Patient information

Chest pain: when to go to emergency.

A routine appointment is not the right place for symptoms that could be a heart attack.

Chest discomfort can be sharp, dull, burning, heavy, or vague. It may also show up as breathlessness, sweating, nausea, pain in the arm or jaw, or unusual fatigue. In people with diabetes, symptoms can be less typical.

Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have

  • Chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
  • Chest discomfort with sweating, breathlessness, fainting, or nausea
  • Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder
  • New severe breathlessness
  • Collapse or near-collapse

In these situations, go to an emergency department or call local emergency services. Getting an ECG and initial treatment early matters.

When a cardiology consultation is reasonable

Book a consultation for exertional chest discomfort, repeated vague chest symptoms, abnormal ECG or treadmill results, high-risk diabetes, strong family history, or persistent breathlessness that has not been explained.

This page is general information. It cannot diagnose your symptoms online.

Common questions

Questions patients ask about chest pain.

My chest pain went away after a few minutes. Can I ignore it?

No. Pain that has settled can still be a warning of a serious heart problem, and it can return more severely. If the episode was severe, came on with exertion, or came with sweating, breathlessness, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, go to an emergency department now, even though you feel well again. If the episode was brief and mild, still arrange assessment the same day rather than waiting to see whether it happens again. An ECG recorded when you are free of pain can look normal, so a doctor needs to hear the whole story and decide what else is needed.

Should I drive myself to the hospital if my chest hurts?

No. Please do not drive yourself. Chest pain can worsen suddenly, and losing consciousness at the wheel is dangerous for you and for others on the road. Call local emergency services, or have someone else take you. Go to the nearest hospital with an emergency department rather than travelling far to a preferred one, because getting an ECG early matters. While you wait, sit down and avoid stairs or long walks.

Could it just be gas or acidity?

It might be, but that cannot be decided at home or over the phone. Acidity and heart pain often feel alike, and relief after an antacid does not rule out a heart problem. If the discomfort lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with sweating, breathlessness, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, treat it as an emergency and go for an ECG. Even short episodes count if they keep coming back or appear on exertion. Those should be assessed by a doctor rather than managed with antacids at home.

Should I take an aspirin or a sorbitrate tablet before I reach the hospital?

Do not take another person’s tablets, and do not delay leaving in order to look for medicines. If a doctor has already advised you to take something during such an episode, follow that instruction. Otherwise the safest plan is to get to an emergency department, where aspirin and other treatment can be given after an ECG and a quick assessment. Tell the team there exactly what you have already taken, and when.

My ECG and check-up were normal recently. Can it still be my heart?

Yes. A normal ECG or health check reflects that moment, not every moment afterwards. An ECG recorded when you are free of pain can look normal, and a heart attack can occur in an artery that appeared acceptable on an earlier test. If you have new chest discomfort now, go for emergency assessment and have the ECG repeated while the symptoms are present. One normal tracing does not always settle the question, and blood tests and repeat ECGs over a few hours are often needed. Bring your old reports if they are already to hand, but do not delay leaving to look for them.

Should I call the clinic first, or go straight to emergency?

Go straight to the nearest emergency department, or call local emergency services, and let someone else make any phone calls while you are on the way. The appointment number on this site is for booking consultations. The numbers here are not an ambulance service and should not be used to report urgent symptoms. Do not wait for a call to be answered or returned before you set out. An ECG and initial treatment can only be given in person, and getting to a hospital early usually matters more than which hospital you reach.

These answers are general information and cannot replace a consultation. If symptoms feel urgent, go to an emergency department or call local emergency services.