Prompt specialist assessment for chest pain that keeps coming back or has never been properly explained, with Dr Mark Cassar in Basingstoke and Winchester.
Most people who come to clinic with chest pain have already had one episode dismissed, or one too many left unexplained. That is a reasonable reason to seek a private chest pain assessment in Hampshire.
Chest pain can come from the heart, the chest wall, the gullet, the lungs, or anxiety, and the pattern of the pain often points strongly in one direction before any test is done. A private assessment gives you a focused specialist opinion without a long wait, built around your history, your risk factors, and a clear plan for what needs to be excluded.
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately for chest pain that is severe, crushing or tight, ongoing rather than fleeting, or new pain at rest that has not happened before. The same applies if pain is accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or collapse, or if it spreads into the arm, jaw, neck, or back.
This page and private assessment are intended for stable, recurrent, or unexplained chest symptoms once anything immediately dangerous has been ruled out, not for acute emergencies. If you are currently unwell, please seek emergency care before considering a private appointment.
Chest pain can reflect narrowed coronary arteries, an abnormal heart rhythm, heart valve disease, or inflammation around the heart. These are the causes a cardiologist prioritises excluding first, because some carry real risk if missed, even when the pain itself seems mild or brief.
A large proportion of chest pain is not cardiac at all. Acid reflux, musculoskeletal chest wall pain, anxiety and panic, pleurisy or chest infection can all mimic heart pain. None of these should be assumed without first considering the heart.
The consultation starts with a detailed history: what the pain feels like, what brings it on, how long it lasts, and what settles it. This pattern is often more informative than any single test.
Dr Cassar will examine you, review your cardiovascular risk factors, and consider your family history. A resting ECG is usually done at the first visit. From there, further tests are arranged only if the history or findings suggest they are needed, not as a routine bundle.
A resting ECG, or a longer wearable monitor if pain may be linked to an irregular rhythm.
An ultrasound scan to assess heart structure, valves, pericardium and pumping function.
A detailed scan of the coronary arteries when angina or coronary disease is a realistic possibility.
Checks for anaemia, thyroid function, cholesterol and other contributors where relevant.
Very brief, fleeting stabs of pain lasting a second or two are rarely cardiac in origin. Cardiac chest pain, such as angina, typically lasts minutes and is related to exertion or stress. That said, any new or unexplained pain is worth having assessed rather than assumed.
Yes. Anxiety and panic can cause genuine chest tightness, a racing heart, and breathlessness. This is a recognised pattern, but it should only be labelled as the cause after cardiac and other physical causes have been reasonably excluded.
No formal GP referral is required, although sharing any previous test results or letters helps make the first consultation more useful. You can book directly for a private chest pain assessment in Hampshire.
Not necessarily. A resting ECG is usual at the first visit, but further imaging such as an echocardiogram or CT coronary angiogram is only arranged if your history or findings point towards a specific cause worth investigating further.
Yes. Acid reflux can cause a burning or tight central chest sensation that closely mimics angina. Distinguishing them is a core part of chest pain assessment.
Recurrent pain after a previously normal test still deserves review, particularly if the pattern has changed or new risk factors have developed. Tests reflect the heart at the time they were done, not a permanent guarantee.
If your chest pain is stable but unexplained, or keeps recurring, a consultation can help clarify what is likely happening and what, if anything, needs further testing. Appointments are available in Basingstoke and Winchester.
