What is chest pain?

Chest pain, a type of visceral pain, can result from a variety of different problems. Generally speaking, it can be associated with the heart, lungs, ribs, or muscles, and tendons in the area. Chest pain associated with the heart can be angina, which results from a lack of blood and oxygen. A heart attack is like angina but more severe. Inflammation is also a possibility. If caused by the lungs, chest pain can imply pneumonia or asthma.