Chest Pain When Bending Forward: Causes And Treatment

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What causes chest pain when bending forward?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Mary West — Updated on January 28, 2026

Acid reflux
Hiatal hernia
Pulmonary embolism
Other possible causes
When to get help
Summary

Chest pain when bending forward may be triggered or worsened by certain conditions. These include acid reflux, pulmonary embolism, and hiatal hernia.

Treatments are available for these conditions. Depending on the underlying cause, a healthcare professional may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or more intensive treatment.

A person should consult a doctor if they experience chest pain, with or without any other symptoms.

Acid reflux

Close up of a person holding their chest while bending forwards. — Rawpixel/Getty Images

Acid reflux is when stomach contents, including food and stomach acid, travel back up into the esophagus (food pipe) from the stomach. It is a common cause of heartburn, which can feel like a burning sensation behind the breastbone.

When a person bends over, it can make it easier for food in the stomach to back up into the esophagus, resulting in chest pain related to heartburn.

Acid reflux is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when it is chronic and is generally manageable with lifestyle changes and medication. A doctor, such as a gastroenterologist, may recommend eating smaller meals more often, sleeping with the upper body elevated, and medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers.

»Find care:Find a local gastroenterologist today.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. This can lead to GERD by disrupting the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that sits at the end of the esophagus and prevents stomach content from backing up.

A person may also experience chest pain when a large hiatal hernia affects the lungs or heart.

Along with chest pain, a hiatal hernia may cause symptoms such as coughing or difficulty swallowing.

A doctor should examine a person experiencing any symptoms. They may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery for severe cases.

»Learn more:All about hiatal hernia, including symptoms and treatments

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage of blood flow in an artery in the lungs. It often develops when a blood clot in the veins of the leg, known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT), breaks loose and travels to the lungs, where it gets lodged.

Common symptoms include:

chest pain, which may worsen when a person breathes deeply, coughs, eats, stoops, or bends
coughing up blood
shortness of breath
blueish lips or nails

This condition is a life threatening event that may lead to serious complications, such as permanent organ damage, or death.

If a person is experiencing symptoms consistent with a pulmonary embolism, they need immediate medical attention.

Healthcare professionals can administer thrombolytics (clot dissolvers) in the hospital or remove the blood clot surgically. A person may also need to take anticoagulants (blood thinners) to reduce the risk of additional clots.

»Learn more:Pulmonary embolism and symptoms to be aware of

Other possible causes

Many other conditions may contribute to chest pain, such as:

stable or unstable angina
asthma
inflammatory conditions such as pleurisy or costochondritis
heart attack
esophageal spasms (unusual muscle contractions in the esophagus)
pinched nerves
pericarditis

For some of these conditions, chest pain may start before bending forward or persist after returning to an upright position.

When to contact a doctor

Anyone with chest pain should seek medical attention, as it could indicate life threatening conditions such as a pulmonary embolism or serious heart issues. Prompt treatment may prevent complications and fatal outcomes.

Even if chest pain is due to heartburn, it is best to consult a doctor, as frequent episodes can damage the esophagus. At the same time, healthcare professionals may need to exclude other serious diagnoses.

Medical Perspective
“Chest pain is an emergency if it lasts more than a minute. It is always better to get chest pain checked out to confirm the problem is not serious.”
— Meredith A. Goodwin, MD, FAAFP
Learn more about what may cause chest pain that comes and goes.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Summary

People with conditions such as acid reflux, hiatal hernia, or pulmonary embolism may experience worsening chest pain when bending forward.

Not all causes of chest pain when bending forward are emergencies, but because the vital organs of the heart and lungs are within the chest, a person should take pain in this area seriously.

Respiratory
Acid Reflux / GERD
GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Pain / Anesthetics

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Azer SA, et al. (2025). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554462/
Smith RE, et al. (2024). Hiatal hernia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562200/
Vyas V, et al. (2024). Acute pulmonary embolism.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560551/

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Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Mary West — Updated on January 28, 2026

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Other possible causes

When to contact a doctor

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