Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does it Feel Like?Benign CausesSerious CausesKnowing the Difference
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Does it Feel Like?
Benign Causes
Serious Causes
Knowing the Difference
Sudden and sharp pain in the chest can feel alarming. It can be challenging to determine if you need to seek immediate medical attention or whether it’s something that will pass. There are many causes, such as pericarditis orprecordial catch syndrome.
This article discusses severe and benign causes of chest pain and how to tell the difference.
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Describing Sharp Chest Pain
Sharp chest pain can be difficult to describe if you haven’t felt it yourself. While mosttypes of chest painare not a cause for concern, a sharp stabbing sensation in the middle or left side of the chest can be alarming to experience.
Location
Typically, sharp and sudden chest pain develops in the chest’s middle or left side. It can also radiate into the back, shoulder, or limbs if it is particularly severe.
Sudden Symptoms
The sudden and sharp pain is almost like a stabbing sensation in one area. In some cases, breathing in or lying down can cause the pain to worsen.Sharp chest pain is associated with various conditions, some of which are severe, whereas others are benign.
Chest Pain and Angina
Common Benign Causes of Sharp Pain in Chest
Benign causes of sharp pain in the chest are not cause for concern and aren’t typically associated with any serious or life-threatening health disorders. Benign causes of sharp pain in the chest include the following:
Heartburn/Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)andheartburnoccur when the opening to the esophagus does not fully close. This leads to stomach acid entering the esophagus from the stomach. People can experience sharp sensations in their chest, burning, and pain when it happens. These disorders, although uncomfortable, are not considered severe or life-threatening.
GERD
Precordial Catch Syndrome (PCS)
Precordial catch syndromeis a stabbing sensation in the left side of the chest that is often found in children and adolescents. It is not considered serious; typically, the pain goes away a few minutes after it develops.
This type of chest pain does not result from problems with the lungs or heart and is often more associated withmuscle spasmsorpinched nervesin the chest.
How to Tell If You Have PCSPCS will develop with a sharp pain on the left side of the chest. However, unlike other sharp pains associated with heart and lung conditions, it does not radiate to the back or other areas and goes away within a few minutes.
How to Tell If You Have PCS
PCS will develop with a sharp pain on the left side of the chest. However, unlike other sharp pains associated with heart and lung conditions, it does not radiate to the back or other areas and goes away within a few minutes.
Muscle Strains or Spasms
Muscle strainsor spasms can occur after lifting heavy objects, working out, or falling. Typically, if the muscles in the chest are affected, they can cause chest pain that is unrelated to the health of the heart or lungs.
Anxiety
Whileanxietyandpanic attackscan be severe conditions, the chest pain that develops is not associated with structural or physical damage to the heart. The symptoms of a panic attack, such as a sharp pain in the chest, can cause a person to fall further into a panic attack due to worry about what may be happening in their body.
Heart Attack vs. Panic AttackSometimes, people mistake a panic attack for a heart attack because they can share symptoms. The one key difference to pay attention to is whether you are at rest or exerting yourself because heart attacks are more likely to happen because of exertion. In contrast, panic attacks can occur even if a person is relaxing. Symptoms to watch for include:Racing heartChest painShortness of breath
Heart Attack vs. Panic Attack
Sometimes, people mistake a panic attack for a heart attack because they can share symptoms. The one key difference to pay attention to is whether you are at rest or exerting yourself because heart attacks are more likely to happen because of exertion. In contrast, panic attacks can occur even if a person is relaxing. Symptoms to watch for include:Racing heartChest painShortness of breath
Sometimes, people mistake a panic attack for a heart attack because they can share symptoms. The one key difference to pay attention to is whether you are at rest or exerting yourself because heart attacks are more likely to happen because of exertion. In contrast, panic attacks can occur even if a person is relaxing. Symptoms to watch for include:
Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?
More Serious Causes of Sharp Pain in Chest
Severe sharp pains in the chest can also indicate that something is wrong and you require medical attention. In these instances, knowing when you should head to your local emergency department is important. Some possible causes of severe sharp pains in the chest include:
Pericarditis
Pericarditisis a condition that develops when thepericardial layersof the sac that surrounds the heart become inflamed. The main symptom is sharp chest pain, but a person can also experience other symptoms, including:
Severity of PericarditisPericarditis can range in severity from mild and non-life-threatening to a severe condition that continues to cause issues. Because of that, if you suspect you may have pericarditis, you must see a healthcare provider.
