Chest pain when inhaling

Chest pain while inhaling may depend on a variety of reasons. Sometimes chest pain when inhaling can be a sign of a life-threatening illness. And it happens that a person just pulled his chest muscle or sat in a draft. The exact cause of chest pain when breathing in and the symptoms accompanying the pain, as well as the treatment, depend on the specific disease. 

[1], [2]

Main reasons

Chest pain during inhalation or exhalation is one of the manifestations of serious diseases of the lungs, heart or blood vessels, as well as injuries or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Doctors believe that chest pains in diseases of the lungs most often occur due to disorders in the pleural membrane that surrounds the lungs. Any disease that affects the membrane of the lungs can cause chest pain when breathing. There is a small amount of fluid between the two layers of the membrane, which acts as a lubricant and helps minimize friction of the lungs when they expand when breathing.

There are also many sensory nerve fibers in the chest (its pleural membrane). Any friction or irritation of these nerve fibers can also cause chest pain during inhalation and exhalation.

Chest pain when breathing in may be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. This condition occurs when the "juices" from your stomach rise up to the mouth. In addition to chest pain, you may experience pain while inhaling.

Another obvious cause of chest pain is a bruise or a broken rib. Trauma to the chest, injury to the ribs during a traffic accident, or a fall from a great height can lead to rib fractures. Such injuries most often cause chest pain when breathing, especially when taking a deep breath. In severe cases, surgery, the use of heat on the chest or the use of painkillers, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Often the causes of chest pain can be heart disease and blood vessels. Some of the most dangerous symptoms accompanying chest pains when breathing in are those that accompany heart and vascular disease. They can be a manifestation of a heart attack or other cardiovascular diseases. However, chest pain during inhalation and exhalation can be a manifestation of other diseases. Consider the nature of this pain in more detail.

See also: Chest pain when coughing

Chest pain when inhaling: a blood clot in the lungs

Pulmonary embolism is a condition in which one or more arteries that supply blood to the lungs are clogged. This is due to the presence of a blood clot in the artery. Pulmonary embolism can occur due to blood clots that travel to the lungs, mainly from the veins in the legs, and are stuck on the way to the blood vessels of the lungs. They can cause inflammation of the lungs, which, in turn, provokes irritation of the nerves of the pleural membrane. And here you are - a person suffers from chest pain while inhaling.

Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) is one of the most dangerous causes of chest pain when you inhale or exhale. However, it is worth noting that not all patients with pulmonary embolism experience chest pain while inhaling. Sometimes this disease is asymptomatic, but no less dangerous.

Symptoms

Symptoms of this disease include sudden chest pains when breathing, shortness of breath, coughing up, blue skin, sweating, deep vein thrombosis, etc.

The type and severity of chest pain during inspiration depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. There are no two patients with pulmonary embolism who have the same type of chest pain.

[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8],

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism - the complexity of the process

To understand how pulmonary embolism is diagnosed, you need to look at the history of other patients. Patients with pulmonary embolism are often admitted to hospital. Their case histories can provide an opportunity for another patient to understand how pulmonary embolism manifests. You can find out about this by asking your neighbors in the ward if you are in the hospital too.

[9], [10]

Pulmonary embolism is diagnosed with:

1. Electrocardiography.
2. X-ray diffraction.
3. Laboratory tests.
4. Computed tomography.
5. Angiography of pulmonary vessels.

Treatment

Pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition if you do not apply timely treatment with anticoagulants or surgically removing a blood clot.

[11], [12], [13], [14]

Chest pain when inhaling: pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious diagnosis that is given to patients with chest pain during inhalation and exhalation. Pneumonia is the most common diagnosis of patients admitted to the medical department. Some patients with pneumonia also have chest pain when breathing in and out.

[15], [16], [17], [18]

Symptoms of pneumonia

• The temperature may rise sharply.
• The person coughs, as a rule, with discharge from the throat.
• There may be hard wheezing.
• Chest pains may occur during inhalation and exhalation.
• The voice may tremble.

Diagnostics

• X-ray.
• Computed tomography of the chest.
• Blood and urine tests.
• Analysis of seeding taken from sputum.
• Bronchoscopy and biopsy.

Treatment

As a rule, the doctor prescribes antibiotics for this disease. They are selected depending on the type of pneumonia and the cause of it. Often inhalers and saline solutions are used to treat pneumonia with chest pain.

[19], [20], [21],

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the mucous membrane surrounding the lungs. Viral infection is one of the most common causes of pleurisy, but it can also be caused by rib injuries, blood clots in the lungs, lung cancer, mesothelioma or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of pleurisy are acute chest pains with breathing and coughing.

A person suffering from pleurisy, most often experiencing chest pain with a deep breath, he just suffocates. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, chills, and dry cough. Although a person may experience sharp stabbing pains in the chest, pleurisy can cause dull chest pains. They may be accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest.

Diagnostics

• Chest X-ray.
• Biochemical research on glucose, amylase, LDH.
• Pleural biopsy.

Treatment

As a rule, the treatment of this disease is always complex. The doctor pays attention to the symptoms and, depending on this, prescribes therapy. Treatment of pleurisy may include anti-tuberculosis drugs, immunostimulants, antibacterial drugs, and sometimes chemotherapy.

[22], [23],

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a collapse of the lung. The lungs are lined with a two-layer serous membrane called the pleura. The space between the inner and outer layer is filled with liquid. When air accumulates in this pleural cavity, the lungs are no longer able to expand during inhalation and chest pain occurs. The pressure exerted by the air can lead to a collapse of the lungs.

A strong blow to the chest, stabbed wounds or infections of the lungs can make the body very susceptible to pneumothorax. Collapse of the lung can lead to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, thereby causing a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood.

Symptoms

The pneumo-thorax can cause painful symptoms, such as pressure in the chest, weakness, difficulty breathing, or pain in the chest when inhaling. A person can choke, turn blue, and even die from lack of oxygen.

Diagnostics

• CT scan
• Medical examination, palpation

Treatment

Pneumothorax in the early stages can be eliminated on their own, but in severe cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Inpatient treatment may include the extraction of air from the lungs.

[24]

Costal chondrite (Tietze syndrome)

Tibial chondritis is commonly referred to as pain in the area where the cartilage of the ribs is attached to the sternum. This disease causes inflammation of the costal cartilages at the junction of the ribs and the sternum. A chest injury during a traffic accident, a strong blow to the chest or repeated minor injuries to the chest area are common causes of inflammation.

Inflammation of the costal-sternal area can also be caused by pathogenic (pathogenic) infections of the respiratory tract.

Symptoms

The main symptom of this disease is dull pain in the chest during inhalation, exhalation and cough, as well as high fever. The intercostal muscles of the chest help the chest to expand and contract during inhalation and exhalation, so inflammation of the costal cartilage often causes painful breathing. The intensity of the pain increases when a person takes deep breaths. Chest pain when breathing in may also be aggravated by coughing and sneezing, or even simply pressing your fingers on the chest.

Diagnostics

• Medical examination by palpation
• Chest x-ray
• Computed tomography and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are used only in rare cases.

Treatment

Treatment often includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, as well as physical therapy.

[25], [26], [27], [28], [29],

Angina pectoris

Angina is also called angina pectoris. Chest pain in this disease can appear from nowhere, it can cause severe stress - physical or psychological, or increased stress.

Symptoms include pressure in the chest or a feeling of fullness in the chest and sharp pains.

Pain with angina can even go to the jaw, neck, shoulders and back. Other symptoms of a heart attack caused by angina include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, sweating, etc.

An attack of acute chest pain with angina can last up to 15 minutes.

Diagnostics

• Blood test.
• Biochemical markers for the presence of myocardial damage.
• Glucose Tolerance Test.
• The study of the level of thyroid hormones.
• Echocardiography.
• ECG with physical exertion and at rest.

Treatment

By removing an acute attack of chest pain with painkillers and blockades, the doctor can prescribe a diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, as well as β-blockers, acetylsalicylic acid, if there are no contraindications.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34]

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is a thin serous membrane surrounding the heart. Trauma to the chest area or systemic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, can be the causes of this condition.

Symptoms

Low-grade fever, malaise, sharp pain in the left side or in the center of the chest, shortness of breath when lying down, and coughing are symptoms by which pericarditis can be identified.

Diagnostics

• Examination by a doctor.
• ECG screening method.
• Echocardiography and vascular Doppler.

Treatment

Treatment usually involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and corticosteroids.

Check your symptoms

See your doctor if you regularly or periodically experience these symptoms. In particular - if you have already made some serious diagnosis related to diseases of the lungs, heart or blood vessels. Be prepared to answer these questions from your doctor.

1. Do you think your chest pains may be related to cardiovascular problems?
2. Do you think your chest pain can be caused by lung diseases?
3. Can your chest pain be associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract?
4. Have you had chest pains that pass or come back?
5. Have you had a recent chest injury?
6. Do you experience chest pain when breathing?
7. Do you experience pain in the pectoral muscle or? Does this pain increase with coughing or deep breathing?
8. Do you have chest pains and chills?
9. Do you have chest pains and a rash on your body?
10. Did you have moderate chest pain without symptoms of a heart attack?

By the way you answer these questions, the doctor will be able to determine the disease that causes chest pains when you inhale, as well as prescribe the optimal treatment.

Be sure to visit the doctor if you experience a dull or sharp chest pain, chest pain during inhalation and exhalation. Severe pain in the chest, which develops suddenly, can be life-threatening, so when it occurs, you should immediately seek medical help.

[35], [36], [37]