What Does Angina Feel Like?

People experience angina in different ways. Some people describe a feeling of uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, heaviness, or burning in the chest, while some feel pain in the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw.^1-3 Others may feel out of breath, faint, tired, or as if they have heartburn.^2,3

Here are some statements from people who have angina.⁵ You may recognize some feelings you have had yourself.

• "Angina feels like a baseball hitting my chest."
• "I am short of breath and need to gasp for air."
• "Angina is like a lightning shock."
• "I feel like a truck is parked on my chest."
• "It feels like a punch to my chest and pain going down my arm."
• "I feel like I am going to explode."