Severity of Pericarditis
Pericarditis can range in severity from mild and non-life-threatening to a severe condition that continues to cause issues. Because of that, if you suspect you may have pericarditis, you must see a healthcare provider.
Pneumonia
Pneumoniais a possibly severe and life-threatening infection of the chest that develops when theair sacs in the lungsfill up with fluids. This can lead to various symptoms, such as sharp chest pains. Other signs of pneumonia include:
Bacteria, viruses, or fungi typically cause pneumonia.
Inflammation of the Lungs' Lining
When the lining of the lungs becomes inflamed, known aspleurisy, it can lead to sharp pains in the chest. The pain comes on when a person breathes deeply, and it can also radiate to the shoulder. Other actions can worsen the pain, including:
Causes of Pleurisy
Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Cough?
Pulmonary Embolism
Ablood clotin the lungs is a severe health condition that requires immediate medical attention. According to the American Lung Association, most people who develop a blood clot in the lungs survive the ordeal, but it can sometimes lead to death.
Other signs of a pulmonary embolism include:
Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Take a Deep Breath?
Collapsed Lung
A collapsed lung, also known aspneumothorax, can cause sharp chest pains to develop. The discomfort may also radiate into the shoulder and worsen when you breathe or cough.
Collapsed Lung Symptoms to Watch ForA collapsed lung can cause sharp chest pains, but it will likely be present with other signs. Other symptoms of a collapsed lung include:Shortness of breathNasal flaringSkin turning blue due to a lack of oxygenTightness in the chestFeeling light-headed or as if you may faintFatigueFeeling as though it takes more effort to breatheRapid heart rateShockCollapse
Collapsed Lung Symptoms to Watch For
A collapsed lung can cause sharp chest pains, but it will likely be present with other signs. Other symptoms of a collapsed lung include:Shortness of breathNasal flaringSkin turning blue due to a lack of oxygenTightness in the chestFeeling light-headed or as if you may faintFatigueFeeling as though it takes more effort to breatheRapid heart rateShockCollapse
A collapsed lung can cause sharp chest pains, but it will likely be present with other signs. Other symptoms of a collapsed lung include:
Pneumothorax
Chest Pain: When Symptoms Are and Aren’t Heart-Related
Myocarditis
Myocarditisis inflammation of the heart, which can lead to sharp chest pains. The pain may spread to the neck, back, or shoulders when it develops. The pain associated with myocarditis may be mild or severe but worsens when a person coughs, breathes, or swallows food.
It is considered a severe condition and comes with various other symptoms, including:
Myocarditis as a Medical EmergencySome cases of myocarditis may resolve quickly, but if it becomes chronic, there is a risk that it can lead to several life-threatening consequences, such as strokes, heart attacks, or death. Because of that, if you experience any of the symptoms of myocarditis, you should see a healthcare provider promptly.
Myocarditis as a Medical Emergency
Some cases of myocarditis may resolve quickly, but if it becomes chronic, there is a risk that it can lead to several life-threatening consequences, such as strokes, heart attacks, or death. Because of that, if you experience any of the symptoms of myocarditis, you should see a healthcare provider promptly.
How to Know for Sure
However, if chest pain is present alongsidedifficulty breathing,feeling light-headed, or worsens when you breathe or move, you should see a healthcare provider. Some non-life-threatening conditions still come along with these symptoms, such as panic attacks, but it’s always better to have it checked out so you know for sure.
Emergency Symptoms to Pay Attention ToIf you’re wondering if your sharp pain requires medical attention, pay attention to the following symptoms. If you experience them, you should head to your nearest emergency health center. They are:The pain comes on suddenly and spreads to the back, neck, jaw, or arms.Your chest also feels tight or heavy.You can’t breathe properly.You’re experiencing nausea or vomiting.You are sweating excessively.The feelings continue for longer than 15 minutes.
