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Condition guide · Cardiology

Chest Pain

Chest pain has many causes, and most are not related to the heart — but it should always be taken seriously. Here's what can cause it, when to get help straight away, and how a consultant cardiologist can assess it.

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Chest Pain assessment at Bridge House Clinic
What is chest pain?

Chest pain is any pain, tightness, pressure or discomfort felt in the chest. It can come from the heart, but just as often from the muscles and ribs, the gullet and stomach, the lungs — or from anxiety.

Because some causes are serious, chest pain is never something to ignore. If the pain is severe or crushing, spreads to your arm, jaw, neck or back, or comes with sweating, feeling sick or breathlessness, call 999 straight away — do not wait for a private appointment. For chest pain that comes and goes, or that has already been checked as non-urgent, a consultant assessment helps find the cause and gives you a clear plan.

01Symptoms

Symptoms of chest pain.

Chest pain feels different from person to person. Sudden, severe or crushing pain is an emergency — call 999.

01Tightness, pressure or heavinessA squeezing or heavy feeling across the chest, sometimes brought on by exertion and easing with rest.
02Sharp or stabbing painPain that catches on breathing in, moving or pressing on the chest wall — often from the muscles or ribs.
03Burning behind the breastboneA burning feeling, sometimes after eating or when lying down, that can be linked with acid reflux.
04Pain that spreadsDiscomfort moving into the arm, neck, jaw or back — if this comes on suddenly or is severe, call 999.
05Breathlessness or palpitations alongsideChest discomfort that comes with feeling short of breath or aware of your heartbeat is worth having assessed.
Sound familiar?Book an assessment with a consultant and get a clear picture — usually the same or next week.→
02Causes & risk factors

Why it happens.

Many different things can cause chest pain. Most are not related to the heart, but heart causes need to be considered and ruled out.

Muscle or chest-wall strain
Acid reflux and indigestion
Angina (reduced blood flow to the heart)
Anxiety and panic
Chest infections and other lung problems
03When to get it checked

Don't wait for it to settle.

Early assessment helps you get the right treatment sooner. See a specialist if:

I.Call 999 for severe or crushing chest painEspecially if it spreads to your arm, jaw, neck or back, or comes with sweating, feeling sick or breathlessness. Do not wait for a private appointment.
II.Chest pain when you exert yourselfDiscomfort that comes on with walking, stairs or exercise and settles with rest should be assessed promptly.
III.Pain that keeps coming backRecurring chest discomfort, even if mild, deserves a proper explanation.
IV.You have risk factors for heart diseaseSuch as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or a family history of heart disease.
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Chest Pain examination by a consultant
Diagnosing chest pain at Bridge House Clinic
04How it's diagnosed

Finding the cause of your chest pain.

Dr Khalid Khan starts with a full consultation — your symptoms, history and cardiovascular risk — and an examination. Depending on what he finds, an ECG (heart trace), an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) or ambulatory monitoring may be arranged as part of your care. The fee for any test is confirmed at your consultation before you go ahead.

05Treatment

How chest pain is treated.

Treatment depends entirely on the cause — the first step is finding out what it is.

01New-patient consultation (40 min)

A full assessment with Dr Khalid Khan of your symptoms, history and heart risk, with a clear explanation and a plan — £250.

02ECG, echocardiogram & monitoring

Tests chosen for your symptoms and arranged as part of your care. Where a scan is needed, you are referred on — imaging is not available on site. The fee for each test is confirmed at your consultation.

03Follow-up consultation (20 min)

A review of your results and the plan — lifestyle advice, medication where it's needed, or referral for further investigation — £190.

Get your chest pain assessed by a consultant cardiologist.For chest pain that is not an emergency — book directly with Dr Khalid Khan, no GP referral needed. A new-patient consultation is £250. If your pain is severe or sudden, call 999.→
Why Bridge House
I.
Same or next-week appointments

Seen in days — not months on a list.

II.
Consultant-led care

A named specialist, not a junior — all the way through.

III.
Transparent, fixed pricing

Every price published and confirmed in writing.

IV.
No NHS waiting list

Seen privately, without the wait.

V.
Private insurance accepted

We bill major UK insurers directly.

06Your consultants
Dr Khalid Khan, Consultant Cardiologist & General Physician
Assesses itDr Khalid KhanConsultant Cardiologist & General Physician
07FAQ

Common questions.

Can't find your answer? Call us — a real person picks up.

01244 982032
Do I need a referral? +

No — you can book a cardiology consultation directly, without a GP referral. If your chest pain is severe, sudden or crushing, call 999 rather than booking an appointment.

Can you do the tests on the same day? +

Tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram or monitoring are arranged as part of your care, based on what the consultation finds. If you'd like to know what may be possible on the day, please ask when you book and we'll confirm.

Will you write to my GP? +

Yes — with your consent, we write to your GP with the findings and the plan, so your care is joined up.

What does it cost? +

A new-patient consultation with Dr Khalid Khan is £250 (40 minutes) and a follow-up is £190 (20 minutes). The fee for any test is confirmed at your consultation before you go ahead.

Take the first step

Don't put up with it.

Book an assessment with a consultant and get a clear picture — and a plan.

Book an assessment→Call 01244 982032