What is chest tightness and discomfort?

You may feel chest pain as chest tightness and discomfort. You may also feel chest:

• burning
• heaviness
• pressure
• squeezing
• crushing
• stabbing

There are many causes of chest tightness and discomfort.

It can be frightening and unpleasant to have chest tightness and discomfort.

What symptoms are related to chest tightness and discomfort?

Your symptoms will depend on what's causing your chest tightness and discomfort.

The tightness may increase when you:

• move
• take a deep breath
• press on your chest

If your chest tightness relates to your heart, you may also have discomfort in your:

• chest's left side
• neck
• jaw
• arms

You may have chest tightness and discomfort with other symptoms, such as:

• fever — a temperature of 38°C or higher
• cough
• breathing problems
• sweating

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes chest tightness and discomfort?

The causes of chest tightness and discomfort can include:

• cardiac (heart)
• respiratory (lung)
• other causes

Some cardiac causes of chest tightness are:

• angina — discomfort caused by coronary heart disease
• heart attack — when your heart muscle can't get enough oxygen
• myocarditis — inflammation of your heart muscle
• pericarditis — inflammation of the membrane around your heart

Pain from angina or a heart attack is caused by a sudden reduction in blood to your heart. This is called an 'acute coronary syndrome'.

Find out about heart attack symptoms in males and females.

Some respiratory causes of chest tightness are:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• chest infections, such as pneumonia
• long COVID
• pleurisy — inflammation of the membranes around your lungs
• pulmonary embolism — a blood clot in your lungs

Some other causes of chest tightness are:

• anxiety
• chest injuries
• costochondritis — inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your chest bone
• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD or heart burn) — when stomach acid leaks into your food pipe
• pancreatitis — inflammation of your pancreas
• panic disorder

How is the cause of chest tightness and discomfort diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine you and ask you about your medical history. They may listen to your heart and lungs and take your blood pressure.

They may arrange for you to have:

• an electrocardiogram (ECG) — which measures your heart's electrical activity
• blood tests — full blood count and troponin
• a chest x-ray — to look at your lungs, heart and major blood vessels
• lung function tests
• a CT scan
• an angiogram — imaging that looks at your blood vessels
• a stress test — an exercise ECG

It's not always easy to find the cause of chest tightness and discomfort.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you have chest tightness and discomfort that:

• comes and goes
• that goes away quickly but still worries you

It's important to see your doctor to make sure nothing serious is causing your discomfort.

When to seek urgent care

Get medical help straight away if you have chest tightness and any of the following symptoms:

• pain that spreads to your neck, jaw, stomach, back, shoulders or arms
• sweating
• shortness of breath
• nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• tachycardia (fast or irregular heart rate)
• fatigue

You could be having a heart attack.

Call an ambulance — don't drive yourself to hospital. Sit or lie down while you wait for the ambulance.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How is chest tightness and discomfort treated?

Your treatment will depend on the cause of your chest tightness and discomfort and any other symptoms you may have.

Medicines for chest tightness and discomfort

Medicines for chest tightness and discomfort will depend on its cause.

You may be given pain-relief medicines, such as aspirin or paracetamol. If your chest tightness is ongoing, you may be given an opioid pain medicine.

Your doctor may prescribe nitrate medicines for angina or after a heart attack. They improve the flow of blood to your heart muscle. They come as:

• tablets
• patches
• sprays

If you are prescribed a nitrate medicine, always keep it handy so you can use it as soon as you get symptoms.

Other medicines that you may be given, depending on the cause of your chest tightness, are:

• beta blockers
• calcium channel blockers
• other medicines to help lower your blood pressure
• statins — medicines to lower your lipids

If your chest tightness is caused by asthma or COPD, you may need to use a puffer. Learn more about inhaler devices.

You may also be given oxygen if you need it.

If you have GORD, your doctor may recommend:

• antacids
• H2 antagonists (blockers)
• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

If you have anxiety, you may be given an antidepressant.

LOOKING FOR A MEDICINE? — To search by brand name or active ingredient, use the Medicines information search feature.

Other treatment options

If your chest tightness is related to your heart health, your doctor may suggest other treatments.

Some people with angina need surgery, such as:

• angioplasty
• coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)
• stents

Your doctor may advise that you join a cardiac rehabilitation program. This can help you manage your angina and reduce the risk of further heart problems.

If you have asthma, your doctor will give you an Asthma Action Plan. This helps you to manage your asthma. It tells you what to do when your symptoms get worse.

Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy can be used to treat anxiety.

What are the complications of chest tightness and discomfort?

Complications from chest tightness and discomfort will depend on the cause.

Can chest tightness and discomfort be prevented?

You can make lifestyle changes to help improve your health, such as:

• quitting smoking or vaping
• lowering your alcohol intake
• getting regular exercise — at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week
• eating a balanced diet from the 5 food groups — including fish, cereals, grains, fruit and vegetables
• maintaining a healthy weight
• getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night

You should see your doctor for regular health checks. They will check your:

• blood pressure
• blood sugar
• cholesterol levels

You can get a Heart Health Check if you:

• are aged 45 to 79 years
• have diabetes and are aged 35 years or older
• are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and aged 30 years or older

If you have asthma, you may be given a preventer medicine. This can help prevent chest tightness and lower your chance of having an asthma attack. Learn more about asthma medicines.

It's important that you take prescribed medicines as directed by your doctor. Don't stop your medicines without talking to your doctor.

You can lower your chance of getting a chest infection by getting vaccinated. Vaccines that may be suitable for you are:

• COVID-19 vaccine
• flu vaccine (influenza)
• pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
• pneumococcal vaccine
• RSV vaccine
• shingles vaccine

Resources and support

Heart health

• Visit the Heart Foundation to find out more about angina and heart health in English and other languages.
• Learn more about getting a Heart Health Check.
• Heart Health has resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Lung health

Call Asthma Australia on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) to talk with an Asthma Educator.

Read the My Asthma Guide by the National Asthma Council Australia to help you understand and manage your asthma.

National Asthma Council Australia has asthma information in languages other than English.

Check out this information about COPD for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Download the Lung Foundation Australia's booklet — Understanding long COVID — with information to help you navigate your long COVID journey.

Health Translations Victoria has a factsheet on long COVID and a video you can watch in English and other languages.

To quit smoking or vaping, call Quitline on 13 7848.

Other causes of chest tightness and discomfort

• If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
• WellMob Healing Our Way — provides social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing online resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• The Gut Foundation provides information about different GORD treatments.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.