Medically Reviewed By: Mark Aquino, NP – Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner, author of Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified. This article is based on real-world urgent care experience and current clinical guidelines.
Chest pain that becomes worse when you take a deep breath can be frightening. Sometimes the explanation is relatively straightforward, such as a strained chest muscle after coughing or exercise. Other times, however, pain associated with breathing can originate from the lungs, the tissues surrounding the lungs, or even the heart.
Doctors often use the term pleuritic chest pain to describe sharp chest pain that becomes worse during breathing, particularly during a deep inhalation. Pleuritic pain may also worsen when coughing or sneezing.[1]
Possible causes range from chest-wall strain and costochondritis to pleurisy, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax and pericarditis.[1-4]
The challenge is that the way chest pain feels does not always reliably tell you whether the cause is dangerous.
For that reason, new or unexplained chest pain should not simply be diagnosed at home. The American Heart Association recommends prompt medical evaluation for acute chest pain because clinicians need to identify or exclude potentially life-threatening causes early.[2]
This guide explains what chest pain when breathing can mean, which symptoms provide useful clues, how clinicians evaluate pleuritic chest pain, and when you should seek emergency care.
Medical disclaimer: This article provides general health information and cannot determine the cause of an individual’s chest pain. New, severe, persistent or unexplained chest pain can represent a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention when appropriate.
What Does Chest Pain When Breathing Mean?
Your chest contains much more than your heart.
Structures that can produce pain include:
- chest muscles
- ribs
- cartilage connecting the ribs and breastbone
- lungs
- pleura surrounding the lungs
- heart
- pericardium surrounding the heart
- esophagus
- nerves
- skin
Some of these structures move or experience changing pressure as you breathe.
That is why certain conditions become particularly painful during a deep breath.
Pleuritic chest pain is classically described as sharp, stabbing or burning discomfort that becomes worse with inhalation and exhalation.[1]
It may also worsen with:
- coughing
- sneezing
- laughing
- upper-body movement
But “it hurts when I breathe” is a description — not a diagnosis.
Determining the cause requires looking at the entire clinical picture.
Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Take a Deep Breath?
There are several major categories to consider.
Some are common and relatively benign. Others require urgent treatment.
1. Chest Muscle Strain
Musculoskeletal pain is one possible explanation, particularly after:
- heavy lifting
- vigorous exercise
- repetitive upper-body activity
- severe coughing
- an awkward movement
- minor trauma
Your chest muscles expand and contract with breathing.
When a muscle is strained, stretching it during a deep breath may hurt.
Musculoskeletal pain may also worsen when you:
- twist your torso
- raise an arm
- cough
- press on the injured area
- change position
There may be a clear event preceding the symptoms.
However, pain associated with movement does not automatically prove that the heart or lungs are normal.
That distinction matters.
2. Costochondritis
Costochondritis is inflammation involving the cartilage where the ribs connect to the breastbone.
It can cause:
- sharp chest pain
- aching
- pressure-like discomfort
- tenderness near the breastbone
- pain with chest movement
- pain with coughing or sneezing
- pain that becomes worse with deep breathing
Costochondritis commonly affects the upper ribs and may occur on the left side, which can make the symptoms particularly concerning because they can resemble heart-related chest pain.[5]
Physical strain, trauma or significant coughing may sometimes precede costochondritis, although there isn’t always an identifiable cause.[5]
Symptoms can persist for several weeks or longer.
Because costochondritis can resemble more dangerous causes of chest pain, a first episode of unexplained chest pain should not automatically be assumed to be costochondritis. Also see Chest Tightness at Night: What It Means.
3. Pleurisy
Your lungs are surrounded by thin layers of tissue called the pleura.
Normally, these layers glide smoothly as the lungs expand and contract.
When the pleura become inflamed, the condition is called pleurisy or pleuritis.
Inflamed pleural surfaces can become painful as they move against each other during breathing. The result can be characteristic sharp pleuritic chest pain.[1]
Pleurisy may cause:
- sharp chest pain
- pain worse with deep breathing
- pain with coughing or sneezing
- pain with upper-body movement
- shortness of breath
- sometimes cough
- sometimes fever
The pain can occasionally spread into the shoulder or back.[1]
Importantly, pleurisy describes inflammation rather than explaining why the inflammation happened.
