How to know if chest pains are serious
Chest pain can stem from many health issues. Some are quite serious, while others may be nothing to worry about.
Sometimes, chest pain indicates a blocked artery and a heart attack. This is an emergency situation, in which the heart is not receiving enough blood and oxygen to function correctly.
However, chest pain can also stem from a health issue affecting the lungs, stomach, or muscles, for example.
It is crucial to receive emergency care for chest pain, especially if it is sudden and severe and accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, or both.
Many heart conditions can cause chest pain, including:
Heart attack
A heart attack may be the best-known cause of chest pain, and the pain usually occurs in the center of the chest.
People experience this pain differently — some describe it as uncomfortable, sharp, sudden, and severe, while others report a squeezing sensation. In some people,