NEW SERVICES:
Chest Pain
Chest pain can range from mild discomfort to a serious medical concern requiring immediate attention. At ContinuEM Urgent Care in Lakewood, CA, our trained Emergency Medicine providers offer fast, expert evaluation and treatment for chest pain, eliminating the typical emergency room wait times and the need for appointments.
Whether you’re experiencing sudden pressure, persistent tightness, or concerning symptoms, our urgent care clinic offers comprehensive diagnostic services and evidence-based treatments to identify the cause and provide relief.
What is Chest Pain?
Chest pain refers to discomfort or pain anywhere in the chest area, from the neck to the upper abdomen. The chest houses numerous vital organs, including your heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels, making the location, type, and severity of your pain important diagnostic clues.
Chest pain affects millions of Americans each year, and while many causes are benign and temporary, specific symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation. Our experienced providers at ContinuEM are trained to distinguish between minor chest discomfort and conditions requiring urgent intervention.
When to Visit an Urgent Care for Chest Pain
Not all chest pain requires emergency care, but it’s critical to understand when urgent medical attention is necessary. ContinuEM Urgent Care is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, including EKG and on-site laboratory testing, to evaluate most causes of chest pain, offering a convenient alternative to crowded emergency rooms for non-life-threatening conditions.
Come to ContinuEM Urgent Care If You Experience:
Mild to Moderate Chest Discomfort That:
- Feels like pressure or tightness but isn’t severe or crushing
- Changes when you move, breathe deeply, or change positions
- Is accompanied by a burning sensation (suggesting heartburn or GERD)
- Follows physical activity or heavy lifting (suggesting muscle strain)
- Comes and goes rather than being constant
Accompanying Symptoms:
- Mild shortness of breath that improves with rest
- Discomfort after eating, especially fatty or spicy meals
- Chest wall tenderness when you press on the area
- Pain that worsens when you cough or take deep breaths
- Anxiety or stress-related chest tightness
- Known history of GERD, acid reflux, or costochondritis
Recent Changes:
- New chest discomfort that’s different from your usual symptoms
- Pain following a minor chest injury or strenuous exercise
- Chest tightness during periods of high stress or anxiety
When to Go to the Emergency Room:
While our urgent care handles many cases of chest pain, specific symptoms require immediate emergency care. Call 911 immediately, do not drive yourself, if you experience:
- Sudden, severe chest pain that feels crushing, squeezing, or like a heavy weight
- Chest pain or pressure lasting more than 15 minutes
- Pain radiating to your arms, jaw, neck, back, or shoulders
- Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness along with chest pain
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat with chest discomfort
- Feeling of impending doom or extreme anxiety
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Chest pain during or after pregnancy
- Sudden sharp chest pain with difficulty breathing (possible collapsed lung)
- Known heart disease with new or worsening chest pain
- Recent chest trauma or injury with severe pain
Making the Right Choice:
If you’re unsure whether your symptoms require urgent care or emergency services, call our clinic at (562) 731-3990. Our staff can help you determine the most appropriate level of care for your situation.
Common Symptoms of Chest Pain
Chest pain manifests differently depending on its underlying cause. Accurately describing your symptoms helps our providers diagnose your condition more effectively.
Types of Pain:
Crushing or Squeezing Sensation: Pressure that feels like a heavy weight on your chest, often associated with heart-related issues. This type of pain may indicate a serious condition requiring emergency care.
Sharp or Stabbing Pain: Sudden, intense pain that may indicate lung problems, pericarditis (inflammation around the heart), or musculoskeletal issues. Sharp pain that worsens with breathing or movement is less likely to be heart-related.
Burning Sensation: Often felt behind the breastbone, typically related to acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD. This pain usually worsens after eating or when lying down.
Dull, Aching Discomfort: Persistent, generalized discomfort that may signal various conditions from muscle strain to anxiety-related chest tightness.
Tightness or Pressure: A sensation of your chest being squeezed or constricted, which can range from mild to severe and may indicate cardiac or esophageal issues.
Positional Pain: Discomfort that changes with body position, breathing, or movement, often indicating musculoskeletal causes like costochondritis or muscle strain.
Associated Symptoms:
Chest pain rarely occurs in isolation. Additional symptoms our providers will ask about include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Sweating or cold sweats
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue or unusual tiredness
- Pain radiating to other areas (arms, neck, jaw, back)
- Anxiety or feeling of panic
- Coughing or wheezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Heartburn or acid taste in mouth
What Causes Chest Pain?