The underlying cause still needs to be determined.
Potential causes include viral infections, bacterial infections such as pneumonia, autoimmune disorders, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, trauma and other conditions.[1]
4. Respiratory Infection or Pneumonia
A respiratory infection can sometimes irritate the lungs or pleura enough to produce pain with breathing.
Pneumonia is an infection involving the lungs.
Depending on the infection and patient, symptoms can include:
- cough
- fever
- chills
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- mucus production
- chest discomfort
- pain with coughing or deep breathing
Some people may have subtle symptoms, particularly older adults or people with underlying health conditions.
Chest pain accompanied by fever, cough and breathing difficulty deserves medical evaluation.
A clinician may listen to the lungs, measure oxygen saturation and determine whether chest imaging is necessary. Also see Shortness of Breath: When to Worry.
5. Pulmonary Embolism
One of the most important diagnoses clinicians consider with unexplained pleuritic chest pain is pulmonary embolism (PE).
A pulmonary embolism occurs when material — most commonly a blood clot — travels into the pulmonary arteries and obstructs blood flow through part of the lungs.
This can be life-threatening.
Pulmonary embolism is among the major dangerous conditions that must be considered when evaluating pleuritic chest pain.[3]
Symptoms can include:
- sudden shortness of breath
- sharp chest pain
- pain worse with breathing
- rapid heart rate
- lightheadedness
- fainting
- coughing
- sometimes coughing up blood
Some people have much less dramatic symptoms.
That is one reason PE can be difficult to recognize.
Who Is at Higher Risk for a Pulmonary Embolism?
Risk factors can include circumstances that increase the likelihood of forming a blood clot.
Examples include:
- previous deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- previous pulmonary embolism
- recent surgery
- prolonged immobility
- long periods of travel
- hospitalization
- active cancer
- pregnancy
- the postpartum period
- certain estrogen-containing medications
- significant trauma
- certain clotting disorders
One particularly important clue is new swelling or pain in one leg, which can occur with a DVT.
Someone with sudden chest pain or shortness of breath plus unilateral leg swelling needs urgent medical evaluation.
Also see Calf Pain: When to Worry.
6. Pneumothorax — A Collapsed Lung
A pneumothorax occurs when air enters the space between the lung and chest wall.
This can cause part or all of the affected lung to collapse.
Symptoms may include:
- sudden sharp chest pain
- shortness of breath
- pain associated with breathing
- rapid heart rate
- respiratory distress in severe cases
A pneumothorax can occur after chest trauma, but some cases occur spontaneously.
The severity varies considerably.
A small pneumothorax may cause relatively limited symptoms, whereas a large or tension pneumothorax can become life-threatening.
Sudden chest pain accompanied by significant shortness of breath warrants emergency evaluation.
7. Pericarditis
The heart is surrounded by a thin sac called the pericardium.
Inflammation of this tissue is called pericarditis.
Pericarditis can cause sharp or stabbing chest pain that becomes worse with:
- deep breathing
- coughing
- lying flat
- certain movements
A particularly useful clue is that the pain may improve when sitting upright and leaning forward.[6]
Other possible symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- palpitations
- fatigue
- low-grade fever
- cough
Because pericarditis involves the heart and can resemble other serious cardiac conditions, suspected pericarditis warrants medical evaluation.
8. Rib Injury or Rib Fracture
A rib injury can make every deep breath uncomfortable.
Possible causes include:
- falls
- sports injuries
- motor vehicle collisions
- direct impact
- severe repetitive coughing
Symptoms may include:
- localized tenderness
- pain with deep breathing
- pain with coughing
- pain when twisting
- pain when lying on the injured side
A minor rib contusion and an uncomplicated rib fracture can feel remarkably similar.
However, significant chest trauma can also injure the lungs or other internal structures.
Therefore, symptoms such as worsening shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing blood, abdominal pain after trauma or rapidly worsening chest pain warrant prompt medical evaluation.
