Tightness on effort, or a pain you cannot place. An exercise test and, where needed, a CT of the arteries settles it.
General information, not medical advice. If it is happening now, with pain, breathlessness or collapse, call 999.
What it feels like
A tightness, heaviness or ache across the chest that comes on with effort and eases with rest. It can travel to the arm, jaw or back. Pain at rest, with sweating or breathlessness, is an emergency: call 999.
What we do first
A consultation and ECG, then an exercise test on the treadmill in the same visit. Where the story suggests it, a cardiac CT of the arteries with a calcium score at our imaging partner two streets away, usually within the week.
What we find
- Normal arteries and another cause for the pain.
- Narrowings that are treated with medication and risk control.
- Narrowings that need a stent or surgery, which we arrange and follow.
What happens next
A written plan before you leave, and a call the day any imaging is reported.
Book it online in under a minute, or call and speak to a person. Either way, you will be seen by Dr Verrin.