What to do if there is pain between the chest and stomach?

October 1, 2025 •

5 min read

According to Michigan Medicine, while chest pain accounts for millions of emergency room visits annually, more than half of these cases are from non-cardiac causes. Knowing what to do if there is pain between the chest and stomach is critical, as it requires understanding the potential triggers and recognizing symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Quick Summary

Pain in the area between the chest and stomach can be caused by many factors, from benign digestive issues like GERD to serious cardiac events. It's essential to recognize the signs of a medical emergency and understand self-care options for less severe problems, consulting a doctor when in doubt.

Key Points

Assess Severity: For any new, severe, or unexplained chest pain, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911.
Watch for Spreading Pain: Cardiac pain can spread to the jaw, back, neck, and arms, which is a red flag for a heart attack.
Consider Digestive Causes: Many people experience pain between the chest and stomach due to GERD, ulcers, or pancreatitis, often triggered by food or eating habits.
Check for Musculoskeletal Pain: Pain that worsens with movement, coughing, or when pressing on the chest could be due to costochondritis or a muscle strain.
Recognize Anxiety Symptoms: Anxiety and panic attacks can cause physical symptoms like chest tightness and stomach upset, often accompanied by other non-cardiac signs.
Utilize Home Remedies Wisely: For non-emergencies confirmed by a doctor, strategies like drinking warm liquids, taking antacids, and avoiding trigger foods can provide relief.

What Are the Potential Causes?

Pain between the chest and stomach can be a concerning symptom due to the vital organs in this region. The wide range of possible causes means that an accurate assessment often requires medical expertise, but understanding the common culprits can help guide your next steps.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Digestive problems are a very common cause of pain in this area. The esophagus runs right alongside the heart, and pain signals from digestive organs can sometimes feel like they're originating in the chest.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Heartburn: This occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest that may radiate to the throat. Other symptoms include bloating, burping, and a sour taste in the mouth.
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach, can cause severe upper abdominal pain that often radiates to the back or chest. The pain may worsen after eating and can be accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Gallstones: These hardened deposits in the gallbladder can cause intense pain in the upper abdomen that may spread to the chest and back, especially after eating fatty foods.
Gastritis and Peptic Ulcers: Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) or sores (ulcers) can cause a burning, gnawing pain in the upper abdomen that may feel like it is between the chest and stomach.

Cardiac-Related Causes

Although non-cardiac causes are more frequent, cardiac conditions can be life-threatening and must be ruled out immediately if you experience certain symptoms.

Heart Attack: A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. Pain is typically described as a pressure, tightness, or squeezing sensation in the chest that can spread to the arms, back, jaw, or upper abdomen. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweats, and lightheadedness.
Angina: This is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. It often occurs during exertion and improves with rest.
Pericarditis: Inflammation of the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart can cause sharp, stabbing chest pain that may worsen when lying down or taking a deep breath.

Musculoskeletal Pain

Sometimes, the source of the pain is not an internal organ but rather the muscles and cartilage of the chest wall.

Costochondritis: This is the inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp or aching pain that is often concentrated on the left side of the breastbone, and it can be worsened by deep breaths, coughing, or pressing on the area.
Muscle Strain: Strenuous exercise or persistent coughing can strain chest muscles, leading to sharp, localized pain.

Other Less Common Causes

Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Intense anxiety can trigger physical symptoms that mimic a heart attack, including chest tightness, a racing heart, shortness of breath, and stomach pain. Anxiety can also cause persistent muscle tension in the chest.
Pulmonary Embolism: A blood clot in the lung can cause sharp, sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat.

How to Differentiate Between Causes

While only a medical professional can provide a definitive diagnosis, comparing symptoms can help you determine the most likely cause. This can be especially important when trying to differentiate between potentially life-threatening conditions and more benign ones.

Symptom Comparison: Heart Attack vs. Heartburn


Symptom	Heart Attack	Heartburn / GERD
Type of Pain	Squeezing, pressure, or tightness, often described as an 'elephant on the chest'.	Burning sensation in the chest, sometimes radiating to the throat.
Location of Pain	Center or left side of the chest, potentially spreading to the back, jaw, neck, or arms.	Behind or below the breastbone, potentially spreading to the neck and throat.
Associated Symptoms	Shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweats, lightheadedness, and fatigue.	Bloating, burping, and a sour taste in the mouth.
Triggers	Often occurs during or after physical exertion but can also happen at rest.	Triggered by specific foods (spicy, fatty, acidic), large meals, or lying down after eating.
Response to Antacids	No relief.	Symptoms often improve with antacids.

When to Seek Medical Attention

For any new, unexplained, or severe chest pain, seeking immediate medical attention is the safest course of action.

Call 911 immediately if you experience:

Sudden, severe chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes.
Pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, back, or arm.
Accompanying symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, or a rapid/irregular heartbeat.

Contact your doctor for less urgent concerns if you have:

Persistent chest pain that comes and goes.
Pain that seems linked to specific triggers, such as stress or certain foods.
Symptoms that improve with over-the-counter medication or home remedies.

What to Do for Immediate Relief (If Not an Emergency)

If you have consulted a doctor and have been advised that your symptoms are related to a less serious issue like acid reflux or gas, certain home remedies can provide relief.

Drink Warm Liquids: Sip on warm water or herbal teas like ginger or peppermint to soothe the digestive tract and relieve trapped gas.
Take Antacids: Over-the-counter antacids can quickly neutralize stomach acid and alleviate heartburn symptoms.
Avoid Trigger Foods: Pay attention to what triggers your pain. Common culprits include spicy, fatty, and acidic foods, as well as caffeine and carbonated drinks.
Gentle Movement: A short walk after eating can help stimulate digestion and prevent gas from building up.
Adjust Position: Elevating your head with pillows while sleeping can help prevent acid reflux.
Manage Stress: Since anxiety can manifest as chest and stomach pain, stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or meditation can be beneficial.

Conclusion

Pain between the chest and stomach can have a variety of causes, from relatively harmless conditions like indigestion to serious, life-threatening events such as a heart attack. The primary step is to be able to distinguish between an emergency and a less serious issue. If you are experiencing sudden, severe, or persistent symptoms, especially those radiating to other parts of the body or accompanied by shortness of breath or nausea, seeking immediate medical attention is essential. For less severe, recurring pain, tracking your symptoms and discussing them with a healthcare provider can help determine the underlying cause and the most effective treatment plan, which may involve simple lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medication. Based on information from the Mayo Clinic, it is always best to be cautious with chest pain and get a professional opinion if you are ever unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should go to the emergency room or call 911 for any sudden, severe, or unexplained pain in this area, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, or pain that spreads to your jaw, back, or arms.

Heartburn is typically a burning sensation that responds to antacids, while a heart attack often involves squeezing or pressure that may radiate to other body parts and does not improve with antacids. When in doubt, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Yes, anxiety and panic attacks can cause physical symptoms such as chest tightness, a racing heart, and stomach pain. This is due to the body's release of stress hormones that cause muscles to tense up and increase heart rate.

Costochondritis is the inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone. It can cause sharp or aching pain in the chest that might feel like it's in the stomach area and is often worsened by deep breaths or coughing.

For digestive pain that a doctor has deemed non-serious, sipping warm liquids like herbal teas, taking over-the-counter antacids, avoiding trigger foods (like spicy or fatty meals), and going for a light walk after eating can help.

Yes, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) can cause severe upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back and chest. This pain may become more intense after eating.

If you suspect your chest and stomach pain is stress-related, techniques like deep breathing and meditation can help manage symptoms. However, it is crucial to first get a medical evaluation to rule out any underlying serious conditions.