9. Anxiety and Panic Symptoms
Anxiety and panic attacks can produce very real physical symptoms, including:
- chest discomfort
- rapid breathing
- shortness of breath
- racing heartbeat
- trembling
- sweating
- dizziness
- tingling
- feeling unable to get a satisfying breath
However, anxiety should not automatically be assumed to be the cause of new unexplained chest pain.
Heart and lung conditions can also cause anxiety because difficulty breathing and chest pain are inherently distressing.
Clinicians generally consider the medical context and potentially dangerous diagnoses before attributing significant new chest symptoms solely to anxiety.
Also see heart palpitations and dizziness.
Is Sharp Chest Pain Less Likely to Be a Heart Attack?
Sharp or pleuritic pain is generally less suggestive of cardiac ischemia than classic pressure-like chest discomfort, but this distinction is not absolute.[7]
Heart-related symptoms can vary.
The American Heart Association emphasizes that potentially cardiac symptoms can include more than obvious chest pain. Symptoms involving the shoulders, arms, neck, back, upper abdomen or jaw — as well as shortness of breath and fatigue — may represent anginal equivalents.[2]
Women may also be more likely to experience accompanying symptoms such as nausea and shortness of breath.[2]
Therefore:
Sharp pain does not automatically mean the heart is safe.
And:
Pain with breathing does not automatically mean the lungs are the cause.
Clinical risk assessment remains important.
What Does Heart Attack Chest Pain Feel Like?
Classic symptoms can include:
- chest pressure
- squeezing
- tightness
- heaviness
- fullness
- discomfort
Pain or discomfort may spread into:
- one or both arms
- shoulders
- neck
- jaw
- back
- upper abdomen
Associated symptoms can include:
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- nausea
- lightheadedness
- weakness
But not everyone experiences a textbook presentation.
This is one reason acute unexplained chest pain deserves appropriate medical evaluation rather than self-diagnosis.[2]
What If the Chest Pain Is Reproducible When I Press on It?
Pain that can be reproduced by pressing on the chest wall makes a musculoskeletal source such as costochondritis more likely.
That information is useful.
But it is not a perfect home test.
Chest tenderness may help clinicians interpret the overall presentation, but no single physical finding should be used by itself to rule out every dangerous cause of chest pain.[7]
Your age, risk factors, associated symptoms, vital signs and clinical history all matter.
What If It Hurts Only When I Take a Very Deep Breath?
That can happen with pleuritic or musculoskeletal pain.
Possibilities include:
- chest muscle strain
- costochondritis
- pleural inflammation
- respiratory infection
- rib injury
But serious causes such as pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax can also produce pain with deep inspiration.
Ask yourself what else is happening.
For example:
Deep-breath pain after lifting + localized tenderness + no shortness of breath
has a different clinical context from:
Sudden deep-breath pain + shortness of breath + rapid heart rate after a long flight.
The second scenario is substantially more concerning.
Chest Pain When Breathing Plus Shortness of Breath
This combination deserves particular attention.
Chest pain and difficulty breathing can occur with:
- pneumonia
- pulmonary embolism
- pneumothorax
- pleurisy
- pericarditis
- heart disease
- severe asthma or other pulmonary disease
- anxiety or panic attacks
- other conditions
The severity of the symptoms alone doesn’t reliably establish the diagnosis.
New or unexplained chest pain with significant shortness of breath should be evaluated urgently. Also see shortness of breath.
Chest Pain When Breathing Plus One Swollen Leg
This combination is especially concerning for possible venous thromboembolism.
A blood clot can form in a deep vein of the leg — a deep vein thrombosis — and part of the clot can potentially travel to the lungs.
Warning signs can include:
- swelling predominantly in one leg
- leg pain or tenderness
- new chest pain
- sudden shortness of breath
- rapid heartbeat
- dizziness or fainting
This is not an appropriate situation to monitor at home.
Seek emergency medical evaluation. See Calf Pain: When to Worry.
Chest Pain When Breathing After a Cough
Persistent coughing can strain the chest muscles or irritate rib cartilage.
That may result in:
- localized soreness
- tenderness
- pain with movement
- pain with coughing
- pain with deep breathing
However, the illness causing the cough may itself be responsible for chest pain.
For example, pneumonia or pleural inflammation can cause both coughing and pleuritic pain.
