Chest pain right now? Stop reading and call 999, or open Emergency mode.
If chest pain comes on while you're exercising
- Stop straight away.Don’t try to finish the lap, the set or the game. Stop and sit down.
- Give it five minutes.Rest and see whether it eases. If you have a GTN spray for angina, use it.
- Call 999 if it doesn’t settle.Pain that lasts more than five minutes after stopping, or comes with sweating, sickness, breathlessness, dizziness or spreading pain, needs an ambulance.
- See your GP even if it goes.New chest pain that comes on with exertion and settles with rest may be angina. Book a GP appointment within days, not weeks, and don’t exercise hard until you’ve been seen.
What could it be?
| Cause | Typical feel | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack | Pressure or tightness that doesn't go with rest, often with sweating, sickness or breathlessness | Call 999 |
| Angina | Tight, heavy chest on exertion that eases within minutes of stopping | GP within days |
| Exercise-induced asthma | Chest tightness with wheezing or coughing, often in cold air. Eases with a reliever inhaler. | GP |
| Muscle strain | Sharp or aching, worse when you move, twist or press on the spot | Rest |
| Stitch | Sharp pain in the side of the tummy or lower ribs, eases when you slow down | Slow down |
| Reflux | Burning behind the breastbone, especially after eating before exercise | GP if frequent |
If someone collapses during sport
A sudden collapse during exercise is usually a cardiac arrest. The heart's rhythm has gone chaotic and it has stopped pumping. The person won't respond and won't be breathing normally, though they may gasp or twitch.
Call 999, start CPR immediately, and send someone for the nearest defibrillator. Every minute counts. Well-publicised collapses on football pitches have shown that fast CPR and a defibrillator can bring someone back. See CPR and defibrillators.
Every sports club, gym and leisure centre should have a defibrillator, and people who know where it is. If yours doesn't, ask why.
Warning signs to get checked before you do more
- Fainting or nearly fainting during or just after exercise
- Palpitations, or a racing or irregular heartbeat, that doesn't settle quickly
- Getting much more breathless than you used to, or than others at the same pace
- A family history of sudden death under 35, or of inherited heart conditions
See your GP. Young people aged 14 to 35 can also get free heart screening.
Exercising safely with a heart condition
If you've had a heart attack, a stent or have angina, exercise is still good for you, but it should be built up gradually. Cardiac rehabilitation will set safe limits and help you build confidence. Warm up and cool down for longer, avoid sudden bursts of very hard effort, carry your GTN spray, and stop if you get chest pain.
Sources
This page is based on the published guidance below. It was last updated on 30 September 2026. Read how we write our content, or email hello@chestpain.org.uk to report a mistake.