Chest pain can be caused by anything from muscle pain to a heart attack and should never be ignored. Home treatment is not appropriate for chest pain if the pain occurs with symptoms of a heart attack. You should call for an ambulance immediately if you develop sudden severe chest pain, particularly if:
. The pain feels heavy, pressing or tight
. The pain lasts longer than 15 minutes
the pain spreads to other parts of your body, such as your arms, back or jaw
. You also have other symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea, sweating, or coughing up blood
. You are at risk of coronary heart disease – for example, you smoke, are obese, or have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.You may be able to control how much your chest pain bothers you by making changes in your lifestyle.