Therefore, worsening breathing difficulty, fever, abnormal oxygen levels, coughing blood or significant systemic illness warrants medical assessment.
Chest Pain When Breathing After Exercise
Musculoskeletal strain is possible after strenuous activity, particularly weightlifting or repetitive upper-body exercise.
However, exercise-associated chest symptoms require caution.
Chest pain triggered by physical exertion — particularly pressure, heaviness or tightness — can represent cardiac ischemia.
Do not assume chest pain is muscular simply because it appeared around exercise.
New exertional chest discomfort deserves medical evaluation.
How Do Clinicians Evaluate Chest Pain When Breathing?
Evaluation begins with the history.
A clinician may ask:
- When did the pain begin?
- Was the onset sudden or gradual?
- Where exactly is the pain?
- Is it sharp, burning, pressure-like or aching?
- Does a deep breath worsen it?
- Does coughing worsen it?
- Can pressing on the area reproduce it?
- Did an injury occur?
- Are you short of breath?
- Do you have fever or cough?
- Have you coughed up blood?
- Is one leg swollen?
- Have you recently traveled?
- Have you recently had surgery?
- Do you have a history of blood clots?
- Do you have cardiac risk factors?
These questions help determine which diagnoses require further investigation.
What Physical Examination May Be Performed?
Depending on the circumstances, evaluation may include:
- blood pressure
- heart rate
- respiratory rate
- temperature
- oxygen saturation
- heart examination
- lung examination
- chest-wall examination
- assessment for leg swelling
- assessment of circulation
- general appearance and respiratory effort
Abnormal vital signs can substantially change the urgency of the evaluation.
What Tests Might Be Needed?
Testing depends on the suspected cause and the patient’s risk.
Potential tests include:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An ECG evaluates the electrical activity of the heart and can identify abnormalities associated with myocardial ischemia, pericarditis and other cardiac conditions.
Current chest-pain guidance recommends early ECG evaluation when acute cardiac disease is a concern.[7]
Cardiac Troponin
Troponin is a blood biomarker used to evaluate possible injury to heart muscle.
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin is the preferred biomarker for detecting or excluding myocardial injury in patients undergoing evaluation for suspected acute coronary syndrome.[2]
Chest X-Ray
A chest radiograph may help identify:
- pneumonia
- pneumothorax
- some rib injuries
- pleural abnormalities
- other pulmonary conditions
Chest radiography is commonly considered in unexplained pleuritic chest pain.[3]
D-Dimer
D-dimer testing may be useful in selected patients when pulmonary embolism is being considered.
It is not simply a universal blood test for everyone with chest pain.
Clinicians use validated risk-assessment strategies to determine whether D-dimer or imaging is appropriate.[3]
CT Pulmonary Angiography
When pulmonary embolism remains a significant concern, CT pulmonary angiography may be used to examine the pulmonary arteries.
Other imaging approaches may be selected depending on the patient’s circumstances.
Can Urgent Care Evaluate Chest Pain When Breathing?
Sometimes — but urgent care has limitations.
Urgent care may be appropriate for selected clinically stable, lower-risk patients when the suspected cause is something such as:
- minor chest-wall strain
- costochondritis
- uncomplicated respiratory illness
- minor rib injury
Depending on the facility, urgent care may have access to:
- ECG
- chest X-ray
- pulse oximetry
- limited laboratory testing
However, urgent care generally cannot provide the full emergency evaluation required for certain high-risk chest-pain presentations.
If a potentially serious heart or lung condition cannot be safely excluded, transfer or referral to an emergency department may be necessary.
When Should You Go to the ER for Chest Pain When Breathing?
Seek emergency medical care for new, severe, persistent or unexplained chest pain, particularly when accompanied by concerning symptoms.
Emergency warning signs include:
- severe or rapidly worsening chest pain
- significant shortness of breath
- chest pressure, squeezing or heaviness
- pain spreading into the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck or back
- fainting or near-fainting
- new confusion
- cold sweating
- significant nausea with chest symptoms
- coughing up blood
- blue or gray lips
- very rapid heartbeat with chest pain
- sudden chest pain after prolonged immobility
- chest pain with new one-sided leg swelling
- severe chest pain following significant trauma
- sudden chest pain with severe breathing difficulty
The American Heart Association recommends activating emergency medical services for acute chest pain rather than trying to determine the cause yourself.[2,8]
When symptoms could represent a heart attack or other life-threatening condition, calling emergency services is preferable to driving yourself.