Chest pain stems from numerous possible causes, ranging from minor digestive issues to more serious medical conditions. Understanding potential causes helps you recognize when professional evaluation is needed.
Heart-Related Causes:
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): Blocked blood flow to the heart muscle causes crushing chest pain, often with radiating discomfort to the arms, jaw, or back. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate 911 call.
Angina: Reduced blood flow to the heart causes chest pressure or pain, typically triggered by physical exertion or stress. Stable angina is predictable and improves with rest, while unstable angina is unpredictable and requires emergency care.
Pericarditis: Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart causes sharp chest pain that typically worsens when lying down or taking deep breaths, and improves when sitting up or leaning forward.
Aortic Dissection: A tear in the wall of the aorta (the body’s main artery) causes sudden, severe chest and back pain. This life-threatening condition requires immediate emergency care.
Digestive Causes:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus causes burning chest pain (heartburn), typically worsening after eating or when lying down. This is the most common cause of chest pain.
Esophageal Spasm: Sudden, intense contractions of the esophagus can mimic heart attack symptoms, causing severe chest pain that may be difficult to distinguish from cardiac pain.
Peptic Ulcers: Sores in the stomach or esophagus lining can cause burning chest or upper abdominal pain, often related to eating patterns.
Gallbladder Problems: Gallstones or gallbladder inflammation cause pain in the upper right chest or abdomen, especially after eating fatty meals.
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas causes severe upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the chest and back.
Lung-Related Causes:
Pneumonia: Lung infection causes chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing, accompanied by fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
Pleurisy: Inflammation of the membrane lining the lungs causes sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
Pulmonary Embolism: A blood clot in the lung arteries causes sudden, sharp chest pain with shortness of breath and rapid heart rate. This is a life-threatening emergency.
Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung): Air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall causes sudden, sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing, requiring emergency care.
Asthma: Airway inflammation and constriction can cause chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
Musculoskeletal Causes:
Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone causes sharp, localized chest pain that worsens with movement or pressure on the chest wall.
Muscle Strain: Overexertion, heavy lifting, or persistent coughing can strain chest wall muscles, causing pain that worsens with movement or deep breathing.
Rib Injury: Bruised or fractured ribs from trauma or injury cause localized pain that intensifies with movement, breathing, or touch.
Other Causes:
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Intense anxiety can cause chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and sweating—symptoms that can mimic a heart attack.
Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Viral infection affecting nerves can cause burning chest pain and a characteristic rash, typically on one side of the chest.
Medication Side Effects: Certain medications can cause chest discomfort as a side effect.
How ContinuEM Diagnoses Chest Pain
Accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. Our board-certified providers employ a comprehensive approach to pinpoint the cause of your chest pain, utilizing advanced diagnostic capabilities available on-site.
Your Visit Experience:
Medical History Review: We’ll ask detailed questions about your symptoms, including when they started, whether one or both eyes are affected, the type and color of any discharge, and whether you wear contact lenses. We’ll also review your overall health, recent illnesses, potential allergen exposure, and any previous eye infections or conditions.
Physical Examination: Our provider will carefully examine your chest, checking for tenderness, listening to your heart and lungs, and assessing your vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature, to detect signs of cardiac issues, infection, or other complications.
Diagnostic Testing:
Our on-site diagnostic capabilities allow us to evaluate the cause of your chest pain quickly:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): This painless test records your heart’s electrical activity to detect heart rhythm abnormalities, heart attacks, or other cardiac problems. We can perform this test immediately upon your arrival.
- Laboratory Tests: Blood work to check cardiac enzymes (troponin), inflammation markers, infection indicators, and organ function
- Chest X-Ray: Imaging to visualize your lungs, heart, and chest structures, identifying pneumonia, collapsed lung, heart enlargement, or other abnormalities
- Pulse Oximetry: Measures oxygen levels in your blood
- Additional Testing: Based on initial findings, we may perform further diagnostic tests as clinically indicated
Specialized Referrals: If your condition requires specialized care beyond urgent care capabilities, such as advanced cardiac imaging (stress test, cardiac catheterization), specialist consultation, or hospital admission, we’ll coordinate appropriate referrals and provide all necessary medical records to ensure continuity of care. If emergency transfer is needed, we’ll arrange immediate transport.
