of what to do next. While some people immediately associate chest pain with a heart attack, there are actually many possible causes, some minor and non-life-threatening, and others very serious. In some cases, a visit to the emergency room is the only way to know for sure what’s causing the pain.
Chest pain can feel different from person to person. It may present as a dull ache, sharp or stabbing pain, pressure, tightness, squeezing, or a burning sensation. Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency care. In fact, more than 6.5 million emergency department visits in the United States each year are related to chest pain, making it one of the leading reasons adults go to the ER.
Signs It’s Time to Go to the ER for Chest Pain
If you are experiencing chest pain along with any of the symptoms below, seek immediate medical attention:
- Nausea or dizziness
- Excessive sweating or pale/ashen skin
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain that radiates to the jaw, left arm, shoulder, or back
- Sudden pressure, squeezing, tightness, or crushing pain in the chest
- Very rapid heartbeat or breathing
- Very low blood pressure or unusually slow heart rate
- Confusion or disorientation
Common Causes of Chest Pain
Emergency room physicians can evaluate chest pain and determine its cause. Some common medical reasons for chest pain include:
- Panic or anxiety attacks
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Muscle strains or inflammation of the chest wall or ribs
- Gallstones
- Peptic ulcers
- Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung)
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
- Coronary artery disease
How to Recognize a Possible Heart Attack
Chest pain related to a heart attack often develops gradually and lasts several minutes rather than a few seconds. It may feel like pressure, heaviness, or squeezing in the chest and is commonly associated with other symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Profuse sweating
Heart-related chest pain may also radiate to the neck, jaw, back, or the inner portion of the left arm. It usually does not change with body position but may worsen with physical activity or exertion.
Chest pain does not always mean you’re having a heart attack, but symptoms should never be ignored.
24/7 Cardiology Care
Discover 24/7 expert cardiology care at Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital. Our dedicated team is available day and night to help with chest pain and heart challenges and deliver expert, compassionate care when every minute matters. When you’re unsure about your symptoms, you can count on us for fast, trusted answers.
This Heart Health Month, empower your heart health with the knowledge to know when to seek care.
Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.