How Is Chest Pain When Breathing Treated?
Treatment depends entirely on the cause.
There is no single treatment for pleuritic chest pain.
Musculoskeletal Strain
Treatment may include:
- activity modification
- avoiding aggravating movements
- appropriate pain medication
- gradual return to activity
Recovery depends on the severity of the injury.
Costochondritis
Treatment generally focuses on controlling pain while inflammation resolves.
Mayo Clinic notes that symptoms can take several weeks or longer to improve.[5]
Anti-inflammatory medications may be appropriate for some patients, but they are not safe for everyone.
People with certain kidney problems, gastrointestinal bleeding risk, anticoagulant therapy, medication allergies or other medical conditions should discuss appropriate medication choices with a healthcare professional.
Pleurisy
Treatment involves both controlling pain and addressing the underlying cause.[1]
That could mean very different treatments depending on whether pleural inflammation resulted from a viral illness, bacterial pneumonia, autoimmune disease, pulmonary embolism or another disorder.
Pneumonia
Treatment depends on the type and severity of infection.
Bacterial pneumonia may require antibiotics, whereas antibiotics do not treat viral infections.
Patients with significant hypoxia, respiratory distress or other complications may require hospital treatment.
Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism requires urgent medical treatment.
Management may involve anticoagulation and, in selected severe cases, more aggressive interventions.
This is not something that should be treated at home.
Pneumothorax
Management depends on the size, cause and clinical stability.
Some small pneumothoraces can be observed under medical supervision.
Others require removal of air from the pleural space or placement of a chest tube.
A tension pneumothorax is an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Pericarditis
Treatment depends on the cause and severity.
Anti-inflammatory therapy is commonly used in appropriate patients, and colchicine is frequently incorporated into treatment of acute or recurrent pericarditis.
Because complications can occur, treatment should be guided by a healthcare professional rather than self-diagnosed based on positional chest pain.
Should You Take Ibuprofen for Chest Pain When Breathing?
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen may help certain musculoskeletal or inflammatory causes of chest pain.
But taking ibuprofen does not diagnose the problem.
Pain improving after medication does not prove the cause is harmless.
NSAIDs can also be inappropriate for some people, including those with:
- certain kidney diseases
- active or previous gastrointestinal bleeding
- some cardiovascular conditions
- NSAID allergy
- certain anticoagulant regimens
- pregnancy during particular stages
Chest pain should first be triaged according to its potential seriousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my chest hurt when I breathe?
Possible causes include chest muscle strain, costochondritis, pleurisy, pneumonia, rib injury, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pericarditis and other conditions.[1,3]
The cause cannot reliably be determined from that symptom alone.
What is pleuritic chest pain?
Pleuritic chest pain is sharp or stabbing chest pain that becomes worse with breathing, particularly deep inspiration. It often results from irritation of structures that move during respiration.[1,3]
Is chest pain when breathing always serious?
No.
Muscle strain and costochondritis are common non-life-threatening causes.
However, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pneumonia, pericarditis and other serious conditions can cause similar symptoms. New or unexplained chest pain should therefore be evaluated according to the clinical circumstances.
Can a pulled muscle hurt when I breathe?
Yes.
Breathing moves the chest wall, so an injured chest muscle may hurt when stretched during deep inspiration.
Muscle pain may also worsen with movement or palpation.
Does pain when pressing on my chest mean it isn’t my heart?
Reproducible tenderness makes a chest-wall source more likely, but it should not be treated as an absolute rule-out test for serious disease.[7]
Can anxiety cause chest pain when breathing?
Anxiety and hyperventilation can produce chest discomfort and shortness of breath.
However, significant new chest pain should not automatically be attributed to anxiety until potentially dangerous medical causes have been appropriately considered.
Can pneumonia cause sharp pain when breathing?
Yes.
Pneumonia can irritate the pleura surrounding the lungs, producing pleuritic pain. Cough, fever, chills and shortness of breath may also occur.
