What is Chest Pain? Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions Chest pain can mean pain or discomfort. National Jewish Health Cardiologist Andrew Freeman, MD, explains what you need to know and when to seek help. Related Videos 3 Keys to a Healthy Heart Heart Attack Symptoms in Women What is Chest Pain? 4 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease What Is a Heart Murmur? What Causes a Heart Attack? Symptoms of a Weak Heart Breath Test or Heart Rate? Angina = Heart Attack How to Prevent a Heart Attack when Shoveling Snow How to Lower Blood Pressure with Simple Changes Ask a National Jewish Health Cardiologist if You Should Exercise in Bad Weather Intensive Cardiac Rehab Has Amazing Outcomes Does Cold Weather Exercising Burn More Calories? 4 Simple Ways to Be the Healthiest You How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays Lifestyle Medicine: Improve Health, Food, Sleep, Exercise & Stress Management What Has Love Got to Do with Your Health? Walking Is Nature’s Best Medicine Walk With A Doc Transforms Lives Why Do We Connect Love With The Heart? Truth: You Can Reverse Heart Disease, Derrick Did How to Be Heart-Healthy All Day Long Transcript A lot of us cardiologists will use “chest pain” as shorthand for any discomfort above the waist. I make a habit in my practice when I ask a patient about chest discomfort, I ask him if he has pain, squeezing, burning, stabbing, anyway that could describe it, because, a lot of people will say my chest is tight but I don't have any pain. Well that actually could still be angina in the right situation and needs to be investigated. Sometimes the pain is so severe, that patients will tell me they've been rolling around on the floor for hours, thinking they have food poisoning, and it’s actually their heart. So when something really catches your attention, do something about it. And, when something is pretty reproducible, meaning, every time I walk fifty steps, I get chest pains, I take a breath, I relax and it goes away. Thats angina too and it needs to be investigated. Want to use this on your website? Fill out the content usage request form and then copy this code: