Non-Cardiac Chest Pain Comments

What is Non-Cardiac Chest Pain? Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a term used to describe chest pain that resembles heart pain (also called angina) in patients who do not have heart disease. The pain typically is felt behind the breast bone (sternum) and is described as oppressive, squeezing or pressure-like. It may radiate to the neck, left arm or the back (the spine). It may be precipitated by food intake. It lasts variable periods of time and it is not unusual for it to last hours. Patients may also complain of associated reflux symptoms such as heartburn (a burning feeling behind the breast bone) or fluid regurgitation (a sensation of stomach juices coming back toward the chest and even to the mouth frequently with a bitter or sour taste).