What does a pulmonary embolism feel like?
Symptoms vary. Pulmonary embolism may cause sudden shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain, sometimes with rapid heart rate, dizziness, fainting or coughing blood.
A person’s risk factors are also important.
Is right-sided chest pain less dangerous than left-sided chest pain?
Not necessarily.
Serious lung conditions can produce pain on either side of the chest.
Location alone cannot establish whether chest pain is benign.
What if chest pain lasts only a few seconds?
Brief fleeting pain is generally less typical of myocardial ischemia, but duration alone cannot determine the diagnosis.[7]
New recurring chest symptoms should be evaluated in context.
What if my oxygen level is normal?
A normal pulse-oximeter reading can be reassuring in certain circumstances, but it does not rule out every serious cause of chest pain, including pulmonary embolism or cardiac disease.
Do not use a home pulse oximeter as the sole reason to avoid medical evaluation when other warning signs are present.
The Bottom Line
Chest pain when breathing has many possible causes.
Some of the more common explanations include:
- chest muscle strain
- costochondritis
- respiratory infections
- pleural inflammation
- rib injury
But clinicians also need to consider serious conditions including:
- pulmonary embolism
- pneumothorax
- pneumonia
- pericarditis
- acute coronary syndrome
- other cardiopulmonary emergencies
A sharp or pleuritic quality makes cardiac ischemia less typical, but it does not automatically establish a harmless diagnosis.[7]
The safest approach is to consider the whole clinical picture: how suddenly the pain began, breathing difficulty, vital signs, cardiac risk, blood-clot risk, recent trauma, fever, cough, leg swelling and associated symptoms.
If you have new severe or unexplained chest pain, significant shortness of breath, fainting, coughing blood, chest pressure, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, or chest pain associated with one-sided leg swelling, seek emergency medical care.
Chest pain is one symptom where ruling out the dangerous possibilities comes before trying to prove that the cause is benign.
References
- Mayo Clinic. Pleurisy — Symptoms and causes. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Pleurisy is characterized by inflammation of the pleura and can produce sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing, coughing or sneezing.
Mayo Clinic — Pleurisy - Gulati M, Levy PD, Mukherjee D, et al. 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Guideline for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain. American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology. The guideline emphasizes rapid evaluation of acute chest pain, structured risk assessment, ECG and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin when appropriate.
American Heart Association — Chest Pain Guideline - Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR. Pleuritic Chest Pain: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2017;96(5):306-312. The review identifies pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, aortic dissection, pneumonia and pneumothorax among important serious diagnoses to consider with pleuritic chest pain.
American Family Physician — Pleuritic Chest Pain - Mayo Clinic. Chest pain — Symptoms and causes. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Reviews cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and other causes of chest pain, including pulmonary embolism and pleurisy.
Mayo Clinic — Chest Pain - Mayo Clinic. Costochondritis — Symptoms and causes. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Costochondritis can produce chest-wall pain worsened by deep breathing, coughing, sneezing and movement and may persist for weeks or longer.
Mayo Clinic — Costochondritis - American Heart Association. Recurrent Pericarditis. Chest pain from pericarditis may worsen with deep inspiration, coughing or lying down and may improve while sitting upright and leaning forward.
American Heart Association — Pericarditis - American Academy of Family Physicians. Chest Pain Evaluation: Updated Guidelines From the AHA/ACC. American Family Physician. Reviews the AHA/ACC chest-pain guideline, including clinical features, ECG evaluation and structured assessment of potentially dangerous causes.
AAFP — Chest Pain Evaluation Guidelines - American Heart Association and American Red Cross. 2024 Guidelines for First Aid. For adults experiencing acute chest pain, the guidelines recommend activation of emergency medical services for transport to an emergency department.
American Heart Association — 2024 First Aid Guidelines
Disclaimer: This article provides general health education and is not intended to diagnose an individual condition or replace evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call emergency services or seek emergency medical care.
About the author: Mark Aquino MSN, FNP-C. Mark has a Masters of Science in Nursing from West Coast University and is a board certified family nurse practitioner with over 8 years of real world experience in healthcare and currently practicing in urgent care diagnosing and prescribing treatments in California, USA. He is author of the book Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified.