Heartburn and anxiety, among other conditions, may cause a burning feeling or pain in your chest. More serious causes include a heart attack, pericarditis, and pneumonia. Learning when your symptom may be a medical emergency is essential.
A sudden burning sensation in your chest may catch you by surprise. But the symptom isn’t always related to your heart health. Pressure and a burning pain in the chest could also be the result of heartburn, asthma, or an ulcer.
In some cases, a burning sensation or pain in the chest is a medical emergency, and delaying treatment may not be a good idea. Knowing how to recognize related symptoms may help you decide when to seek urgent care.
Angina
Angina is the medical term for chest pain related to the heart not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. It is often related to coronary heart disease but may also have other causes, like a spasm in an artery.
Angina may be an early sign and a symptom of a heart attack. It often manifests as tightness or pressure in the chest as well as sudden or recurring pain in the area.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, the burning in your chest may be a sign of a heart attack or serious abnormal heart rhythm:
- squeezing, fullness, pain, or pressure sensations in the middle or left side of your chest
- pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, or back (which may happen before you feel chest pain)
- shortness of breath with minimum physical activity
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- extreme and unexplained fatigue
- sweating or chills
- unusual slow or fast heartbeat
If you have these symptoms, it’s vital to call your local emergency services or have someone drive you to the emergency room immediately. A quick response and treatment can prevent complications.
The following conditions may cause a burning sensation, or similar symptoms like pressure, in your chest:
Heart attack
Only a small percentage of people experiencing chest pain are having a heart attack. But because a heart attack is a medical emergency, it’s important to be alert for all warning signs.
A heart attack happens when a blood vessel that supplies the heart is blocked. The lack of oxygen-rich blood causes the affected parts of the heart muscle to die.
Chest symptoms from a heart attack may feel like pressure, squeezing, burning, or pain in the middle or left side of your torso. The pain may go away and come back. It can also radiate to your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Other symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- shortness of breath
- cold sweats
- nausea
- dizziness
Immediate medical attention is needed if you have these symptoms.
Heartburn
It’s possible to mistake the symptoms of heartburn for a heart attack. Both can cause a moderate to severe burning sensation in your chest.
Heartburn can be acute and occasional or chronic and persistent. It is the symptom of stomach acid backing up into your esophagus (food pipe).
A band of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus usually closes when you’re not eating to keep food and acid inside your stomach. If it relaxes prematurely, acids can back up into your esophagus causing a burning sensation that may last minutes to hours.
Heartburn often begins after eating. It may get worse when you lie down or bend over. Heartburn may also cause a sour taste in your mouth and pressure or pain in your throat.
Heartburn typically goes away after you take an antacid or it may resolve on its own after a while. It doesn’t typically involve referred pain to your arm, back, or jaw.
Read about heartburn relief.
GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when acid regularly backs up from the stomach into the esophagus. It is a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment.
Heartburn is a symptom of GERD. When you have GERD, you may get heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms once or more times a week. At least
Other symptoms of GERD may include:
- difficulty swallowing
- feeling like there’s a lump in your throat
- feeling food or sour liquid comes up from the food pipe into your throat
- persistent or repetitive cough
- hoarse voice
- pain in the upper stomach
- belching
- shortness of breath
- back pain after eating
- persistent sore throat
If you have GERD, you may persistently feel a burning sensation in your chest caused by chronic heartburn.
Read about GERD treatments and home remedies.
Esophagitis
Frequent episodes of stomach acid backup from GERD can lead to inflammation of the esophagus, which is called esophagitis.
Food allergies, infections, and certain medications can also cause this condition.
Over time, esophagitis can scar and narrow the lining of the esophagus, which may affect its ability to carry food to the stomach.
In addition to burning and pain in the upper stomach and chest, esophagitis can cause:
- painful swallowing
- difficulty swallowing
- a sensation of food being stuck in the food pipe
Stomach ulcer
An ulcer is an open sore in the stomach. It’s caused by acid wearing away at the stomach lining. This may result from Helicobacter pylori bacteria and frequent use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, among other causes.
With a stomach ulcer, you may experience frequent burning in your upper stomach or the center of your chest. The pain may get worse at night, after prolonged periods without eating, or right after you eat.
Other symptoms of a stomach ulcer may include:
- bloating
- feeling full even after eating small bites
- persistent belching
- nausea
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes into the chest cavity through an opening in your diaphragm. You’re more likely to develop a hiatal hernia if you use tobacco, have overweight, or are over age 50 years.
The symptoms of a hiatal hernia are similar to those of GERD and ulcers, including burning in the chest and:
- bloating
- belching
- heartburn
- sour taste in the back of the throat
- pain in the stomach or esophagus
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs that causes them to fill with air or pus. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause pneumonia. Pneumonia may develop after an untreated respiratory infection, like the flu.
Chest pain and burning from pneumonia may happen when you take a deep breath or cough. Other symptoms include:
- cough
- fever
- chills
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- nausea
- vomiting
The symptoms of pneumonia can vary depending on what type of infection you have. Pneumonia is a serious condition, particularly for older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Prompt medical care as soon as you notice the first signs is vital.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy occurs when the tissue lining your chest wall and surrounding your lungs becomes irritated and inflamed. Infections, certain medications, and autoimmune disorders can all cause pleurisy.
The chest pain from pleurisy is sharp. It will get worse when you breathe in.
Other symptoms include:
- cough
- shortness of breath
- fever
- pain in the shoulders or back
Anxiety attacks
Anxiety disorders are a common mental condition. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that manifests as occasional or frequent panic attacks.
The symptoms of a panic attack can so closely mirror those of a heart attack that it’s hard to tell the two apart. Chest pain, a pounding heart, dizziness, tunnel vision, and sweating may occur with both conditions. In fact, experiencing these symptoms during a panic attack may lead you to believe you’re having a heart attack, which in turn worsens the symptoms.
Symptoms of a panic attack may subside after a few minutes or as soon as the trigger goes away. If you continue experiencing the symptoms or don’t usually have panic attacks, urgent medical care is highly advised to rule out a heart attack.
Asthma
About 26 million people in the United States have asthma, a condition involving a narrowing of the airways in the lungs. This narrowing prevents enough oxygen from getting into the lungs and to the rest of the body.
During an asthma attack, your chest can feel tight and it may be hard to catch your breath. Other symptoms include:
- cough
- wheezing
- trouble sleeping, if you have asthma attacks at night
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage in a blood vessel of the lung. It’s usually caused by a blood clot traveling to your lung from your leg (deep vein thrombosis) or other parts of your body. Although not very common, it may cause a burning sensation in the chest.
PE typically causes a sharp pain in your chest that gets worse when you breathe in, cough, eat, or bend over. Other symptoms include:
- shortness of breath that gets worse with exertion
- cough, sometimes bringing up blood
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- dizziness
- swelling, tenderness, and warmth in the leg
PE is a medical emergency.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis involves the muscles that push food through your stomach and into your intestines. When these muscles don’t work like they should, food can’t properly empty from your stomach.
If you have gastroparesis, you may feel full and bloated soon after you eat. You may also have pain in your upper abdomen or symptoms of heartburn.
Other symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- nausea
- vomiting, sometimes throwing up undigested food
- belching
- lack of appetite
- unintentional weight loss
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects ribs to your breastbone (sternum). It may be caused by an injury or arthritis, but sometimes the cause isn’t clear.
The pain can feel similar to that of a heart attack — pressure or sharp pain on either or both sides of your breastbone. The pain may get worse when you take a deep breath or cough. Touching or applying pressure to the area may also increase the pain, which is different from what you’d experience with a heart attack.
However, because of the similarities between costochondritis and a heart attack, urgent medical care is advised if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
Gallstones
Gallstones are hard deposits of cholesterol and other substances that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine to help digest food.
Gallstones may not cause symptoms. But if they get stuck in a bile duct and cause a blockage, you may feel a sudden and intense pain, often in the center or right side of your upper abdomen. The pain may spread to your shoulder, chest, or upper back.
The pain from a gallbladder attack can last from a few minutes to a few hours. You might have nausea and vomiting (usually bile) along with the pain.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the multilayered tissue that surrounds the heart and holds it in place in the chest. Infections, chronic conditions, and autoimmune diseases may cause pericarditis.
With pericarditis, you may feel pain in the middle or left side of your chest. It may be a sharp, stabbing pain that comes on quickly. The pain may ease up when you sit up and lean forward, and it may get worse when you lie down or breathe in deeply.
Other symptoms include:
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- cough
- an overall sense of weakness
- fast or fluttering heartbeat (heart palpitations)
- skipped heartbeats
- fatigue
- swelling in the stomach and legs
Pericarditis requires medical attention and ongoing treatment.
A burning sensation in the chest may result from heartburn, GERD, stomach ulcers, panic attacks, and hiatal hernias. More serious causes may include pneumonia, pericarditis, and heart attacks.
If you have a burning sensation in your chest, you may want to take inventory of other symptoms. Any chest pain is worth noting — and reporting to a doctor if it doesn’t go away. Urgent medical attention is needed if you experience chest pain and a combination of symptoms like shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, jaw and back tension or pain, shooting pain down one or both arms, dizziness, and sweats or chills.