Treatment Options at ContinuEM
Treatment for chest pain depends entirely on the underlying cause. Our goal is to alleviate your symptoms while addressing the underlying cause.
Common Treatment Approaches:
Medications:
- Antacids or proton pump inhibitors for GERD and acid reflux
- Anti-inflammatory medications for musculoskeletal pain or pericarditis
- Bronchodilators for asthma-related chest tightness
- Anti-anxiety medications, when appropriate
- Pain management tailored to your condition
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections like pneumonia
Cardiac Care Coordination: If we identify signs of a heart attack or other serious cardiac condition, we’ll immediately stabilize you and arrange for rapid transport to the emergency department, providing full medical documentation to ensure seamless, life-saving care.
Respiratory Support: For lung-related causes, we may provide oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, or other respiratory support as clinically indicated.
Lifestyle and Dietary Guidance: We’ll provide specific recommendations for managing conditions like GERD, including dietary modifications, eating habits, and lifestyle changes to prevent symptom recurrence.
Follow-Up Care: For chronic conditions or ongoing concerns, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan and coordinate with your primary care physician or specialists to ensure comprehensive ongoing management.
What Happens After Your Visit:
Most patients with non-cardiac chest pain improve with appropriate treatment and self-care. We’ll provide clear instructions for:
- Medication usage and timing
- Warning signs that require immediate follow-up
- When to return if symptoms worsen or change
- Self-care measures at home
- Activity restrictions if applicable
- Scheduled follow-up with your primary care provider or specialists
Why Choose ContinuEM for Chest Pain Evaluation
When chest pain strikes, you need fast, expert care with advanced diagnostic capabilities. Here’s what sets ContinuEM apart:
Emergency Medicine Expertise: Our providers have extensive experience in emergency medicine and urgent care, ensuring you receive the highest-quality diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
No Appointment Necessary: Walk-ins are always welcome. When you’re in pain, the last thing you need is to wait days for an appointment.
Extended Hours for Your Convenience:
- Monday-Friday: 8 AM – 11 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Comprehensive On-Site Services: With laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging available in our clinic, we can quickly identify the cause of your pain without sending you elsewhere.
Shorter Wait Times Than the ER: Urgent care provides a faster alternative to emergency rooms for non-life-threatening conditions, with significantly shorter wait times and lower costs.
Transparent Pricing: We accept most insurance plans, and our $99 upfront service fee provides cost transparency, with the remaining balance billed directly to your insurance.
Serving the Lakewood Community: Conveniently located in Lakewood, CA, we serve patients throughout Los Angeles County: Long Beach, Downey, Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Signal Hill, Norwalk, Naples, Belmont Shore, and Orange County, including Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Buena Park, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and the West Garden Grove area.
Risk Factors for Abdominal Pain
While anyone can experience chest pain, certain factors increase your likelihood of developing serious conditions:
Cardiovascular Risk Factors:
- Age (risk increases with age, especially over 45 for men and 55 for women)
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Chronic stress
Other Risk Factors:
- History of heart disease or previous heart attacks
- Previous blood clots or pulmonary embolism
- Chronic lung conditions (asthma, COPD)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Recent surgery or prolonged immobility
- Pregnancy or recent childbirth
- Certain medications
Understanding your risk factors enables our providers to tailor diagnostic testing and treatment recommendations to your individual situation and to determine the urgency of your condition.
