When Chest Pain Can’t Wait: Key Signs to Seek Emergency Care

That sudden tightness in your chest can be alarming — and confusing. Is it heartburn from that spicy dinner? A pulled muscle from yesterday’s workout? Or something more serious?

When it comes to chest pain, knowing when to seek emergency help can literally save your life.

“If someone is feeling pain in their chest that they do not believe is correct or normal, then they should seek care,” said Tiffany Uranker, BSN, RN, Director of Emergency Services and Behavioral Health at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County.

Understanding Different Types of Chest Pain

Not all chest pain signals a heart attack. However, certain characteristics warrant immediate medical attention. Here’s how to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack:

Seek Emergency Care Immediately If Your Chest Pain:

• Feels like pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center of your chest
• Feels sudden and severe, like tearing or ripping (which could indicate aortic dissection, a dangerous tear in the main artery)
• Is accompanied by shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness
• Lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes
• Occurs with exertion and improves with rest
• Radiates to other areas, especially your arms, neck, jaw, or back

“Textbook symptoms of a heart attack are chest pain, left arm pain, jaw pain, back pain, excess sweating, and nausea,” Uranker said. “Men and women can also show different symptoms, which can include everything from dental pain to abdominal pain.”

Not all heart attacks include chest pain, so get help if you experience any one or more of these heart attack symptoms.

Gender Differences Matter

Women often experience heart attacks differently than men.

“Men and women do not always have the same warning signs,” Uranker said. “The symptoms can range from what someone thinks is minor, such as dental pain or abdominal pain, to crushing chest pain.”

Women are more likely to report:

• Anxiety
• Indigestion
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual fatigue

These symptoms may appear weeks before a heart attack occurs.

Beyond the Obvious: Hidden Warning Signs

Heart emergencies don’t always look like the dramatic chest clutching seen in movies. Sometimes the signals are more subtle — especially in women, older adults, and people with diabetes. This is known as sudden myocardial infarction or a silent heart attack.

“Shortness of breath, with or without exertion, can even be a sign,” Uranker confirmed.

Other warning signs of a silent heart attack include:

• Anxiety or a feeling of impending doom
• Indigestion or stomach discomfort
• Jaw, neck, or upper back pain without chest involvement
• Symptoms that worsen with activity and improve with rest
• Unusual fatigue or weakness

When to Call 911 vs. Wait and See

Many people hesitate to seek emergency care, often due to concerns about cost or embarrassment about a false alarm.

“I think for anything in healthcare, cost is always the first thing that people think of,” Uranker said. “But what I typically tell people is, you only have one heart, and you have to make sure it is functioning correctly."

Call 911 immediately if:

• Chest pain or discomfort is severe or worsening.
• Pain is accompanied by other warning signs.
• You have a history of heart disease and symptoms feel different from usual angina.
• You're unsure whether it's serious — better safe than sorry.

"If someone waits an extended period of time before coming in, they risk damaging their heart muscle further,” Uranker warned. “Death is even a possibility."

What to Expect in the Emergency Room

If you do head to the ER with chest pain, here’s what typically happens:

“When someone comes to the ER for chest pain, they get an electrocardiogram to evaluate their heart rhythm. They will be evaluated by the physician, have labs drawn, and in most cases, a chest X-ray,” Uranker said. “We may order other tests to be performed to rule out other conditions.”

This systematic approach helps determine whether you’re experiencing:

• Angina (a type of chest pain)
• Aortic dissection
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heart attack
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Panic attack
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lung)

"I tell people all the time, when in doubt, be evaluated,” Uranker said. “At least a life-threatening emergency can be ruled out."

The Bottom Line

When experiencing chest pain, trust your instincts and don't let fear, embarrassment, or cost concerns prevent you from seeking potentially lifesaving care.

"Listen to your body,” Uranker said. “If something feels off, it probably is."

Ruling out a life-threatening emergency is always worth it. With only one heart to protect, her simple but crucial advice is clear: "Be seen if you feel like something is not right," Uranker said.

Call 911 immediately — because when it comes to chest pain, it's always better to err on the side of caution. Remember: Minutes matter during a heart attack. Quick action can save heart muscle and lives.
 

When symptoms appear, we're here with 24/7 emergency care.