Quick answer: Call 911 for chest pain or pressure that is sudden, severe, crushing or spreading to your arm, jaw, neck or back, or that comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness or fainting. Don’t drive yourself. Urgent care with an on-site EKG may be appropriate for mild chest discomfort that is clearly tied to a cough, a strained muscle or heartburn, in an otherwise healthy person. When in doubt, treat it as an emergency.

Chest pain is one symptom where getting the decision right really matters. Here’s how to think about it.

New to PACS? Start with our complete guide to urgent care in Alexandria, VA.

Call 911 right away for

  • Pressure, squeezing, tightness or heaviness in the chest
  • Pain spreading to one or both arms, the jaw, neck, back or stomach
  • Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain
  • Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
  • Sudden, sharp chest pain with trouble breathing, especially after surgery, a long trip or with a swollen leg
  • Chest pain in someone with heart disease, diabetes or many risk factors

Women, older adults and people with diabetes may have subtler heart attack signs, like unusual fatigue, shortness of breath or indigestion-like discomfort. Chewing an aspirin while waiting for EMS may help, if you’re not allergic and a 911 dispatcher or doctor says to.

When urgent care may be appropriate

Urgent care may be a reasonable first step for:

  • Chest wall pain that gets worse when you press on the spot or move, after lifting or a strain
  • Chest soreness from a bad cough, bronchitis or a cold
  • Burning pain after meals that feels like heartburn
  • Mild pain in a young, healthy person with no risk factors and normal breathing

PACS has on-site EKG testing reviewed by board-certified physicians, plus chest X-ray. If anything suggests a heart or lung emergency, we’ll send you to the ER right away.

Common non-heart causes of chest pain

  • Strained chest muscles or inflamed rib cartilage (costochondritis)
  • Acid reflux
  • Bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma
  • Anxiety or panic attacks
  • Shingles, before the rash appears

These can only be confirmed once dangerous causes are ruled out.

Frequently asked questions

Can urgent care do an EKG?

Yes. PACS has on-site EKG with same-visit results. For emergency symptoms, call 911 instead.

Is it safe to drive myself to urgent care with chest pain?

If there’s any chance it’s your heart, no. Call 911 so treatment can start in the ambulance.

Can young people have heart attacks?

It’s less common but possible. Take sudden or severe chest pain seriously at any age. See urgent care vs. emergency room.

Get care today at PACS Urgent Care

PACS Urgent Care – Alexandria
3481 N Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 22302
Open 7 days a week, 8 AM – 8 PM · Walk-ins welcome
Call (571) 656-8838 · Get directions · New patient guide

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911.