Which condition is characterized by severe chest pain that may radiate to the arm or jaw?

Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is characterized by severe chest pain that often radiates to the arm or jaw. This pain is typically described as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest and is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness. The radiation of pain to the left arm or jaw occurs due to the shared nerve pathways that transmit pain signals from the heart to these areas, making it a key indicator of a heart attack.

In contrast, while conditions like pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection can also cause chest pain, their pain characteristics and accompanying symptoms differ significantly from those of a myocardial infarction. For instance, pneumonia is more likely to present with pain that is associated with coughing, fever, and respiratory distress, while pulmonary embolism often includes sudden shortness of breath and could present with pleuritic chest pain. Aortic dissection, although it can cause severe chest pain, typically presents with a tearing or ripping sensation and is associated with high blood pressure or acute onset of a severe headache as well. Thus, the specific characteristics of the pain and its radiation pattern are crucial in identifying myocardial infarction as