Chest Pain Location Charts

Concerning chest pain is often felt in the center or left side of the chest and may radiate to the jaw, neck, shoulder, or arm. Pain in these areas, especially when accompanied by shortness of breath or sweating, can indicate acute coronary syndrome or another cardiac emergency.

The 3 P’s—Pleuritic, Positional, and Palpable—help differentiate noncardiac causes of chest pain. If pain is pleuritic (worse with breathing), positional (changes with posture), or palpable (tender to touch), it’s less likely to be cardiac in origin.

Chest pain is confirmed and evaluated through a combination of clinical assessment, ECG, cardiac biomarkers, and imaging tests. These investigations help determine whether the pain is due to cardiac ischemia, pulmonary issues, or other underlying causes.