Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families For Individuals & Families Shop for Plans Member Guide Member Guide Find a Doctor Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna

Chest Problems

Overview

Chest pain and heart attack

Chest discomfort or pain may be a key warning symptom of a heart attackheart attack. Heart attack symptoms may include:

  • Chest painpain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
  • Sweating.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
  • LightheadednessLightheadedness or sudden weakness.
  • A fast or irregular heartbeat.

Chest discomfort or pain that comes on or gets worse with exercise, stress, or eating a large meal and goes away with rest may also be a heart disease symptom called anginaangina.

If you have any of these symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 or other emergency services now. After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself. Since most of the damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack occurs in the first 6 hours, emergency treatment may prevent damage to the heart muscle and death. For menmen and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. Women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

Other causes of chest discomfort or pain

Most people fear that chest pain always means that something is wrong with the heart. This isn't the case. Chest discomfort or pain, especially in people who are younger than age 40, can have many causes.

  • Angina (say "ANN-juh-nuh" or "ann-JY-nuh") is a type of chest pain or discomfort that happens when there isn't enough blood flow to the heart muscle. It's a symptom of coronary artery disease, also called heart disease. Angina is called stable anginastable angina when you can usually predict when your symptoms will happen. You probably know what things cause your angina. A sudden and unexpected change in your usual pattern of angina means that the blood flow has become more impaired and you could be having a heart attack. This is called unstable anginaunstable angina.
  • Pain in the muscles or bones of the chest often occurs when you increase your activities or add exercise to your schedule. This is sometimes called chest wall painchest wall pain.
  • CostochondritisCostochondritis is an inflammation of the joints formed by the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). It could be caused by an injury to the chest. But often the reason for the inflammation isn't known.
  • Burning chest pain that occurs when you cough may be from an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus.
  • Burning chest or rib pain, especially just before a rash appears, may be caused by shinglesshingles.
  • An injury such as a broken ribbroken rib or bruised lung can be quite painful. The pain may be worse when you cough or try to take a deep breath.
  • Swelling (inflammation) of the thin layers of tissue (pleura) covering the lungs and the chest wall may occur. This is called pleurisypleurisy.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERDGERD) can cause pain just below the breastbone. Many people will say that they have "heartburnheartburn." You can usually relieve this pain by taking an antacid or eating.

Other more serious problems that can cause chest pain include:

  • An infection, such as pneumoniapneumonia.
  • A collapsed lung (pneumothoraxpneumothorax). This usually causes a sharp, stabbing chest pain and occurs with shortness of breath.
  • A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolismpulmonary embolism). It usually causes deep chest pain with sudden and extreme shortness of breath.
  • Lung cancerLung cancer. It may cause chest pain, especially if the cancer cells spread to involve the ribs.
  • Diseases of the spine. It can cause chest pain if the nerves in the spine are "pinched."
Check Your Symptoms Self-Care Preparing For Your Appointment

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffIgnite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review BoardClinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

© 2024-2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Related Links

Page Footer

I want to...

Audiences

Secure Member Sites

The Cigna Group Information

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details Details