Chest pain

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• Is the pain between the shoulder blades? Under the breast bone? Does the pain change location? Is it on one side only?
• How would you describe the pain? (Severe, tearing or ripping, sharp, stabbing, burning, squeezing, tight, pressure-like, crushing, aching, dull, heavy)
• Does it come on suddenly? Does the pain occur at the same time each day?
• Is the pain getting worse? How long does the pain last?
• Does the pain go from your chest into your shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or back?
• Is the pain worse when you are breathing deeply, coughing, eating, or bending?
• Is the pain worse when you are exercising? Is it better after you rest? Does it go away completely, or is there just less pain?
• Is the pain better after you take nitroglycerin medicine? After you drink milk or take antacids? After belching?
• What other symptoms do you have?

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Which tests are done depends on the cause of the pain. Often, one or more of the following tests may be done first:

• Blood tests such as troponin, to rule out a heart attack
• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• CT scan of the chest
• X-rays of the chest

Review Date: 05/23/2011
Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).