Chest Burning Sensation: What You Need to Know

Chest burning is a painful burning sensation in the chest. It can result from heart conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and sometimes COVID-19. Most chest burning is usually not a sign of anything serious. However, causes of chest burning can include serious medical conditions such as a heart attack or a stroke.

This article will explain what a chest burning sensation in the body is. It will also describe the accompanying symptoms, causes, and treatment options of the condition.

A burning feeling in the chest is a common symptom of heart or lung conditions, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, and even panic attacks.

Chest burning can result from:

• heart pain due to spasms
• heart pain due to lack of blood flow
• pain in the esophagus due to heartburn
• musculoskeletal pain in the chest area
• lung pain
• infection

Heart conditions, such as angina, pericarditis, or heart attack, are common causes of a burning sensation in the chest.

Other causes include pulmonary embolism, a blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs that reduces blood flow. Pleurisy, which is inflammation of the lining around the lungs, may also cause a burning sensation in the chest.

Heartburn can lead to a chest burning sensation, especially in severe cases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Less often, chest burning is a symptom of asthma or anxiety attacks.

It is also possible to experience chest burning due to rib fractures or any other trauma experienced in the chest area.

GI disorders can cause chest burning. Examples include:

• bloating from gas
• esophagitis
• gastric reflux or heartburn
• ulcers

Read more about GI issues here.

Chest burning pain is a common symptom during recovery from COVID-19. Usually, it is not life threatening, but it can be worrisome to people experiencing it. Different types of chest pain can occur with COVID-19, including:

• Nonspecific or noncardiac chest burning pain: This type of pain can occur anywhere in the chest and may be sharp or dull. It does not typically occur due to physical activity. The cause of this type of chest pain is generally unknown.
• Musculoskeletal chest burning pain: This type of pain typically occurs in a small area of the chest. It may feel like muscle soreness, with the affected area feeling tender to the touch. The pain may worsen with certain movements, such as turning the chest or stretching. New exercises can bring on this type of chest pain.
• Pleuritic chest burning pain: Inflammation of the pleura (lining of the lungs) or pericardium (lining of the heart) can cause chest burning pain. Anti-inflammatory medication can treat it. In some severe COVID-19 infections, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) can occur.
• Angina-type chest burning pain: This pain feels like a constricting sensation, tightness, or heaviness across the chest. It can sometimes radiate to one or both arms, the jaw, neck, or teeth. You can trigger stable angina through physical activity. Typically, stable angina subsides once you rest. Unstable angina occurs at low levels of physical activity or rest. It is similar to the pain of a heart attack.

Read more about COVID-19 here.

Other conditions that cause a chest burning sensation include:

• chemical burn
• heartburn
• nerve problems that cause pain, numbness, or tingling
• nerve-root irritation
• shingles
• sunburn or thermal burn
• chest infection

In some cases, a chest burning sensation may be a symptom of a heart or lung disorder or an injury to the chest. These conditions may be serious or life threatening and require immediate evaluation in an emergency setting. These conditions include:

• angina, which is chest pain resulting from a lack of blood flow to the heart
• asthma
• chest trauma
• dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm, a life threatening tear in a bulging or weakened wall of the body’s main artery that can cause severe hemorrhage
• myocardial infarction or a heart attack
• stroke

Read more about heart health here.

For a chest burning sensation, you should see a doctor if:

• you have new chest pain that you have never experienced before
• chest pain or burning sensation will not go away
• medication or over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers will not work
• chest pain or burning sensation occurs while exercising
• burning sensation or pain worsens

Some symptoms that you should be particularly alert for include:

• shortness of breath
• neck pain
• jaw pain
• back pain
• abdominal pain

A chest burning sensation can be a sign of a serious condition. Seek immediate medical care if you experience a chest burning sensation with shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, loss of consciousness, or severe chest trauma.

Depending on the underlying disorder or condition, a chest burning sensation may accompany other symptoms. Conditions that lead to a chest burning sensation may also cause symptoms in other areas or systems of the body.

A chest burning sensation may accompany other symptoms affecting the cardiovascular system, including:

• chest pain or pressure that radiates to the shoulder and arm
• irregular or rapid heart rate
• rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• sweating
• nausea
• dizziness or lightheadedness

A chest burning sensation may accompany symptoms related to other body systems, including:

• decreased sensation or numbness
• heartburn
• indigestion
• pain when coughing or breathing
• shortness of breath
• skin lesions or blisters

In some cases, a chest burning sensation may be a symptom of a life threatening condition that a doctor should immediately evaluate. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life threatening symptoms:

• chest trauma
• cold, clammy skin
• confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment
• difficulty breathing
• rapid breathing
• rapid heart rate

Treatment for a chest burning sensation will depend on the cause. For GI causes, such as heartburn, your doctor may prescribe medications such as antacids, H-2 receptor blockers, or proton pump inhibitors.

They may also advise you to:

• eat smaller meals
• avoiding eating 3–4 hours before bedtime
• avoiding fatty or spicy foods
• avoid alcohol
• avoid caffeine

For chest burning resulting from cardiovascular issues, your doctor may recommend medications such as:

• artery relaxers, such as nitroglycerin
• aspirin
• blood thinners
• thrombolytic drugs

Other treatments for different causes include:

• Artery blockage: If a blockage in an artery causes chest burning, your doctor may recommend angioplasty and stent placement. In some cases, bypass surgery may be an option. Bypass surgery involves routing blood through a vessel from another part of the body, allowing it to go around the blocked artery.
• Anxiety or panic attacks: If panic attacks or severe anxiety causes chest burning, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medication.
• COVID-19: For chest burning associated with COVID-19, OTC medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may help.
• Shortness of breath: If your shortness of breath occurs with chest burning, you can try using an inhaler if a doctor has previously prescribed one. Try taking slow, deep breaths. Using relaxation or meditation techniques can also help with chest burning and shortness of breath.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed healthcare professional will ask you several questions related to your chest burning sensation, including:

• How long have you felt a chest burning sensation?
• When do you feel a chest burning sensation?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Does anything relieve or worsen the burning sensation?
• What medications are you taking?

To determine the cause of your chest pain, your doctor may recommend certain tests. These include:

• ECG: This test measures the electrical tracing of the heart activity.
• Blood tests: This test will measure markers of the heart and other organs.
• Chest X-ray: This test provides images of the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels in the chest.

In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist who diagnoses heart conditions, called a cardiologist. This doctor may recommend other tests, such as an exercise stress test, angiogram, or CT scan of your chest.

Serious conditions can cause a chest burning sensation. A lack of treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage.

Once a doctor diagnoses the underlying cause, it is important to follow your unique treatment plan to reduce the risk of potential complications, including:

• cardiogenic shock, a result of heart damage and reduced heart function
• erosive esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus
• GERD
• heart attack
• pneumothorax, a collapsed lung
• arrhythmias
• heart failure

Here are a couple of commonly asked questions about chest burning sensations. Dr. Meredith Goodwin has medically reviewed these answers.

Indigestion, heartburn, and GERD are some of the most common causes of a burning sensation in the chest when lying down. 

COVID-19 can cause pain in different areas of the chest. The pain may be dull or sharp. It can occur with or without physical activity, and you may feel like your chest is tight or constricted.

Chest burning is a painful, burning sensation in the chest. Causes include GI, cardiovascular, or pulmonary problems.

Chest burning is not an emergency in all cases. However, seek medical care for persistent or worsening chest burning or pain that radiates to the jaw, arm, or neck.

Treatment for chest burning includes prescription or OTC medication. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure to fix the cause of the chest burning.