Sudden sharp pain in the chest that goes away quickly can happen for a number of reasons. While chest pain could signify something serious like a heart attack, it could also occur from less life threatening causes.
There are different kinds of chest pain. In fact, according to one 2016 study, only
You can experience different types of chest pain. It may be dull or sharp, sudden or chronic, and it may even feel like burning. Sometimes the pain will extend beyond the area of the chest. How you experience it depends mostly on the cause.
Get urgent medical care if you have severe, sudden pain. Go to the emergency room or call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. For milder or duller pain, it’s still a good idea to see a doctor.
You will usually experience other symptoms along with the pain that can help the doctor diagnose the cause, so it’s important to give them a full description of what you’re feeling.
Sudden, sharp chest pain lasts for less than a few seconds. Some people might describe it as an electric shock or a stabbing pain. It lasts for an instant, and then it’s gone.
Here are some common causes of this type of chest pain.
1. Heartburn/GERD
Heartburn or acid reflux is also called indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It happens when stomach acid splashes up from your stomach. This can cause a sudden pain or burning feeling in the chest.
Heartburn is a common cause of chest pain. Almost 20% of people in the United States have heartburn symptoms every day.
2. Precordial catch syndrome
Precordial catch syndrome (PCS) is a non-serious condition that occurs mostly in children and young adults but can also happen in adulthood. It’s
No treatment is necessary for this, and there are no negative health effects.
3. Muscle strain or bone pain
Muscle or bone problems can cause sudden, sharp chest pain. Your ribs and the muscles between them can get injured or bruised by working out, carrying something heavy, or in a fall. You can also sprain a muscle in your chest wall.
Chest muscle or bone strain can lead to sudden, sharp pain in your chest. This is especially common if the muscle or bone pinches a nerve. Damage to chest wall muscles and bones can be caused by broken ribs or certain diseases affecting the bones, such as osteochondritis.
4. Lung problems
Lung and breathing problems can cause sudden, sharp chest pain. Some lung problems
- chest pain that worsens if you take a deep breath
- chest pain that worsens if you cough
Lung conditions that can cause chest pain include:
- chest infection
- asthma attack
- pneumonia
- pleurisy, which is an inflammation in the lining of the lungs
- pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lungs
- collapsed lung
- pulmonary hypertension, which means high blood pressure in the lungs
5. Anxiety and panic attacks
Severe anxiety and panic attacks can cause sudden, sharp chest pain. This mental health condition can happen for no reason at all. Some people may have a panic attack after a stressful or emotional event.
Other symptoms of a panic attack are also
Learn to tell the difference between a panic attack and a heart attack.
6. Heart issues
Most people think of a heart attack when they have chest pain. Heart attacks typically cause dull pain or an uncomfortable feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest. They may also cause a burning pain in the chest.
Most heart attacks cause a dull, crushing pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. The pain typically lasts longer than a few minutes. It might also go away and then happen again.
Additionally, chest pain from a heart attack is usually diffuse. This means that it is difficult to pinpoint. The chest pain
Get emergency medical treatment if you have any symptoms of a heart attack.
Other heart conditions can also trigger chest pain. They may be more likely to cause sudden, sharp chest pain than a heart attack. Any condition that affects the heart can be serious and needs medical attention. Examples include angina or myocarditis.
Other causes of sudden, sharp chest pain include digestive disorders and viral infections like:
- shingles
- muscle spasm
- gallbladder inflammation or gallstones
- pancreas inflammation
- swallowing disorders
The most urgent and serious cause of chest pain is heart attack. The following chart can help you differentiate between pain caused by heart attack compared to other causes.
The chart below shows typical symptoms of heart disease. Some people
| Heart attack | Other causes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Dull, squeezing, or crushing pressure | Sharp or burning pain |
| Pain location | Diffuse, spread out | Localized can be pinpointed |
| Pain duration | Several minutes | Momentary, less than a few seconds |
| Exercise | Pain worsens | Pain improves |
Why do I get a sharp pain in my chest for a few seconds?
If your pain lasts for just a few seconds, you may have precordial catch syndrome.
Is it normal to feel a stabbing pain in your chest?
Depending on how long it lasts, the cause could be an injury. The best thing to do if you’re concerned is to see your doctor for evaluation.
What causes sharp pain in the left side of the chest that comes and goes?
It’s common to think that you’re having a heart attack if you have a sharp pain on the left side of your chest. However, there can be many causes. They include other heart conditions, such as angina or pericarditis. You could be having a panic attack, or you may have a hernia. Because the causes of sharp pain in the chest are so different, only a doctor can give you a proper diagnosis.
What causes sharp pain on the right side of the chest?
Many of the same causes that can trigger left-side chest pain can also trigger right-side chest pain. Additional examples include acid reflux, cholecystitis, a collapsed lung, a blood clot in the lung, or pneumonia.
Most causes of sudden, sharp chest pain are not caused by a heart attack. However, some other causes of chest pain can be serious. If you have chest pain or any other symptoms of a heart condition, get immediate medical attention.
A doctor can find out what is causing your chest pain. You may need a chest X-ray or scan and a blood test. An ECG test that looks at your heartbeat can check your heart health.
Only a small percentage of people with chest pain are actually having a heart attack. However, it is always better to have a doctor confirm the cause of your sudden, sharp chest pain.