Chest Pain, Chronic

Many problems can cause symptoms in the chest area, such as discomfort, shortness of breath or pain with swallowing. Follow this chart for more information.

Back to Symptoms
Step 2

Answering Questions

  • Is the affected person an infant or child?

  • Do you have shortness of breath?

  • Do you have episodes of wheezing and a cough that won’t go away?

  • Does your chest ache along the edges of your breastbone, and does your pain get worse when you cough or take a deep breath?

  • Do physical activities, emotional stress, or extreme temperatures cause a feeling of pressure under the breastbone?

  • Do you have fullness and pain under your breastbone or in the upper right side of your abdomen after eating a greasy or fatty meal?

  • Do you have a burning sensation in your chest that either feels worse when you eat or drink, or feels better when you eat or drink, but gets worse a few hours later?

  • Do you have stinging or burning pain at the same location where you had a recent case of SHINGLES?

  • Do you have a tight feeling in your chest and on ongoing cough that produces a lot of mucus? Does this usually occur for 2-3 months around the same time each year over the past 1-2 (or more) years?

  • Do you have an ongoing, mild cough, has your shortness of breath been increasing slowly for years, and have you been a smoker or been exposed to dust and fumes where you work?

  • Do you have a fever, chills, or night sweats, or are you coughing up bloody mucus?

Back to Questions
Step 3

Possible Causes

  • See Chest Pain in Infants and Children
  • Diagnosis

    This may be a HEART ATTACK, MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, or PNEUMONIA.

    Self Care

    Go to the closest emergency room or call an ambulance right away.

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  • Diagnosis

    Your chest discomfort and shortness of breath may be caused by ASTHMA.

    Self Care

    See your doctor right away. Asthma is very treatable, but it can be a serious condition. Make sure that you get your annual influenza vaccination.

    If you feel that you can’t catch your breath or can’t stop coughing, then have someone drive you to the closest emergency room or call an ambulance.

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  • Diagnosis

    You may have COSTOCHONDRITIS, an inflammation of the joints in your chest along the ribs or where the ribs meet your breastbone and sternum.

    Self Care

    COSTOCHONDRITIS usually goes away on its own. Try an anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve the pain. Heat may also help. See your doctor if the pain doesn’t get better with these treatments.

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  • Diagnosis

    Your pain may be from a heart problem called ANGINA. If it occurs under predictable circumstances (e.g., after 10 minutes of hard exercise) then it is considered STABLE ANGINA. If it occurs at different times or seems to be occurring with less exertion or while you are at rest, then it may be UNSTABLE ANGINA.

    Self Care

    See your doctor. ANGINA is a sign that a person has a higher risk of serious heart problems, such as a HEART ATTACK. If you are concerned about UNSTABLE ANGINA, and it is actively occurring, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room or call an ambulance.

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  • Diagnosis

    The pain you have may be from a GALLBLADDER problem.

    Self Care

    See your doctor. Also, avoid fatty foods.

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  • Diagnosis

    You may have an ULCER, IRRITATION OF THE ESOPHAGUS, or SPASM of the muscles of the esophagus.

    If the discomfort is in your upper stomach and gets worse when you lean forward or lie down, you may have a HIATAL HERNIA. This is a common problem in which the top of the stomach is pushed into the lower chest after eating.

    Self Care

    Limit your alcohol intake, eat smaller meals, and avoid fatty foods. Try an antacid to help relieve your discomfort. Sleeping on a foam wedge, or raising the head of your bed with textbooks, bricks, boards under the headboard or front feet of your bed may also help.

    If these steps don’t relieve your symptoms, see your doctor.

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  • Diagnosis

    Your pain may be caused by POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA, a condition where chronic pain remains at the site of the previous  SHINGLES infection.

    Self Care

    See your doctor. In many cases, POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA can be treated with over-the-counter pain medicines and capsaicin cream.

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  • Diagnosis

    These symptoms may be caused by CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, which is a type of CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD), a common condition if you smoke or previously smoked.

    Self Care

    See your doctor. If you smoke, stop smoking. Also, avoid breathing in anything that can irritate your lungs. Make sure that you get your annual influenza vaccination.

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  • Diagnosis

    EMPHYSEMA, which is a type of CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD), may be the cause of your problem.

    Self Care

    See your doctor. If you smoke, stop smoking. Also, avoid breathing in anything that can irritate your lungs. Make sure that you get your annual influenza vaccination.

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  • Diagnosis

    You may have an infectious illness, such as TUBERCULOSIS, FUNGAL INFECTION, or PNEUMONIA. A more serious problem, such as LUNG CANCER, could also be the cause.

    Self Care

    See your doctor right away. They may recommend a chest X-ray and/or blood testing. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with fever.

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  • Self Care

    For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think your problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

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