Emergency Symptoms to Pay Attention To
If you’re wondering if your sharp pain requires medical attention, pay attention to the following symptoms. If you experience them, you should head to your nearest emergency health center. They are:The pain comes on suddenly and spreads to the back, neck, jaw, or arms.Your chest also feels tight or heavy.You can’t breathe properly.You’re experiencing nausea or vomiting.You are sweating excessively.The feelings continue for longer than 15 minutes.
If you’re wondering if your sharp pain requires medical attention, pay attention to the following symptoms. If you experience them, you should head to your nearest emergency health center. They are:
How to Get Rid of Chest Pain: 17 Tips
Summary
Feeling a sharp pain in the chest can be alarming, but it’s not always something to worry about. There are benign causes of sharp chest pain, such as heartburn, that do not require you to seek emergency assistance. Chest pain that occurs because of a benign condition does not threaten your life.
When experiencing sharp chest pain, determine what other sensations you’re experiencing, whether or not you’ve experienced the pain before, and if it gets worse or better with time. If it doesn’t improve shortly, you should head to your nearest hospital emergency room. The healthcare providers there can investigate the pain, pinpoint a cause, and formulate treatment depending on what’s causing it.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UK National Health Service.Chest pain.Texas Children’s Hospital.Sharp chest pain? Your child might have PCS.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Panic attack vs. heart attack.Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is pneumonia?NHS Inform.Pleurisy.Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: Sorting through the differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2017 Sep 1;96(5):306-312.Venekamp LN, Velkeniers B, Noppen M.Does ‘idiopathic pleuritis’ exist? Natural history of non-specific pleuritis diagnosed after thoracoscopy.Respiration.2005 Jan-Feb;72(1):74-8. doi:10.1159/000083404American Lung Association.Treating and managing pulmonary embolism.American Lung Association.Pulmonary embolism symptoms and diagnosis.Penn Medicine.Collapsed lung (pneumothorax).American Heart Association.Myocarditis.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UK National Health Service.Chest pain.Texas Children’s Hospital.Sharp chest pain? Your child might have PCS.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Panic attack vs. heart attack.Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is pneumonia?NHS Inform.Pleurisy.Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: Sorting through the differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2017 Sep 1;96(5):306-312.Venekamp LN, Velkeniers B, Noppen M.Does ‘idiopathic pleuritis’ exist? Natural history of non-specific pleuritis diagnosed after thoracoscopy.Respiration.2005 Jan-Feb;72(1):74-8. doi:10.1159/000083404American Lung Association.Treating and managing pulmonary embolism.American Lung Association.Pulmonary embolism symptoms and diagnosis.Penn Medicine.Collapsed lung (pneumothorax).American Heart Association.Myocarditis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UK National Health Service.Chest pain.Texas Children’s Hospital.Sharp chest pain? Your child might have PCS.Beth Israel Lahey Health.Panic attack vs. heart attack.Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is pneumonia?NHS Inform.Pleurisy.Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR.Pleuritic chest pain: Sorting through the differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2017 Sep 1;96(5):306-312.Venekamp LN, Velkeniers B, Noppen M.Does ‘idiopathic pleuritis’ exist? Natural history of non-specific pleuritis diagnosed after thoracoscopy.Respiration.2005 Jan-Feb;72(1):74-8. doi:10.1159/000083404American Lung Association.Treating and managing pulmonary embolism.American Lung Association.Pulmonary embolism symptoms and diagnosis.Penn Medicine.Collapsed lung (pneumothorax).American Heart Association.Myocarditis.
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Texas Children’s Hospital.Sharp chest pain? Your child might have PCS.
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NHS Inform.Pleurisy.
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Venekamp LN, Velkeniers B, Noppen M.Does ‘idiopathic pleuritis’ exist? Natural history of non-specific pleuritis diagnosed after thoracoscopy.Respiration.2005 Jan-Feb;72(1):74-8. doi:10.1159/000083404
American Lung Association.Treating and managing pulmonary embolism.
American Lung Association.Pulmonary embolism symptoms and diagnosis.
Penn Medicine.Collapsed lung (pneumothorax).
American Heart Association.Myocarditis.
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