How does the doctor interpret this and how should you? The physician often has experience with many similar complaints. For the most part, brief, infrequent, unaccompanied discomforts that cannot be brought on by heavy exertion and are accompanied only by hot flashes and palpitations are quite benign and require little more than reassurance. But if the chest discomfort is accompanied by its friends shortness of breath, passing out, irregular heart rhythm and accompanying pains in the arm, jaw or front of the neck, and you are at higher risk because of elements of your history than you had better scurry over to the phone now and speak with your doctor about further evaluation.