Lung pain with deep breaths

Pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath, sneezing or coughing can occur not only as a result of pathologies of the respiratory organs or disorders in the pericardial zone, but also as a result of diseases and injuries of the spine, rib cage, with neuralgia. Painful sensations are mainly localized on the right or left side of the chest, can occur with varying frequency, be dull or sharp. In this article, we will consider the main causes of pain when inhaling, but to accurately identify their origin and determine effective treatment methods, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination.

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What causes pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath?

Let's look at the types of pain in the lung area during deep inhalation.

1. Sharp, piercing, almost "dagger-like" attacks of pain in the chest area, especially at the height of inhalation, accompanied by subfebrile temperature.

A possible cause of such pain may be pleurisy.

Pleurisy is a disease of the respiratory organs, or more precisely, inflammation of the pleura. In the pleura, due to the fibrinous plaque on its surface, there is a violation of the composition of the lubricating secretion between its petals, due to which friction of the petals occurs, which causes pain.

Pleurisy is a consequence of complications of various diseases of internal organs, the result of surgical interventions and chest injuries. As a rule, pleurisy is secondary, but in the clinical picture, due to acute pain symptoms, it often comes to the fore, hiding the primary disease.

Treatment for pleurisy should be prescribed by a specialist. The doctor determines medications only after diagnosis and identification of the exact cause of the disease and, depending on it, prescribes treatment. He can prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and painkillers, provide drainage of fluid from the pleural cavity (drainage is used in case of effusion).

2. Because of the pain in the chest area, the patient has to breathe shallowly. He complains of the presence of a feeling of lack of air. It is painful to cough. Pain in the lungs with a deep breath is accompanied by chills and high temperature (above 38°C).

These symptoms may indicate pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an infectious inflammation of the lungs. The infection enters the lungs through the respiratory tract from the environment or through the blood, as a result of infectious diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis.

Pneumonia is treated with antibacterial therapy. Treatment is preferably carried out on an outpatient basis.

3. Pain in the lungs, which manifests itself as a sharp attack with a deep breath, but is present constantly. The pain is localized in the central part of the chest.

It is expressed as a tingling sensation. Sometimes it is accompanied by more rapid breathing, shortness of breath, swelling of the jugular vein, and hemoptysis.

Such pain may indicate pericarditis.

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the serous membrane that covers the heart.

This disease manifests itself as an increase in the volume of pericardial fluid in the pericardial cavity, thereby increasing the pressure in it and squeezing the heart from the outside and making it difficult to work.

“Dry” pericarditis is characterized by a slight increase in fluid in the pericardial cavity, forming adhesions that interfere with the normal movement of the heart.

Secondary. Occurs as a complication of other (infectious, autoimmune, tumor) diseases.

Neutralized by curing the underlying disease. To drain excess fluid from the pericardial cavity, I prescribe diuretics.

4. A sharp, stabbing, burning, “shooting” pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath, manifesting along the ribs and accompanied by increased sensitivity of the skin.

The symptoms described usually characterize the process of intercostal neuralgia or myalgia.

Intercostal neuralgia is an inflammatory process, pinching or other irritation of nerve endings in the intercostal area. Neuralgia can be provoked by hypothermia, heavy or unusual physical activity, or injuries.

Myalgia is an inflammation of the muscles. It occurs mainly due to physical overload, when muscles that are not used to loads in everyday life are involved.

To treat these diseases, doctors prescribe drugs with analgesic anti-inflammatory components (non-steroidal drugs).

5. Pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath manifests itself in acute sudden attacks, most often accompanied by limited mobility, less often - numbness of the upper limbs, "shooting" pain in the heart area.

This is how thoracic osteochondrosis can manifest itself.

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a disease in which curvature of the spine in the chest area develops. The pathological process develops as a result of irrational loads on the intervertebral discs. Osteochondrosis is dangerous because it can provoke cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the genitourinary system, and gastrointestinal tract.

Occurs independently, not as a result of complications. During treatment, doctors focus on improving the functionality of blood vessels, using methods such as acupuncture, manual therapy, vacuum therapy, physical therapy, and cupping massage.

6. Sharp pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath or coughing, bending or other movements of the body.

Such pain in the lungs when taking a deep breath may be a sign of a bruise or deformation (fracture) of the rib cage or thoracic spine.

A bruise or fracture occurs from a blow or compression.

The consequence of a bruise is most often only a deformation of soft tissues. A fracture can lead to complications, up to and including a violation of the integrity of the pleura.

Bruises are treated by applying cold on the first day, and heat on the following days to the area of the bruise. Treatment of fractures consists of the patient staying in bed and then doing breathing exercises.