Chest pain: what to do now, when to call emergency help

TL;DR:

Treat new chest pain as an emergency until a clinician says otherwise.
Call your local emergency number for chest pressure, spreading pain, breathlessness, or nausea.
Sit still, unlock the door, and avoid food or driving yourself.
Chew aspirin only if advised, and take nitroglycerin only if prescribed.
Start CPR if the person collapses and is not breathing normally.

First things first

Chest pain can be a heart attack. Time matters. Do not try to diagnose yourself. If your pain is severe, new, or worrying, call your local emergency number at once. Examples include 112, 999, 911, or your country’s number. Emergency crews can start care on the way. This improves survival.

When to call for urgent help

Call an ambulance now if any of the following apply:

Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest.
Pain that spreads to an arm, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
Shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, or a cold sweat.
Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, or comes and goes.

Women, older adults, and people with diabetes may have fewer “classic” signs. They may feel short of breath, sick to the stomach, very tired, or have back or jaw pain, even without strong chest pain. Treat these as urgent too.

If you are unsure, it is safer to call. In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 for sudden chest pain that does not go away, or that spreads, or if you feel sweaty, sick, light headed, or short of breath. Similar rules apply worldwide.

What to do while help is coming

Stop what you are doing. Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Keep calm and still.
Unlock your door. Turn on a light. Keep your phone close.
Do not eat or drink. Do not take someone else’s medicine.
Take nitroglycerin only if a clinician prescribed it for you. Follow the label.
Aspirin may help during a heart attack. Chew a standard dose only if a clinician or emergency dispatcher tells you, or if your local health service advises it and you have no allergy or bleeding risk. Call first, then follow their guidance.
Do not drive yourself, unless there is no other option. An ambulance is safer. Paramedics can give care en route.

If the person collapses

If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if available. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. Follow AED prompts.

What happens in the emergency department

Teams will check an ECG and blood tests for heart damage. They may repeat troponin tests over one to three hours to look for changes. This helps find or rule out a heart attack.
Not every chest pain is a heart attack, but…

Other urgent causes include a blood clot in the lungs, a torn aorta, or pericarditis. These can also be dangerous. Some chest pain comes from the muscles, the stomach, or the lungs, but you cannot tell at home. Get checked if in doubt.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting to see if it passes. Many people delay. This raises risk.
Driving yourself to the hospital. Call an ambulance if possible.
Taking a friend’s nitroglycerin or extra pain pills. This can hide symptoms or cause harm.
Skipping care because the pain is mild. Heart attacks can start mild or come and go.

After a normal test, what next?

If emergency tests rule out urgent causes, ask your clinician about follow up. You may need a primary care visit, risk factor checks, or a heart stress test. Return to emergency care if the pain returns or worsens.|

People at higher risk

Smokers.
People with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
People with a strong family history of early heart disease.
Adults over 55, and women after menopause.
Know your numbers, take your medicines, and keep regular checkups.

Quick reference checklist

Situation	Action
Heavy, squeezing chest pressure, or pain spreading to arm, back, neck, or jaw	Call your local emergency number now. Sit still. Unlock door. Follow dispatcher advice.
Shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness with chest pain	Call for an ambulance now.
You have chest pain and a prescription for nitroglycerin	Take as directed while waiting. Do not drive.
You are told to take aspirin and have no allergy or bleeding risk	Chew the advised dose after calling.
Person collapses and is not breathing normally	Start CPR. Use an AED if available.
Mild chest pain that passes, but you are worried	Seek medical advice soon. Arrange a prompt clinic visit.

Why it matters

Heart attacks can damage the heart muscle within minutes to hours. Fast action saves heart muscle and lives. Calling emergency services starts care sooner and lowers risk.

Frequently asked questions

Can anxiety cause chest pain? Yes. Anxiety and panic can cause sharp or tight chest pain. The first time this happens, get checked to be safe.

What if my pain feels like heartburn? Heart pain can feel like burning or indigestion. If you are unsure, treat it as an emergency.
What if I live far from an ambulance service? Call your emergency number for advice. If no ambulance is available, have someone else drive you. Do not drive yourself unless there is no other choice.

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