Pain in the chest when inhaling

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What are the causes of pain in the chest when breathing and what to do if there is pain in the chest when inhaling and exhaling?

When your chest hurts when breathing, the first thought that usually comes to mind is probably something wrong with your lungs.

Table of contents:

The thoracic region contains more than just the lungs; but the fact that the pain syndrome is associated with breathing makes most people “blame” these paired organs for the unpleasant sensations when inhaling in the chest. But the lung tissue is not endowed with innervation (nerve endings) that would be capable of causing these sensations.

If there are no nerve endings in the lungs, what then provokes pain in the chest when inhaling, and why does the respiratory process affect the intensity of this pain? It turns out that pain in the chest when breathing can hide up to twenty different causes related not only to the respiratory, but also to the cardiovascular, nervous, and even digestive systems.

What can hurt your chest?

To understand why the chest hurts when you inhale, you will have to remember the anatomical structure and location of the organs in this part of the body. In the thoracic region are located:

  • the heart, located in the cardiac “bag” - the pericardium;
  • thoracic spinal column;
  • trachea, branching in the lower part into bronchi;
  • the aorta is the largest artery of the human body;
  • lungs covered with pleura - a protective film that softens their friction against the costal arches.

In the lungs themselves there are bronchi and bronchioles, which are supplied with nerve cells, as well as the pleura and all the organs listed above.

In addition, colic from an inflamed gallbladder or from the stomach or duodenum affected by an ulcerative process can radiate (spread) into it. Finally, for various reasons, the intercostal muscles may hurt from excessive stress (for example, pain during intense training or due to prolonged coughing) or the ribs themselves, if they have been injured. As you can see, there is a lot of pain in the chest and each case should be dealt with separately.

Causes of pain when inhaling

What factors provoke the occurrence of pain in the chest when exhaling or inhaling? Provoking factors can be partly assumed by the nature of the pain. It’s not without reason that a doctor always asks questions like these to a person who is interested in why the chest hurts when inhaling:

  • what kind of pain - sharp or dull, pressing;
  • whether accompanied by cough or shortness of breath;
  • Does it get worse with increased inhalation?
  • Is it controlled by painkillers?

Such questions help a specialist recognize the clinical picture of the disease and guess whether he is dealing with an acute disease or a protracted pathological process. The reasons for these processes can be very different.

Neuralgia

What does the painful sensation indicate when you take a deep breath and your chest hurts? The connection between increased inhalation and chest pain is most often found in neuralgic conditions, that is, pain along a certain nerve. The mechanism for the appearance of this pain is clear:

  • with a deep breath, the lung tissue expands, the intercostal muscles tense and all this begins to put pressure on the pain receptors located nearby;
  • when a person is healthy, these receptors are not irritated and pain is not felt;
  • if the roots of the intercostal nerves at the exit from the spinal column or the nerve endings in the intercostal muscles are compressed, pain will occur from the tension of these muscles when inhaling.

Neuralgic pain during a deep breath in the chest has the following characteristic feature - it is usually felt not only at the site of a pinched nerve, but also radiates to the scapula or collarbone, aggravated by pressure or sudden movements. Neuralgia can develop due to:

  • hypothermia;
  • intensive training;
  • unsuccessfully performed unusual movement;
  • osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is considered the most common cause of neuralgia, when it is painful to inhale and the chest hurts from any careless movement.

Respiratory system

The respiratory organs are also capable of causing pain in the chest when sighing if a pathological process develops in them. The most common cause of pain in the thoracic region is pleurisy, an inflammatory disease of the lining of the lungs. This serous membrane has a two-layer structure, layered with mucus, which protects the pleura from friction.

If air enters this space, the pressure in the pleural cavity begins to increase, making it increasingly difficult for the lungs to expand when inhaling. This is why when you inhale, your chest hurts with pleurisy (and pneumothorax).

