Whether you’ve experienced chest pain before or not, you probably know it’s never something to take lightly.
However, not all chest pain is a sign of a heart attack or life-threatening condition. There are many possible causes of chest pain, some of which can be safely treated in an urgent care center.
If you or a loved one is experiencing pain or discomfort, you might be wondering whether you should go to an ER or urgent care for chest pain.
Understanding Chest Pain
Chest pain is characterized by discomfort, pressure, burning, or tightness along the front of the body between the neck and upper abdomen. Depending on the root cause, this pain may be dull or sharp and spread to other upper body areas, like the arms, neck, or jaw.
Chest pain can stem from heart, lung, or digestive system issues and may last a few minutes, hours, or more. It may also worsen with exertion and improve while at rest.
In short, you should always take chest pain seriously and get it assessed by a medical professional.
Can I Go to Urgent Care for Chest Pain?
If you are experiencing one or more of the following, you need to go to your nearest urgent care for chest pain:
- Mild but persistent discomfort or pressure
- Pain accompanied by a burning sensation
- Pain that varies with movement
While these may not be an immediate cause for concern, we recommend getting assessed by a medical professional at CareWell Urgent Care to rule out anything serious.
What Can Urgent Care Do for Chest Pain?
Our skilled providers will determine the cause of your chest pain and provide effective treatment to help you feel better quickly.
If your chest pain is severe and you require life-saving treatment, we will arrange transport to the closest emergency room.
When Is Chest Pain an Emergency?
If you are experiencing chest pain and any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. These could be a warning signs of a life-threatening condition, like heart attack or stroke:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain radiating down the arms, neck, jaw, or back
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden, severe, or extreme chest pain that does not go away
Possible Causes of Chest Pain
You may experience chest pain for many reasons, causes that may or may not be heart related.
Heart-related chest pain
- Angina—This results from poor blood flow to the heart and is often caused by a buildup of thick plaques on the inner artery walls. It feels like squeezing, pressure, or heaviness in the chest under the breastbone.
- Pericarditis—This is inflammation of the sac around the heart. It feels like a sharp pain that worsens when breathing or lying down.
- Heart attack—This occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, often from a blood clot. It feels like pressure or squeezing in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes.
- Aortic dissection—This is a separation of the main artery leading from the heart (aorta). Pain is sudden, severe, and often reported as a tearing or ripping sensation.
Other types of chest pain
- Heartburn
- Swallowing disorders
- Gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- Inflamed cartilage or the rib bone (costochondritis)
- Chronic pain syndromes (fibromyalgia)
- Torn or injured muscles
- Bruised or broken rib
- Inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs (pleurisy)
- Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- Collapsed lung
- High blood pressure in the lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension)
- Anxiety and panic attacks
If you’re experiencing mild but persistent chest pain, visit CareWell Urgent Care for accurate diagnosis and prompt care. Our skilled providers and clinical staff offer exceptional care for chest pain and a variety of other conditions, symptoms, illnesses, and injuries.
Comprehensive Treatment for Chest Pain at CareWell
Visit a CareWell Urgent Care center near you for exceptional care and treatment.
Our skilled providers will determine the cause of your chest pain and provide effective treatment to help you feel better fast. And, if it’s serious, we will arrange transport to the closest emergency room.
Walk into your nearest urgent care today, or save your spot in line to minimize your wait.
