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Chest Pain - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three


	Yes

Have you been diagnosed with angina and your angina is occurring more often or is getting worse?


	Yes

Have you had symptoms that you think may be related to a problem with your heart, but all symptoms are gone now?


	Yes

Have you had a recent injury to the chest?


	Yes

Do you have pain when you breathe but you do not have symptoms of a heart attack?


	Yes

Do you have pain in your chest muscles or ribs (chest wall pain)? Note : Pain may or may not increase with coughing or deep breathing.


	Yes

Do you have pain in your chest and a fever?


	Yes

Do you have pain with a band-shaped rash?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain in your chest without symptoms of a heart attack?


	Yes

Do you think your chest pain may be caused by a medicine?


	Yes

Has your angina gotten better but not gone away after using your home treatment plan?


	Yes

Are you having angina more often?


	Yes

Is your angina getting more severe?


	Yes

Do you have angina with activities that have not caused angina in the past?


	Yes

Does angina wake you up at night?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did you have chest pain or discomfort?


	Yes

Did you have pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest, upper belly, or jaw?


	Yes

Did you have pain or numbness in your shoulders or arms, especially on the left side?


	Yes

Did you have pain in the upper back or neck?


	Yes

Did you have shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea?


	Yes

Did you have severe tiredness or exhaustion that came on suddenly?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain after a chest injury but no other symptoms?


	Yes

Have you coughed up blood after a chest or back injury?


	Yes

Do you have blood in your urine after a chest or back injury?


	Yes

Do you have moderate to severe belly pain after an injury to the chest?


	Yes

Do you feel or hear a crackling or popping noise with deep breathing and you are having pain with breathing, but you do not have shortness of breath?


	Yes

Do you have mild difficulty breathing after a chest injury?


	Yes

Do you have a fever after a chest injury?


	Yes

Do you have a new cough after a chest injury?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain in your chest without other symptoms that is not getting better 6 hours after the injury?


	Yes

Do you have mild to moderate pain in your chest when you take a deep breath that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have mild pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have any pain in your chest that has lasted longer than 1 week after an injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does your pain become severe when you take a deep breath?


	Yes

Are you coughing up blood or sputum mixed with blood?


	Yes

Do you have pain deep in your leg or calf that is not from a leg injury?


	Yes

Do you have pain and you have had a pulmonary embolus or a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) in the past?


	Yes

Do you have mild to moderate pain when taking a deep breath but no other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe chest wall pain?


	Yes

Are you coughing up blood or sputum mixed with blood?


	Yes

Do you have pain deep in your leg or calf that is not from a leg injury?


	Yes

Do you have new, moderate pain that does not have an obvious cause, such as a muscle strain or other injury to the chest wall?


	Yes

Do you have new, moderate pain that does not have an obvious cause, such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing, or difficulty breathing?


	Yes

Have you had ongoing, violent coughing for longer than 24 hours and you are unable to rest or sleep?


	Yes

For the past 24 hours, have you had sudden, sharp pain that comes and goes but only lasts for a few seconds?


	Yes

For longer than 2 days, have you had mild pain when you cough or take a deep breath?


	Yes

Have you had any chest wall pain for longer than 1 week?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have moderate to severe pain in your chest and a fever?


	Yes

Do you have a fever of or higher?


	Yes

Do you think that you have a high fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?


	Yes

Do you have a fever of to that persists after 4 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you think that you have a moderate fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?


	Yes

Have you had a fever of to with mild chest pain for 3 full days?


	Yes

Do you think that you have had a mild fever for 3 full days but you have been unable to measure your temperature?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have pain with a band-shaped rash on one side of your chest?Note: Call your doctor as soon as possible. If shingles is causing your symptoms, there may be a medicine you can take that will limit the pain and rash. Medicines are most effective if begun within 2 to 3 days of the start of the rash.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has mild chest pain interfered with your daily activities?


	Yes

Has mild chest pain caused you to limit your usual activities for longer than 1 week?


	Yes

Have you had any chest pain for longer than 1 week?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you think your chest pain may be caused by a medicine?Note: If your answer is Yes :Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to determine whether you should stop taking the medicine or take a different one. An appointment may not be necessary. Do not take another dose of the medicine until you have spoken to your doctor.If you are taking a nonprescription medicine, stop taking the medicine. Call your doctor if you feel you need to continue taking the medicine.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 24, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.