Another reason why chest pain occurs when you breathe is pneumonia, or pneumonia. Pain occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to the pleural area. A distinctive feature of the disease is fever, often a wet cough, which aggravates the pain. With pneumonia, the chest hurts when you inhale due to the expansion of the lungs, but it can also hurt when you exhale, since any movements of the intercostal muscles irritate the nerve receptors of the pleura.

In addition to the listed pathologies, chest pain when inhaling can occur due to:

  • chronic bronchitis;
  • tuberculosis (at a late stage);
  • emphysema (late stage);
  • pulmonary embolism (PE) and pulmonary infarction;
  • malignant tumors;
  • after an asthmatic attack;
  • due to prolonged hacking cough with tracheitis or tracheobronchitis.

It is possible to establish the exact reason why there is pain in the chest area when inhaling only after undergoing special examinations in a medical institution. Perhaps it was caused by problems not in the respiratory system, but in the cardiovascular system.

The cardiovascular system

Sometimes, if your chest hurts when you inhale, this is a sign of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. Which ones? Different variations of pain (in the sternum area, closer to the left side or radiating to the left extremities) often occur when:

  • IHD, angina pectoris;
  • pericarditis (inflammation of the “heart sac”);
  • myocarditis (inflammation of the myocardium);
  • cardiomyopathy (pathology of the heart muscle).

Pain in the chest due to heart pathologies is often aggravated by inhalation due to the fact that the expanding lungs affect the innervation of the heart membrane, which is already in an irritated state due to the disease. A feature of cardiac pain is its ability to radiate to the back, shoulder or arm.

Consequences of injury

Injuries to any segments of the thoracic region (clavicle, sternum, ribs) are also among the triggers for chest pain. Diagnosing such conditions is not difficult, since the patient, as a rule, himself turns to a traumatologist with complaints that when he inhales, he has pain in the chest area. And this is natural, because any movement, including breathing, causes injured bones to shift and irritate both their own pain receptors and nerve endings in nearby soft tissues.

There may also be hidden injuries, for example, a person may receive a rib fracture due to strong compression, which he may not pay attention to at first. There have been cases when the fact of a fracture was discovered only during an X-ray examination after the patient complained that his chest hurt when he inhaled strongly. This once again confirms the need for in-depth diagnostic studies to clarify the diagnosis.

Right when inhaling

What could be the cause of the pain that is felt on the right when inhaling? The most common triggers for this type of chest pain are:

  • diseases of the digestive system (gastroesophageal reflux, cholestasis, chronic cholecystitis, biliary colic with cholelithiasis) can provoke the spread of pain to the right chest;
  • pulmonary diseases - right-sided pneumonia with a complication in the form of dry pleurisy, pulmonary embolism - pulmonary embolism (in 50% of cases it gives chest pain when inhaling on the right);
  • injuries to the bones of the thoracic region on the right;
  • neurological conditions;
  • diseases of the spine;
  • psychogenic conditions (panic attacks, cardialgia, cardiophobia).

The true cause of chest pain when inhaling on the right can only be determined by visiting a doctor.

On the left with a deep breath

Sometimes patients ask why the chest on the left side hurts when taking a deep breath, because it is so similar to heart pain. Such pain, indeed, can be of a cardiac nature and be a sign of coronary heart disease and other cardiac pathologies. But not only them. Inhalation may also cause pain for other reasons:

  • injuries to the left segments of the thoracic region;
  • left-sided pneumonia with transition to the pleural area;
  • diseases of the pancreas and other internal organs of the abdominal cavity;
  • left-sided neuralgia.

All that is required from the patient is to listen carefully to his pain, determine its characteristic features (situations when it intensifies or, conversely, recedes) and try to express his observations to the doctor as accurately as possible.

Why does it hurt when you exhale?

Chest pain has so many faces that a huge number of questions arise around it. For example, some patients are interested in why pain appears in the chest when exhaling. This symptom rarely occurs as an independent phenomenon.

But pain in the chest when exhaling can occur in all the conditions described above. Therefore, you should not talk about this symptom as a specific sign.

