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What to do if…
you develop new chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

New chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in needs medical assessment, and emergency symptoms mean 999 now. Call 999 or go to A&E now if the pain is severe, does not go away, you are struggling to breathe, you feel faint or clammy, the pain spreads, or you cough up blood.

Do not do these things

  • Do not try to “walk it off”, exercise, climb stairs, or do anything strenuous to test the pain.
  • Do not drive yourself to hospital if you feel faint, very breathless, confused, clammy, or the pain is severe.
  • Do not use alcohol, sedatives, or extra painkillers to push through the pain.
  • Do not rely on a smartwatch, oxygen monitor, or online checklist to rule out something serious.
  • Do not wait until tomorrow if the pain is new, worsening, or comes with breathlessness, dizziness, sweating, sickness, coughing blood, or feeling unusually unwell.

What to do now

  1. Stop what you are doing. Sit upright, or use the position that lets you breathe most comfortably.
  2. Call 999 now, or go to A&E now, if any of these apply:
    • the chest pain is sudden, severe, does not go away, or is rapidly getting worse
    • breathing is difficult, you are gasping, choking, or cannot get words out normally
    • your chest feels tight, heavy, squeezing, or pressure-like
    • pain spreads to your arm, back, neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper tummy
    • you feel faint, collapse, feel suddenly confused, or look or feel sweaty, clammy, sick, very pale, blue, or grey
    • you cough up blood, especially with chest pain, back pain, fast heartbeat, or breathing difficulty
  3. If you are not sure whether it is a 999 emergency, use NHS 111 where available, or contact your GP out-of-hours or local urgent care service today. Say: “I have new chest pain that gets worse when I breathe in.”
  4. If you are told to go to A&E or urgent assessment, follow that advice. Take your usual medicines list if it is easy to grab, but do not delay getting help to find paperwork.
  5. If you are alone and symptoms feel worrying, unlock the door, keep your phone with you, and sit where someone can find you. Put a 999 or urgent-care call on speaker if that helps.
  6. Make a short note for the call or triage:
    • when the pain started
    • where it is: centre, left, right, shoulder, back, or upper tummy
    • what it feels like: sharp, stabbing, tight, heavy, burning, or pressure-like
    • what changes it: deep breath, coughing, lying down, movement, or pressing the area
    • what else is happening: breathlessness, cough, fever, coughing blood, fast heartbeat, dizziness, leg swelling, recent long travel, recent surgery, pregnancy, or recently given birth
  7. If you are waiting for advice and want simple pain relief, only take medicine you normally can take, and follow the label. Do not take extra medicine to mask symptoms or delay urgent care.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the exact cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide alone whether it is heart, lung, muscle, anxiety, infection, or something else.
  • You do not need to gather lots of home readings before asking for help.
  • You do not need to make longer-term decisions until urgent symptoms have been checked.

Important reassurance

Pain that is worse when breathing in can happen with treatable problems, but it can also need urgent checks. Asking for help promptly is a sensible safety step, not an overreaction.

Scope note

These are first steps for the first minutes or hours. Later decisions about tests, diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up may need help from a clinician or another appropriate professional.

Important note

This is general information, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for urgent professional assessment. If you think you may be seriously unwell, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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