Chest pain: when to seek immediate help

Why you should not self-diagnose

Muscles, digestive system, lungs, heart and other conditions can cause chest pain. A description of the pain helps, but does not by itself rule out a cardiac or other serious cause.

Risk is assessed with physical examination, vital signs, electrocardiogram and other tests when needed.

Signs for urgent assessment

Get help right away for new, severe, pressing, or tightening pain, especially if it persists, comes back, or comes with other symptoms.

• pain that spreads to the arm, back, neck or jaw
• shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea or weakness
• fainting, bluish lips or severe difficulty breathing

While you wait for help

Stay still, unlock the entrance if you are alone, and prepare a list of medications. Do not take someone else's medicine or delay your call while trying to complete an online assessment.

Do not try to identify the cause of urgent symptoms yourself

Chest pain or discomfort can arise from muscles and digestion as well as the heart or lungs. The description alone cannot rule out a serious condition at home. New pressure, tightness or heaviness with breathing difficulty, sweating, nausea, weakness or spreading pain requires urgent assessment.

Do not drive yourself if you are very unwell, faint or at risk of sudden deterioration. Call the local emergency service and follow its instructions. Do not delay while trying to measure every vital sign or searching online for reassurance.

Information that helps the emergency team

State when the problem began, what you were doing, whether the sensation spreads and which other symptoms are present. Prepare a list of medicines, allergies, previous heart or lung disease and recent procedures. If you have an individual emergency plan for a known condition, follow the instructions previously given to you.

Even if pain resolves, new or unexplained symptoms may still need assessment. Do not decide that a situation is safe only because the pain was brief or one home measurement appeared normal.

What not to do while waiting for help

Do not test the seriousness of pain with exercise, and avoid a large meal or drink if an urgent procedure may be needed. Do not take another person’s medicine or a medicine that was not previously prescribed for this situation.

If alone, unlock the entrance, sit or lie in a safe place and prepare medicines and documents only if this does not delay help. Tell the dispatcher if the condition changes.

• exact location
• time symptoms began
• known allergies and medicines
• a person who should be informed