If something feels wrong with your heart, it is never silly to seek help — and you are never wasting anyone's time by getting checked.
Every year, people delay seeking help for symptoms that turn out to be serious — not because they don't feel unwell, but because they don't want to make a fuss. This page exists to change that. Understanding what to look for, and knowing that it is always okay to get checked, can make a profound difference.
"Chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness — these symptoms deserve attention. Most of the time there is a simple explanation. But the only way to know is to get checked. Please don't hesitate."
Professor Peter Barlis
Interventional Cardiologist & Founding Editor, Heart Matters
Cardiac events are significantly more survivable when treatment begins early. The difference between acting immediately and waiting a few hours can be the difference between full recovery and permanent damage. Emergency services would always rather you call and it turn out to be nothing.
These symptoms do not always mean something serious is wrong — but they should never be ignored. If you experience any of these, particularly if they are new, severe, or persistent, please seek medical attention.
Pressure, tightness, squeezing or burning in the chest — especially with exertion. Can also feel like heaviness or an ache. Never dismiss new chest pain.
A racing, fluttering or pounding sensation in the chest. Often harmless, but palpitations that are frequent, prolonged or accompanied by dizziness warrant investigation.
Breathlessness that is disproportionate to your activity level, or that occurs at rest, can be a sign that your heart or lungs need attention.
Feeling lightheaded, faint or actually losing consciousness can have many causes — some cardiac, some not. Either way, it deserves proper evaluation.
Extreme tiredness that is out of proportion to your activity — particularly in women — can be an early warning sign of cardiac problems that is often overlooked.
Discomfort that radiates to the jaw, neck, back or left arm — with or without chest pain — is a classic but frequently missed warning sign. Never ignore it.
Women are more likely to experience atypical symptoms — nausea, jaw pain, extreme fatigue, back discomfort or a general sense that something is not right — rather than the classic crushing chest pain. These symptoms are just as important and just as worthy of attention. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and get checked.
Not every cardiac symptom is an emergency — but all of them deserve a response. Here is how to think about it.
If you have sudden severe chest pain, breathlessness, collapse, or symptoms of a stroke — call 000 (Australia), 999 (UK), 911 (USA/Canada) or 112 (Europe) immediately. Do not drive yourself. Do not wait to see if it passes.
For chest pain that is new, unexplained or persistent — even if it seems mild — present to your nearest emergency department. A simple ECG and blood test will usually provide clarity within a few hours.
For symptoms that are intermittent, less urgent or have been present for some time — a GP appointment is the right first step. Ask for an ECG and blood tests. Be specific about what you are feeling and when it happens.
If your GP is uncertain, or if symptoms persist despite an initial assessment, ask for a referral to a cardiologist. You are entitled to advocate for your own health. A specialist review can provide reassurance — or catch something important early.
The more clearly you can describe what you are experiencing, the more useful information your doctor has. These are the questions they will ask — it helps to have thought about them in advance.
Can you point to the area? Does it stay in one place or spread — to your arm, jaw, back or neck?
Pressure, tightness, burning, stabbing, aching, fluttering? Your own words are exactly right.
With exertion? At rest? After eating? When lying flat? Randomly? At a particular time of day?
Seconds, minutes, hours? Does it come and go, or is it constant? Does it resolve with rest?
Rest, movement, position, eating, stress? Does anything bring it on reliably?
Nausea, sweating, dizziness, breathlessness, palpitations, unusual fatigue? Even if they seem unrelated.
If your symptoms happen at a predictable time — during exercise, for example — keep a simple diary for a week before your appointment. When the symptom starts, how long it lasts, what you were doing, and what made it stop. This information is invaluable to your cardiologist.
The vast majority of people who present to emergency departments with chest pain are not having a heart attack. Most causes of chest pain are benign — but they all deserve to be properly assessed. Here are some of the common non-cardiac causes.
Musculoskeletal Pain
Costochondritis, muscle strain or rib pain can cause sharp chest discomfort that feels alarming but is completely benign. Often worsens with movement or pressure on the chest wall.
Acid Reflux & Heartburn
One of the most common causes of chest pain — and one of the most commonly confused with cardiac symptoms. A burning sensation after eating is often the culprit.
Anxiety & Panic
Anxiety can produce very real physical symptoms including chest tightness, palpitations and breathlessness. These are genuine symptoms — cardiac causes should always be excluded first, and appropriate support sought.
Respiratory Causes
Pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma or a pulmonary embolism can all cause chest pain and breathlessness. Some of these are serious in their own right and need prompt assessment.
Each of these articles explores a specific symptom or condition in more detail — written in plain language by Professor Peter Barlis and the Heart Matters team.
When in Doubt, Get Checked Out
If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or any symptom that concerns you — it is never silly to seek help. Most of the time it will turn out to be nothing serious, and that is absolutely fine. You are never wasting anyone's time by getting checked. Emergency services would always rather you call. In Australia dial 000, UK 999, USA and Canada 911, Europe 112.