Chest pain

Chest pain is a health symptom with many possible causes, some minor and some needing medical assessment. Learn the warning signs, helpful questions to consider, and when to seek care.

🚨 Signs that need emergency care now

• 🔴 Chest pain, pressure or heaviness lasting more than a few minutes, or that comes back
• 🔴 Pain spreading to the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck or back
• 🔴 Shortness of breath or being unable to finish a sentence
• 🔴 Cold sweat, nausea or vomiting
• 🔴 Severe dizziness, fainting or a racing heartbeat
• 🔴 Sudden sharp chest pain with breathlessness, or after an injury or a long journey

Do not drive yourself if the pain or dizziness is severe.

What to do until help arrives

• Call 997 and do not drive yourself.
• Sit or lie in a comfortable position, stay calm and loosen tight clothing.
• Do not eat or drink, and avoid exertion such as walking or climbing stairs.
• Follow the dispatcher's advice about aspirin; do not take it on your own if you are allergic or have a bleeding problem.
• Tell someone nearby, and unlock the door for the paramedics if you are alone.

Serious conditions doctors rule out first

• Heart attack or angina
• Pulmonary embolism
• Aortic dissection
• Pericarditis or pleurisy
• Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)

Sources for the warning signs

• NHS — Chest pain
• NHS — Heart attack

Questions that help clarify the picture

1. When did Chest pain start, and was the onset sudden or gradual?
2. How severe is it now, and does it limit normal activity or sleep?
3. Does it get better or worse with movement, food, standing, rest, or a particular time?
4. Did any other new or unusual symptoms start with it?

When should I seek medical care?

Seek medical review if the symptom is severe, concerningly new, persistent, or worsening. If a clear red flag appears, seek emergency care immediately.

✓ At least one verified Saudi source and one independent global source are linked.

This page is general educational information, not a medical consultation. If symptoms are severe or worrying, contact a healthcare professional.