Chest Pain, Noncardiac

What is noncardiac chest pain?

Chest pain that is not caused by a heart problem is called noncardiac chest pain. Because it is very important to determine the cause, always see your health care provider if you have chest pain.

How does it occur?

Many causes of chest pain are not related to a heart problem. These include:

swallowing disorders such as esophageal spasm, caused by the muscles of the lower esophagus squeezing painfully due to acid reflux or stress
gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn, which is stomach acid backing up into the esophagus
lung disease such as bronchitis or pneumonia
problems affecting the ribs and chest muscles such as muscle strain or inflammation of the ribs or muscles
anxiety or panic attacks
inflammation of the sack around the heart (pericarditis) or of the lining of the lungs (pleuritis/pleurisy).

How is it diagnosed?

Keeping track of your chest pain will help your health care provider make the diagnosis. Write down:

what the pain feels like, such as stabbing, dull, or burning
when it happens and how long it lasts
where it hurts
what makes it better or worse
any other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, or trouble breathing.

Your provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. You may have the following tests:

electrocardiogram (ECG)
exercise stress test
echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart)
cardiac angiogram
blood tests
x-rays
tests of your esophagus.

How is it treated?

After your provider has confirmed that the chest pain is not caused by a heart problem, he or she will recommend treatment for the problem that is causing the pain.

When should I call my health care provider?

Tell your provider if your noncardiac chest pain is getting worse while you are using the treatment your provider recommends. You may need a different medicine or change in dosage, a different treatment, or more tests.

If you have new or different chest pain, call your health care provider or 911, or go to a hospital emergency room right away if:

You have chest discomfort (pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain) in the center of your chest that lasts more than 10 minutes or goes away and comes back.
You also have pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
You have chest pain with lightheadedness, nausea, or a cold sweat.
You have trouble breathing during the chest pain.

If you live in an area where there is no 911 or ambulance service, have someone drive you to the closest emergency room right away. You can also call the closest law enforcement agency (police, sheriff, or highway patrol) to help drive you to the emergency room.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File CRD3612F.HTM Release 9.0/2006