Although a physician is the only one who can determine whether or not chest pain is serious, there are some signs and symptoms that indicate the condition may not be transitory benign chest wall pain (TBCWP). Another condition may be responsible if patients experience chest pain that:

• Consistently occurs with strenuous exercise.
  
  
• Always develops beneath the breastbone and is not localized to a specific, small area.
  
  
• Lasts longer than a few seconds or remains constant during the day.
  
  
• Is accompanied by weakness, fatigue or a faint feeling.
  
  
• Occurs in individuals with known heart disease or abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
  
  
• Is accompanied by tenderness and/or swelling in the chest area at the site of the pain.

Patients with chest pain associated with the above symptoms should consult a physician. These symptoms may be related to many conditions other than TBCWP.