If you take your breath away

It happens that when a person inhales, he experiences not pain, but a feeling as if his breath is being taken away in the chest. The causes of this condition often lie in pathologies of the respiratory system in all their diversity. But there may also be neurological reasons for the occurrence of such sensations.

To differentiate diagnoses, you should pay attention to some features of the clinical picture:

  • when “interception” of breathing occurs (in the morning or before bed, in a calm state or against the background of excitement, etc.);
  • how long does the “respiratory spasm” last?
  • after which breathing is restored;
  • how do you feel after an “attack” of lack of air;
  • Are changes recorded on the ECG?

All this is of great importance for diagnosis.

The patient needs to keep a health diary and record in it all cases of occurrence of such symptoms, their duration and other details. Such notes will be useful when visiting a neurologist and will help the doctor quickly understand the situation.

What to do?

Of course, if there is sharp and severe pain in the thoracic region while inhaling, the patient should limit physical activity and try to find a position in which the pain will be minimal. After all, pain exists precisely for this purpose: to signal a person about danger, to suspend his activities and draw attention to a health problem.

It is, of course, impossible to independently determine the cause of pain: only a specialist can answer all questions. Therefore, you need to call a doctor or go to the appointment yourself. Particular attention is required in situations where the pain is acute, “tearing”, accompanied by general weakness, sweating, nausea, which can indicate extremely dangerous, life-threatening conditions:

  • aneurysm or aortic dissection;
  • pulmonary thromboembolism;
  • myocardial infarction and others.

In this case, you need not just see a doctor, but call an ambulance.

Useful video

Useful information about the most common causes of chest pain can be found in the following video:

Conclusion

  1. Chest pain when inhaling, exhaling, or simply while breathing can be caused by pathologies of the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous or digestive systems, as well as injuries to the thoracic region.
  2. In deciding what to do if the thoracic region hurts when inhaling, the doctor should play a decisive role.
  3. If the pain is acute, tearing, or sharp, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

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Source: http://www.pulmonologiya.com/simptomy/bol-v-gk/pri-vdoxe.html

Why does my chest hurt when I inhale?

The occurrence of pain in the chest when inhaling can be due to a number of reasons. In some cases, such a symptom may indicate the presence of a life-threatening disease; in other situations, the pain could be caused by a stretched chest muscle or exposure to a draft. Why does my chest hurt when I inhale? Let's consider the main reasons that may contribute to the occurrence of such a phenomenon.

Causes of chest pain when inhaling

The occurrence of chest pain when inhaling may indicate the presence of a serious disease of the lungs, blood vessels or heart, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, or the presence of injury. In the presence of lung diseases, chest pain occurs due to disturbances in the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs. Any disease that affects the membrane of the lungs can cause chest pain when breathing. The cause of chest pain when inhaling may be the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This condition occurs when “juices” rise from the stomach upward to the mouth.

Another reason for chest pain when inhaling is a fracture or bruise of the ribs. If the case is severe, there may be a need for surgery, applying heat to the chest, or using painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids.

A fairly common cause of chest pain is the development of vascular and heart diseases. Such pain can act as a manifestation of a heart attack or other cardiovascular pathologies.

In addition, the cause of chest pain when inhaling may be:

