Ask the Doctor

Consultant cardiologist Dr Mark Dayer addresses your heart health concerns

- David Bradford

I get chest pains sometimes. Do I need to worry?

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for seeing a cardiologist. But the vast majority of people we see do not have a serious underlying problem, and only about one in 20 need an operation. As cardiologists, we naturally worry that the chest pain is due to a heart problem. If you develop sudden onset severe chest pain, call an ambulance. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have a serious heart problem (see nhs.uk/conditions/ chest-pain); most people notice chest pains from time to time. But always err on the side of caution.

There tend to be three characteristics of the chest pain that mark it out as being to do with the heart. The first is that it tends to come on with exertion. The second is that it tends to be in the center of the chest and ‘crushing’ in nature. It often spreads to the arms and/ or the jaw. Many people describe it as a sensation or discomfort rather than pain. The third is that it tends to go off with rest.