Gas pain in the upper-left chest: what to know

A pocket of gas under the diaphragm can feel high on the left side, especially with bloating, belching or discomfort after eating. Acid reflux or gastritis may cause burning, while a peptic ulcer can cause upper-abdominal pain that is felt nearby. Muscle or rib irritation may change with movement or touch. Angina affects the heart and can present with pressure or tightness; pneumonia can cause chest pain with cough or fever, and pulmonary embolism can cause sudden pain with breathlessness. Panic disorder and shingles are other possibilities, but symptoms cannot be safely sorted by sensation alone.

Stop strenuous activity and sit upright while you assess how you feel. If the discomfort is mild, clearly linked to bloating and settles after passing wind, keep meals modest and avoid fizzy drinks or lying down immediately after eating. Do not drive yourself if chest pain is concerning. Do not use an antacid as proof that the pain is harmless; temporary improvement does not exclude a heart or lung cause. Record when it began, what you were doing, associated symptoms and any relevant medical history.

Call emergency services for chest pressure or pain that is severe, persistent, recurrent or spreading to the arm, jaw, back or shoulder. Act immediately if it comes with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, faintness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, coughing blood, blue lips or sudden weakness. New chest pain after prolonged immobility, recent surgery or a previous clot also needs urgent assessment. A rash or marked pain with breathing should be checked promptly as well.

Could my symptoms be digestive, muscular, cardiac or respiratory? Do I need an examination or heart and lung tests? Which features should make me call emergency services? Is any reflux treatment appropriate with my other medicines?