Not all chest pain is cardiac arrest: Here’s how to tell the difference

Learn how to tell if chest pain is a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or something less serious. Know the warning signs and when to seek emergency care. (Pic credit: Pexels)

• Chest pain can have heart, lung, muscle, or anxiety causes
• Seek help if chest pain lasts over 10 minutes or causes fainting
• Heart pain often feels like chest pressure or heaviness

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Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for a people-to-the-emergency-room sprint. Fear of a heart attack or cardiac arrest tends to trigger panic, and rightly so — heart disease is still a leading cause of death in the world. However, not every pain in the chest is cardiac in origin, says a leading doctor.

“Chest pain can stem from the heart, lungs, muscles, stomach or anxiety,” says Dr Arjun Khanna, MD (Emergency Medicine), Senior Consultant at Apex Critical Care & Trauma Sciences in Ahmedabad. “Knowing the type, intensity, duration and associated symptoms helps distinguish between a life-threatening emergency and a nonthreatening condition,” he adds.

Cardiac arrest is an event when the heart suddenly stops pumping effectively, resulting in loss of consciousness and pulse. Heart attack, by contrast, occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle is blocked. Both are serious — but not every acute or short-lived chest discomfort points to these conditions.

Recognize the warning signs and the steps you can take to assess what’s happening, so that you know how best to respond and possibly save a life.

Also Read: Doctor explains early warning signs of heart attacks and how to prevent them

Step 1: Determine the Type of Pain

Heart-related chest pain is most described as pressure, heaviness, squeezing or tightness in the center or left side of the chest. It can feel like “something sitting on the chest.”

In contrast:

Stabbing pain that gets worse with movement or touch might be muscular.

Burning pain after meals might be acid reflux.

Sharp, stabbing pain with inhalation could be pulmonary.

Pressure that lasts longer than 5–10 minutes should be worrisome.

Step 2: Assess for Other Symptoms

Cardiac chest pain is usually accompanied by:

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Nausea or vomiting

Pain radiating to the left arm, jaw, neck or back

Lightheadedness

When someone becomes unconscious and does not have a pulse or breathing, it indicates cardiac arrest — a medical emergency that needs immediate CPR and emergency services attention.

Step 3: Consider Risk Factors

Higher-risk people for heart-related chest pain include those with:

High blood pressure

Diabetes

High cholesterol

Obesity

Smoking history

Family history of heart disease

“If an individual at high risk for coronary artery disease feels unexplained chest pressure, treat it as cardiac unless proven otherwise,” Dr Khanna advises.

Step 4: Observe Length and Trigger

Exertional chest pain relieved by rest may signify angina (impaired blood flow to the heart). Pain that only lasts a few seconds and disappears quickly is less likely to be heart-related.

Pain that varies with position in the body or palpation of the chest wall is often musculoskeletal.

Step 5: Understand When to Get Help Immediately

Call emergency services immediately if:

Pain does not go away with rest or lasts more than 10 minutes

There is severe breathlessness

The person faints

Symptoms are intense and unfamiliar

Also Read: Chest pain: Senior cardiologist explains the key differences — when to worry and when it’s just acidity

“The classic symptoms of persistent chest pressure should never be ignored,” says Dr Khanna. “It’s better to make sure it is not a heart problem than to miss one.”

Staying calm, knowing the warning signs and acting quickly can mean the difference between panic and proper care — and in some cases life or death.

FAQs on Different Types of Chest Pain

Q: What are the common types of chest pain?

Chest pain can be heart-related, muscular, pulmonary, or due to acid reflux or anxiety.

Q: How can I tell if chest pain is heart-related?

Heart-related chest pain is often described as pressure, heaviness, squeezing, or tightness in the centre or left side of the chest and can be accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, pain radiating to other parts, and lightheadedness.

Q: When should I seek immediate medical help for chest pain?

Seek immediate help if the pain does not go away with rest, lasts more than 10 minutes, there is severe breathlessness, fainting, or if symptoms are intense and unfamiliar.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis