Chest Pain: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Have you had a recent injury to the chest?

See significance of an injury to the chest if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have severe pain after a chest injury but no other symptoms?

Yes

Have you coughed up blood after a chest or back injury?

Yes

Do you have blood in your urine after a chest or back injury?

Yes

Do you have moderate to severe belly pain after an injury to the chest?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you feel or hear a crackling or popping noise with deep breathing and you are having pain with breathing, but you do not have shortness of breath?

Yes

Do you have mild difficulty breathing after a chest injury?

Yes

Do you have a fever after a chest injury?

Yes

Do you have a new cough after a chest injury?

Yes

Do you have moderate pain in your chest without other symptoms that is not getting better 6 hours after the injury?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have mild to moderate pain in your chest when you take a deep breath that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?

Yes

Do you have mild pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have any pain in your chest that has lasted longer than 1 week after an injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	April 27, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer