How do I know if my chest pain is serious?

Any chest pain needs physical examination by a doctor and tests to know the cause. On a general note, if chest pain is associated with heart burn, abdominal bloating, belching then it may be due to gastritis which may be managed at home. If chest pain is sudden, radiating to left arm/ shoulder and is associated with sweating, breathing issue then it may be due to a cardiac condition which needs immediate hospital visit. Sometimes, atypical presentation like a person who had mild chest pain with vomiting was tested and found to be having a heart attack on ECG. Hence, every chest pain need a doctor's consultation.