Contents
Medically reviewed by
Giancarlo DiMassa, MD
Written by
ContinuEM Editorial Team
Last Updated
November 17, 2025
Take the Next Step: Visit ContinuEM Urgent Care Today
Don't let abdominal pain disrupt your day or keep you wondering what's wrong. ContinuEM Urgent Care in Lakewood provides expert evaluation and treatment when you need it, with the convenience of walk-in appointments and extended hours.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8 AM - 11:00 PM
(last check-in at 10:30 PM)
Times may vary
Saturday & Sunday
10 AM - 6 PM
(last check-in at 5:30 PM)
Times may vary
Special Hours
Times may vary
See Holiday HoursHoliday Hours
April 20 – Easter Sunday,
Closed
May 26 – Memorial Day,
10 AM - 6 PM
July 4 – Independence Day,
Closed
October 31 – Halloween,
8 AM - 6 PM
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day,
Closed
November 28 – Black Friday,
10 AM - 6 PM
December 24 – Christmas Eve,
8 AM - 6 PM
December 25 – Christmas Day,
Closed
December 31 – New Year's Eve,
8 AM - 6 PM
January 1 – New Year's Day,
Closed
Related Services at ContinuEM
Urgent Care Services
Comprehensive walk-in care for non-life-threatening conditions
EKG Testing
Immediate cardiac rhythm evaluation and monitoring
Lab Testing
On-site diagnostic services for accurate, fast results
Chest X-Ray
Advanced imaging to evaluate lungs and chest structures
IV Therapy
Rapid medication administration and hydration support
Respiratory Care
Treatment for asthma, pneumonia, and breathing difficulties
FAQs About Chest Pain
For mild to moderate chest pain without severe symptoms, urgent care is a suitable option. Visit ContinuEM Urgent Care if your pain changes with movement, feels like heartburn, or is accompanied by mild symptoms. Choose the emergency room and call 911 if you experience crushing chest pain, pain radiating to your arms or jaw, severe shortness of breath, sweating with chest pain, or any symptoms suggesting a heart attack. When in doubt, call our clinic at (562) 731-3990, and we can help guide your decision.
Our diagnostic approach is tailored to your specific symptoms and risk factors. Most evaluations include an electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess heart rhythm, blood work to check cardiac enzymes and other markers, vital sign monitoring including blood pressure and oxygen levels, and often a chest X-ray if indicated. Our on-site diagnostic capabilities allow us to quickly evaluate the cause of your chest pain and determine if emergency care is needed.
Most visits at ContinuEM last between 30 minutes and an hour for straightforward cases, though complex evaluations requiring multiple tests may take longer. This is significantly faster than typical emergency room wait times, which often exceed several hours for non-emergent conditions. We prioritize chest pain evaluations to ensure prompt assessment.
We can evaluate chest pain and perform initial diagnostic testing, including EKG and laboratory work. However, severe chest pain suggesting a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or other life-threatening conditions requires emergency department care. Suppose we identify signs of a serious cardiac or pulmonary emergency. In that case, we’ll immediately stabilize you and arrange rapid transport with full medical documentation to ensure you receive life-saving treatment without delay.
No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are always welcome during our extended hours. If you prefer, you can call ahead at (562) 731-3990 to let us know you’re coming, but this is not required.
Bring your photo ID, insurance card, a list of current medications (including supplements), and any relevant medical records if you have them. If possible, prepare a brief timeline of your symptoms, including when the pain began, what triggers it, and any associated symptoms you’ve noticed.
Most insurance plans cover urgent care visits. ContinuEM accepts both in-network and out-of-network insurance. We charge a $99 upfront service fee, with the remaining balance billed to your insurance. We recommend checking with your insurance provider about your specific coverage and copayment requirements. See Insurance & Payment options for more information.
Sudden chest pain can result from a variety of conditions. Serious causes include heart attack, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, or pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Less serious causes include muscle strain, anxiety or panic attacks, acid reflux, or costochondritis. Because the serious causes can be life-threatening, any sudden severe chest pain warrants immediate medical evaluation. Call 911 if the pain is crushing, accompanied by shortness of breath, or includes other concerning symptoms.
Seek immediate emergency care (call 911) if your chest pain is severe, crushing, or pressure-like; lasts more than 15 minutes; radiates to your arms, jaw, neck, or back; or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or dizziness. Visit urgent care for milder chest pain that changes with movement or breathing, feels like heartburn, worsens after physical exertion, or if you’re uncertain about the cause. When in doubt about the severity of chest pain, always err on the side of caution and seek immediate medical attention.
Yes, chest pain can indicate severe, life-threatening conditions, including heart attack, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, pneumothorax, or pericarditis. However, it can also stem from common, treatable conditions like GERD, muscle strain, anxiety, or costochondritis. Because the serious causes require immediate treatment to prevent death or disability, any new or unexplained chest pain should be medically evaluated. Our board-certified emergency medicine physicians are trained to quickly distinguish between minor chest discomfort and conditions requiring urgent intervention or emergency care.
Medically reviewed by
Giancarlo DiMassa, MD
Written by
ContinuEM Editorial Team
Last Updated
November 17, 2025
ContinuEM Urgent Care is dedicated to delivering exceptional, convenient healthcare to the Lakewood community and its surrounding areas. Our board-certified providers deliver expert care with compassion, transparency, and respect for your time.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding a medical condition. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.