The character of a heart related pain are:
1. It is diffuse and is generally all over the chest rather than at any one point.
2. It is usually at the centre of the chest and not on the left or right side, though it can be on either side.
3. A heart related pain increases with walking and reduces when rest is taken. This is the most important point. A chest pain that reduces on walking is not related to heart.
4. The heart related pain is usually gripping, crushing or tightness and may occasionally be burning type also. It is not pricking or stabbing.
5. Heart related pain lasts for minutes at least. It doesn’t last seconds.
6. Though heart related pains radiate to the left arm, or throat or both arms, these assume more significance if the pains increase on walking.
7. A heart related pain can be associated with sweating. But not all pains associated with sweating are heart pains.
8. If the risk factors for heart disease like HTN, DM, Smoking, advanced age especially of male sex, and Family history of heart disease are there, then the likelihood of heart disease is more.
A person without risk factors, especially with a normal ECHO and TMT, need not worry about heart pain for the next one year.
9. In young men without risk factors, a pain like the one you described rarely is suggestive of heart pain.
Next Steps
Please get an echo and a TMT if pain persists.