Chest pain: causes and which doctor to see

For chest pain you can first see: Cardiology or Internal Medicine. If you are not sure, a family doctor (general practitioner) can assess you first and refer you to the right specialist.

The most common causes: strained muscles or ribs; acid reflux and stomach-related burning; anxiety and panic attacks; lung infections and pleurisy; narrowing of the heart arteries (heart attack risk); a blood clot in the lungs. Only a doctor’s examination can determine the exact cause.

Muscular chest pain gets worse with movement and eases within a few days. However, it is not possible to tell the cause of chest pain at home: for pressure-like pain, pain that spreads or pain with sweating, call 112 without waiting.

For sudden severe chest pain, go to the emergency department or call 112. For recurring mild pain, you can book Cardiology or Internal Medicine.

Rib pain that gets worse when pressed or with movement is usually musculoskeletal; Physical Medicine or Orthopaedics can assess it. A doctor should first rule out a heart cause.

Chest pain when coughing is usually due to strained muscles or a lung infection. If there is fever and shortness of breath, see a doctor the same day.

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, call 112 without delay: “Is the pain a pressing, squeezing or crushing feeling in the chest?” “Does the pain spread to the left arm, jaw, back or upper abdomen?” “Is there a cold sweat, nausea or shortness of breath with it?” “Is there confusion, fainting or difficulty waking up?” “Is there facial drooping, slurred speech or sudden weakness in an arm or leg?” “Are you struggling to breathe even at rest?”

See a doctor: the pain keeps coming back with exertion or when climbing stairs; the pain gets worse when you breathe in and out or when you press on the area.