Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsWhen It’s an EmergencyCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
When It’s an Emergency
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Chest pain can be a confusing symptom, and it is one that should not be ignored. It may mean something as simple asacid reflux, or it could indicate a significant and dangerous problem like cardiac disease. For this reason, chest pain and chest tightness should be taken seriously.
Chest pain, also known asangina, may manifest as a variety of symptoms, including chest pressure or tightness. Many people describe their chest tightness as a squeezing sensation, causing significant enough discomfort to take notice.
If you are feeling any chest pain, pressure, or tightness, be sure to see your healthcare provider right away. They can diagnose your chest pain and be sure you get the correct treatment.
This article will explore left-sided chest pain and help you understand its various causes. It will help you to determine if your chest tightness and pressure are a major problem and what you should do about them.
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Symptoms of Left-Sided Chest Pain
Chest pain symptoms come on in a variety of ways. Symptoms may include:
If you have chest tightness or pressure, it may notalwaysbe a sign of a heart attack or another critical problem. However, it may be something serious that requires swift medical attention.
Signals from your body that accompany chest pressure or left-sided chest pain and may indicate an emergency include:
If you have any of these symptoms, you must see your healthcare provider right away or visit your nearest emergency department. Time is of the essence. Chest pain can be a sign of heart disease, and you must get medical attention to avoid significant problems.
When Is Chest Pain a Serious Emergency?
There are several possiblecauses of chest painand pressure. Some of these may be orthopedic problems (involving the musculoskeletal system), and some may be related to your digestive system. Chest tightness and pain may be a signal that something is wrong with your heart or lungs. For this reason, all chest pain should be taken seriously and never ignored.
Pericarditis
Other symptoms that accompany the chest pain or tightness may include:
Pericarditis is a medical emergency. If you suspect it, you must see your healthcare provider right away.
Panic Attack
Acid Reflux
Sometimesgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, can cause chest pain and tightness. These symptoms come on gradually and typically after having a meal with a trigger food for reflux. Symptoms are not life-threatening, and they are usually much better with over-the-counter or prescription medication for reflux.
Heart Attack
Aheart attack, or myocardial infarction, is a serious problem that requires swift medical attention to treat. This occurs when the flow of blood to your heart is stopped. Your heart tissue will struggle to work properly, and a tight, squeezing sensation may be felt in your chest, left shoulder, jaw, orleft arm.
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack in Men
Cervical Radiculopathy
Believe it or not, some chest pain and left arm pain can come from your neck in the form ofcervicalradiculopathy. Pain in your chest may be due to a pinched nerve from a bulging disk or arthritis in your neck.
Cervical radiculopathy typically causes pain that changes with your position. As you move your neck or change your posture, the pain may decrease or intensify. The pain may also lessen withanti-inflammatory medication.
Common diagnostic tests for chest pain or tightness may include:
If the results of these tests indicate that a cardiac issue is causing your chest pain, further testing may be done in order to determine the severity of your problem. A stress test may be performed to challenge your cardiac tissue and assess your heart function, or acardiaccatheterizationmay be performed to visually examine your heart’s vessels.
The treatment you get for chest pain depends upon the results of your diagnostic testing, such as:
Types of Mental Health Therapy
Summary
Chest pain is a symptom that should not be ignored. It may occur due to a cardiac, digestive, orthopedic, or neurological problem. Diagnosis of chest pain and pressure involves several tests to rule in or out a specific pathology, and treatment often includes lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery.
A Word From Verywell
Chest pain can be a scary symptom, and ignoring it can be a devastatingly bad choice. If your chest pain or pressure is from a heart attack, death can result. But, most episodes of chest pain are easily managed; the trick is performing the right tests for successful diagnosis and then treating the right pathology.
If you have chest pain, pressure, or tightness you should see your healthcare provider right away. They can help determine the cause of your problem and recommend the best treatment. That way, you can quickly get back to your normal lifestyle with minimal or no episodes of chest pain.
The 9 Most Common Causes of Chest Wall Pain
6 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.Safdar B, Ong P, Camici PG.Identifying myocardial ischemia due to coronary microvascular dysfunction in the emergency department: Introducing a new paradigm in acute chest pain evaluation.Clin Ther. 2018;40(11):1920-1930. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.09.010Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack or something else?.Wertli MM, Dangma TD, Müller SE, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain patients in the emergency department: Do physicians have a plan how to diagnose and treat them? A retrospective study.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(2):e0211615. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211615Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.Chiabrando Juan Guido, Bonaventura Aldo, Vecchié Alessandra, et al.Management of acute and recurrent pericarditis.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021Brown NJ, Shahrestani S, Lien BV, et al.Spinal pathologies and management strategies associated with cervical angina (Pseudoangina): a systematic review.Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2021;34(3):506-513. doi:10.3171/2020.7.SPINE20866
6 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.Safdar B, Ong P, Camici PG.Identifying myocardial ischemia due to coronary microvascular dysfunction in the emergency department: Introducing a new paradigm in acute chest pain evaluation.Clin Ther. 2018;40(11):1920-1930. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.09.010Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack or something else?.Wertli MM, Dangma TD, Müller SE, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain patients in the emergency department: Do physicians have a plan how to diagnose and treat them? A retrospective study.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(2):e0211615. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211615Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.Chiabrando Juan Guido, Bonaventura Aldo, Vecchié Alessandra, et al.Management of acute and recurrent pericarditis.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021Brown NJ, Shahrestani S, Lien BV, et al.Spinal pathologies and management strategies associated with cervical angina (Pseudoangina): a systematic review.Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2021;34(3):506-513. doi:10.3171/2020.7.SPINE20866
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.
Safdar B, Ong P, Camici PG.Identifying myocardial ischemia due to coronary microvascular dysfunction in the emergency department: Introducing a new paradigm in acute chest pain evaluation.Clin Ther. 2018;40(11):1920-1930. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.09.010Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack or something else?.Wertli MM, Dangma TD, Müller SE, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain patients in the emergency department: Do physicians have a plan how to diagnose and treat them? A retrospective study.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(2):e0211615. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211615Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.Chiabrando Juan Guido, Bonaventura Aldo, Vecchié Alessandra, et al.Management of acute and recurrent pericarditis.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021Brown NJ, Shahrestani S, Lien BV, et al.Spinal pathologies and management strategies associated with cervical angina (Pseudoangina): a systematic review.Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2021;34(3):506-513. doi:10.3171/2020.7.SPINE20866
Safdar B, Ong P, Camici PG.Identifying myocardial ischemia due to coronary microvascular dysfunction in the emergency department: Introducing a new paradigm in acute chest pain evaluation.Clin Ther. 2018;40(11):1920-1930. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.09.010
Harvard Health Publishing.Chest pain: A heart attack or something else?.
Wertli MM, Dangma TD, Müller SE, et al.Non-cardiac chest pain patients in the emergency department: Do physicians have a plan how to diagnose and treat them? A retrospective study.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(2):e0211615. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211615
Cedars Sinai.Pericarditis.
Chiabrando Juan Guido, Bonaventura Aldo, Vecchié Alessandra, et al.Management of acute and recurrent pericarditis.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;75(1):76-92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021
Brown NJ, Shahrestani S, Lien BV, et al.Spinal pathologies and management strategies associated with cervical angina (Pseudoangina): a systematic review.Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2021;34(3):506-513. doi:10.3171/2020.7.SPINE20866
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