  • the presence of a pulmonary embolism, when one or more arteries supplying the lungs with blood becomes clogged. In some cases, this disease may not be accompanied by any symptoms. Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is carried out using electrocardiography, laboratory tests, x-ray, computed tomography, angiography of pulmonary vessels;
  • the occurrence of pneumonia, the symptoms of which include a sharp increase in body temperature, the appearance of discharge from the mouth when coughing, harsh wheezing breathing, trembling voice. To diagnose pneumonia, it is necessary to use radiography, computed tomography of the chest, perform blood and urine tests, analyze cultures taken from sputum, perform bronchoscopy and biopsy;
  • development of pleurisy, one of the common causes of which is infection with a viral infection. To diagnose the disease, pleural biopsy, chest x-ray, pneumothorax, biochemical testing for glucose, LDH, amylase can be used;
  • presence of pneumothorax. With pneumothorax, in addition to chest pain when inhaling, there is a feeling of pressure in the chest, weakness, difficulty breathing or chest pain when inhaling. A person may turn blue, begin to suffocate, and even die from lack of oxygen. To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to use computed tomography, as well as examination and palpation by a doctor;
  • development of costochondritis (Tietze syndrome), for diagnosis of which a doctor’s examination with palpation is performed, rarely - chest x-ray, computed tomography;
  • the occurrence of angina, in which pain can radiate to the neck, jaw, back and shoulders. With angina pectoris, the duration of an attack of acute chest pain can reach 15 minutes. Diagnosis of the disease is based on performing a blood test, biochemical markers for the presence of myocardial damage, a glucose tolerance test, testing the level of thyroid hormones, echocardiography, ECG at rest and with physical activity;
  • the presence of pericarditis, the symptoms of which include the appearance of low-grade fever, sharp pain in the center of the chest or on the left side, the development of malaise, shortness of breath when lying down and coughing. Diagnosis of pericarditis includes an examination by a doctor, the use of ECG screening methods, echocardiography and vascular Dopplerography.

Source: http://www.luxmama.ru/1/l52/pochemu-bolit-grudnaya-kletka-pri-vdohe/

Why can there be pain in the chest when inhaling?

Chest pain when inhaling, or thoracalgia, is a fairly common complaint; everyone has experienced it to one degree or another. In its shape, the chest resembles a truncated cone, compressed from front to back; consists of the ribs, sternum and spinal column. The space of the chest is filled with the mediastinum, respiratory organs, digestive and part of the endocrine systems, main blood and lymph vessels. The inside of the entire cell is lined with tissue (membrane), which also covers the lungs (pleura). The respiratory excursion of the lungs (breathing frequency) is 14 movements per minute.

Classification of pain sensations

Chest pain when inhaling is divided according to localization, severity, intensity, duration, etc., they occur from the neck to the abdomen. It is most convenient to consider them by location: right and left sides, as well as in the center - to narrow the search for the cause:

  1. In the middle - then we can assume damage to the diaphragm, heart, esophagus and lungs.
  2. On the right - the cause may be rib injuries, sore throat, CVD, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory infections and oncology.
  3. On the left - CVD, tumors and pleurisy, trauma, renal colic, inflammation of the pleura.

Etiology of the phenomenon

Why does pain occur? Common reasons:

  • lesions of the skin and subcutaneous fat;
  • damage to the bone frame and its joints, muscles, fascia and ligaments;
  • lesions of the peripheral nervous system of the spine.

Pathologies that are accompanied by thoracalgia:

  1. CVD - ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, hypertension, heart valve damage, cardioneurosis, pulmonary embolism.
  2. Diseases of the pulmonary system - pneumonia, pleurisy, tracheitis, bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, oncology.
  3. Pathologies of the spinal column and cell frame - neuralgia of the ribs, osteochondrosis, Schmorl's hernia, kyphosis, ankylosing spondylitis, trauma.
  4. MPS - myofascial pain syndrome (up to 35% of all calls), osteoporosis, lesions of the vertebral joints, spinal stenosis.
  5. Gastrointestinal tract pathologies (gastric or duodenal ulcer, biliary dyskinesia, gastroesophageal reflux, pancreatitis, esophageal pathologies).
  6. Neoplasms - extrapulmonary and pulmonary.
  7. VSD.

Lung diseases

Chest pain can occur with the following lung diseases:

  1. Tuberculosis: chest pain always increases when inhaling, pallor, fatigue, weight loss, refusal to eat, sweating, fever, shortness of breath, coughing and hemoptysis are noted; The chest also hurts.
  2. Pleurisy - develops for various reasons as an independent disease or an accompanying symptom. The cough is always dry, acute burning pain when inhaling, bluishness of the face, shortness of breath, chills.
  3. With lung tumors - constant pain in the chest when inhaling, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, tachycardia, weight loss, pallor, in 60% there is a fever.
  4. Pneumonia - low-grade fever, with a sharp increase in the evening, chills, night sweats and weakness, shortness of breath, hoarse breathing at a distance, friction noise of the inflamed pleura, wet and dry rales in the lungs are heard on auscultation, pain in the chest when breathing, wet cough with purulent sputum; when trying to turn to the healthy side, the pain intensifies again due to the tension of the membrane.
  5. Pneumothorax - the pleural cavity always contains a little fluid to lubricate the pleura. If air gets into this cavity, then excursion and expansion of the lungs is impossible, their collapse develops, and pain in the chest inevitably appears when breathing. More often it develops in a road accident, a fall from a height, puncture wounds, and there is also a spontaneous variant of development. The most common: difficulty breathing and acute pain, weakness, feeling of pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the face; Possible death from lack of oxygen.
  6. Pulmonary embolism - PE - blockage of the pulmonary artery by a blood clot. Varicose veins in the legs are often the cause. Against the background of complete health, incredible pain suddenly appears when inhaling, tachycardia, a drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath, cyanosis, sweating, and a bloody cough. The condition is very dangerous - if urgent medical care is not provided, death can occur within a few minutes.
  7. A dull pain in the chest during coughing is a sign of ARVI. Cough, joint pain, fever and other signs of a viral respiratory tract infection.

The cardiovascular system

  1. Pericarditis (inflammation of the heart sac). Chest pain when breathing is localized on the left side of the sternum and in its middle; often occurs after infections. The pain is not very sharp, but tension intensifies it; breathing is gentle, shallow, the person is afraid to move; the pain goes away if only the patient leans forward, which is the patient’s forced position. Weakness, dry cough, low-grade fever, malaise, increased symptoms while lying down. The patient is subject to mandatory hospitalization.
  2. Angina pectoris. Characterized by the development of attacks of spasms of the coronary vessels. The pain syndrome is always sudden, severe, and manifests itself during emotional or physical stress; it is so strong that it is impossible to breathe - the patient freezes and becomes numb. The face turns pale, cyanosis of the triangle appears, hypertension is noted, a feeling of squeezing and fullness in the chest, pain in the sternum; irradiation to the left half of the body; cold sticky sweat, nausea, fear of death. The duration of the spasm is up to 15 minutes; relieved by nitroglycerin.
  3. Aortic aneurysm. Severe pain behind the sternum, radiating to the neck, back, stomach; the attack lasts up to several days. It does not depend on the posture; patients note a constant feeling of anxiety.
  4. Myocardial infarction is the formation of an area of ​​ischemia in the myocardium with acute hypoxia and necrosis of myocardial cells due to impaired blood supply. The sensations resemble angina pectoris, but are more severe, pulsating, and do not go away after nitrates and with rest; localization behind the sternum, pain in the sternum on the left.
  5. Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium. The pain is throbbing, persistent; malaise, fatigue, fever, tachycardia and pain when breathing. May resemble MI.
  6. Mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve insufficiency is acquired, often developing after rheumatism; there may be pain in the chest when breathing, palpitations and dizziness; gradually leads to heart failure.
  7. Ischemic rupture of the cardiac arteries. Happens very rarely; fatal pathology. When a coronary artery ruptures, a sudden, severe bursting pain appears in the sternum when inhaling, radiating to the neck, back and abdomen.

Pathologies of the spinal column

  1. Osteochondrosis. When the vertebrae are displaced or deformed, pain appears when breathing. They can cause such torment that the patient is forced to remain in one position.
  2. Costal chondritis (Tietze syndrome) is an inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs at the edge of the sternum. Develops after injuries, strong blows; dull pain in the chest when breathing, intensifies with the depth of inspiration, upon palpation, fever and cough are possible.
  3. Ankylosing spondylitis. Calcium salts accumulate in the ligaments of the spinal column, they destroy nerve endings; The pain here is lifelong, accompanied by shortness of breath.
  4. Scheuermann-Mau disease. 1 person out of 100 is sick; pathology begins in adolescence. Leads to the development of kyphosis. The pain is localized between the shoulder blades and appears on inspiration.
  5. Osteoporosis - calcium deficiency in the bones; At the same time, osteoblasts do not absorb calcium, and it is not integrated into the voids of the bones. The entire spine suffers, it is bent, posture is disturbed, and moderate pain is observed in the thoracic spine when inhaling. Movements are limited due to the fact that the pain intensifies with them. There is also numbness in the limbs and painful asymmetrical points on palpation.

Gastrointestinal ailments

Chest pain may occur if the following gastrointestinal pathologies develop:

  1. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The stomach throws its contents into the esophagus after eating. This is especially evident when bending over or lying down. Heartburn is almost always present; it is accompanied by a sore throat, pain behind the sternum and in the chest.
  2. Narrowing of the esophagus. Chest pain may occur when swallowing. If the pain intensifies over time and no food goes away, this is a symptom of esophageal cancer.
  3. Stomach ulcer. Pain when breathing can radiate to the back and sternum. The pain subsides while eating or taking antacids.
  4. Hiatal hernia. When the ring is weak, the upper abdomen moves to the lower chest after eating. In this case, a painful sigh and heartburn occur. They always increase if the patient is lying down.
  5. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pain is strong and sharp, pain behind the sternum is often present.
  6. Gallbladder problems. Pain may appear in the right hypochondrium and in the lower part of the chest on the right; most often they occur after a fatty meal.

Other reasons

In addition to the above, pain can occur under the following conditions:

  1. Intercostal neuralgia. Appears in diseases of the spinal cord, inflammation of the intercostal nerves. Prolonged pain when inhaling throughout the day, it becomes painful to breathe; the pain intensifies when changing position, moving and bending in the painful direction, when touching, palpating, laughing, sneezing, and breathing. The rib muscles are often swollen and enlarged, causing pressure on the nerves. The affected side is very sensitive to the touch. Symptoms can limit the patient's mobility for a long time.
  2. MPS (myofascial pain syndrome). The pain is only when inhaling, the muscles are spasmodic and painful when palpated.
  3. Rib fractures. Increased pain when coughing and breathing; it is limited to the fracture site. The area is painful on palpation.
  4. Chest injuries. Occurs when falling from a height or accident; With bruises, swelling of the soft tissues develops, severe pain appears when inhaling. In case of bruises, an x-ray is required to rule out fractures. With unilateral damage to the ribs, the affected side lags behind when breathing; with rest the pain disappears.
  5. Krepatura. After intense physical activity, muscle soreness may appear after some time. This is not a disease, although there is pain when inhaling.
  6. Shingles. A disease of infectious origin. With it, pain in the chest appears a few days before the rash.
  7. Neoplasms. Lung cancer - acute constant pain when breathing; Pancoast tumor (cancer of the apex of the lung) - the pain is burning, radiating to the upper extremities.

When should you call an ambulance?

You will need an ambulance if:

  • Along with pain in the chest, there are: a feeling of pressure, compression under the sternum, shortness of breath and irradiation to the left arm, lower jaw and scapula;
  • present: nausea, dizziness, palpitations, gray skin, cold sweat, drop in blood pressure, weak thread-like pulse, lack of air and loss of consciousness;
  • There is no improvement in the condition after taking nitroglycerin, and the duration of pain is more than 20 minutes. This may include chills, a cough with yellow-green mucus, difficulty swallowing, and persistent chest pain.

Diagnostic measures

For diagnosis the following may be prescribed:

  • general blood analysis;
  • biochemical blood test for markers of infarction;
  • culture and analysis of sputum, pleural transudate;
  • X-ray of the lungs and spine;
  • if oncology is suspected - MRI; CT, ECG;
  • Dopplerography of blood vessels;
  • gastroscopy.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment depends on the pathology:

  • for pulmonary embolism, anticoagulants and surgical removal of the thrombus are prescribed;
  • for pneumonia, pleurisy, tracheitis - antibacterial and symptomatic therapy, analgesics, immunostimulants;
  • for costochondritis - NSAIDs and physiotherapy;
  • for CVD - beta blockers, analgesics, anticoagulants.

Pain when breathing may be a symptom of a serious illness. Therefore, if it does not go away, it is better to consult a doctor. And as a preventive measure - a balanced diet, exercise and quitting smoking and alcohol.

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What does pain in the chest indicate when inhaling?

The content of the article

  • What does pain in the chest indicate when inhaling?
  • How to diagnose pneumonia
  • How to save a drowning person

Lung diseases

Pain when inhaling, as well as when coughing, is characterized by pleurisy - inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the lungs. The pain can be dull or sharp, like a burning sensation. Other symptoms of pleurisy are dry cough, chills, fever, difficulty breathing.

All of these diseases are quite serious and can be life-threatening, so if such symptoms appear, you must urgently call a doctor without resorting to self-medication.

Source: http://www.kakprosto.ru/kako-chem-signaliziruyut-boli-v-grudnoy-kletke-pri-vdohe

Chest pain when inhaling

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

Main reasons

Chest pain when inhaling or exhaling 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.

According to doctors, chest pain in lung diseases most often occurs due to disturbances in the pleural membrane that surrounds the lungs. Any disease that affects the membrane of the lungs can cause chest pain when breathing. Between the two layers of membrane there is a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant and helps minimize friction on the lungs as they expand during breathing.

The chest (its pleural membrane) also contains many sensory nerve fibers. Any friction or irritation of these nerve fibers can also cause chest pain when inhaling and exhaling.

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

Another obvious cause of chest pain is a bruised or broken rib. Trauma to the chest, rib injuries from a car accident, or a fall from a great height can cause rib fractures. Such injuries most often cause pain in the chest when breathing, especially when taking a deep breath. Severe cases require surgery, the application of heat to the chest, or the use of painkillers, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Often the causes of chest pain can be diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Some of the most dangerous symptoms that accompany chest pain when inhaling are those that accompany heart and vascular diseases. They may be a manifestation of a heart attack or other cardiovascular diseases. However, chest pain when inhaling and exhaling can be a manifestation of other diseases. Let us consider the nature of this pain in more detail.

Chest pain when inhaling: blood clot in the lungs

A pulmonary embolism is a condition in which one or more of the arteries that supply blood to the lungs becomes blocked. This occurs 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 become lodged in the blood vessels of the lungs along the way. They can cause inflammation of the lungs, which, in turn, provokes irritation of the nerves of the pleural membrane. And here you go - a person suffers from chest pain when inhaling.

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

Symptoms

Symptoms of this disease include sudden chest pain while breathing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, bluish skin, sweating, deep vein thrombosis, etc.

The type and severity of chest pain when inhaling depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. No two patients with pulmonary embolism have the same type of chest pain.

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism - complications of the process

To understand how pulmonary embolism is diagnosed, you must pay attention to the stories of other patients. Patients with pulmonary embolism are often admitted to the hospital. Their medical histories may provide insight into another patient's understanding of how pulmonary embolism manifests itself. You can find out about this by asking your roommates if you are also in a hospital.

Pulmonary embolism is diagnosed using:

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

Treatment

Pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition if not promptly treated with anticoagulants or surgical removal of the clot.

Chest pain when inhaling: pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious diagnosis given to patients who experience chest pain when inhaling and exhaling. Pneumonia is the most common diagnosis of patients admitted to the therapeutic department. Some patients with pneumonia also have chest pain when inhaling and exhaling.

Symptoms of pneumonia

  • The temperature may rise sharply.
  • A person coughs, usually with discharge from the throat.
  • There may be harsh wheezing breathing.
  • Chest pain may occur when inhaling and exhaling.
  • The voice may tremble.

Diagnostics

  • Radiography.
  • Computed tomography of the chest.
  • Blood and urine tests.
  • Culture analysis of sputum samples.
  • Bronchoscopy and biopsy.

Treatment

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

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the mucous membrane surrounding the lungs. A 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, mesotheliomas, or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of pleurisy are acute chest pain when breathing and coughing.

A person suffering from pleurisy most often experiences chest pain when taking a deep breath, he simply suffocates. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, fever, chills and dry cough. Although a person may experience sharp, stabbing pain in the chest area, pleurisy can also cause dull pain in the chest. They may be accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest.

Diagnostics

  • Chest X-ray.
  • Biochemical study for 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 for pleurisy may include anti-tuberculosis drugs, immunostimulants, antibacterial drugs and sometimes chemotherapy.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a collapsed 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 inspiration and chest pain occurs. The pressure exerted by the air can cause the lungs to collapse.

A severe blow to the chest, puncture wounds, or lung infections can make the body very susceptible to pneumothorax. A collapsed lung can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, causing low oxygen levels in the blood.

Symptoms

Pneumothorax can lead to distressing symptoms such as chest pressure, weakness, difficulty breathing, or chest pain when inhaling. A person can suffocate, turn blue and even die from lack of oxygen.

Diagnostics

  • CT scan
  • Doctor's examination, palpation

Treatment

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

Treatment in a hospital setting may include suctioning the air from the lungs.

Costochondritis (Tietze syndrome)

Costochondritis usually refers to pain in the area where the cartilage of the ribs attaches to the sternum. This disease causes inflammation of the costal cartilage at the junction of the ribs and the sternum. Trauma to the chest during a car accident, a strong blow to the chest, or repeated minor trauma to the chest area are common causes of inflammation.

Inflammation of the costosternal region can also be caused by pathogenic (disease-causing) respiratory tract infections.

Symptoms

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

Diagnostics

  • Examination by a doctor by palpation
  • Chest X-ray
  • CT scans and MRIs (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.

Angina pectoris

Angina pectoris is also called angina pectoris. Chest pain with this disease can appear out of nowhere; it can be caused by severe stress - physical or psychological, or increased stress.

The list of symptoms includes chest pressure or a feeling of fullness in the chest and sharp pain.

Pain from angina can even radiate 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 due to angina pectoris can last up to 15 minutes.

Diagnostics

  • Blood analysis.
  • Biochemical markers for the presence of myocardial damage.
  • Glucose tolerance test.
  • Study of thyroid hormone levels.
  • Echocardiography.
  • ECG with exercise and at rest.

Treatment

Having relieved an acute attack of chest pain with the help of painkillers and blockade, the doctor may prescribe a diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, as well as β-blockers, acetylsalicylic acid, if there are no contraindications.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is the thin serous membrane that surrounds the heart. Trauma to the chest area or systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus may cause this condition.

Symptoms

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

Diagnostics

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

Treatment

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

Check your symptoms

Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms persistently or intermittently. Especially if you have already been given any 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 pain may be related to cardiovascular problems?
  2. Do you think your chest pain may be caused by lung disease?
  3. Could your chest pain be related to gastrointestinal diseases?
  4. Have you ever had chest pain that goes away and comes back?
  5. Have you recently had a chest injury?
  6. Do you experience chest pain when you breathe?
  7. Are you experiencing pain in the pectoral muscle or? Does this pain increase with coughing or deep breathing?
  8. Are you experiencing chest pain and chills?
  9. Do you have chest pain and a rash on your body?
  10. Have you had mild chest pain without symptoms of a heart attack?

Based on how you answer these questions, your doctor will be able to determine the disease that causes chest pain when you inhale, and prescribe the optimal treatment.

You should definitely visit a doctor if you experience dull or sharp chest pain, chest pain when inhaling and exhaling. Severe chest pain that develops suddenly can be life-threatening, so if it occurs, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Medical Expert Editor

Portnov Alexey Alexandrovich

Education: Kiev National Medical University. A.A. Bogomolets, specialty - "General Medicine"

Other related articles

Tietze syndrome (costochondritis, perichondritis) is a benign inflammation of one or more costal cartilages.

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Chest pain when taking a deep breath

A symptom such as chest pain that occurs when breathing deeply is often mistaken by people for a purely pulmonary problem. However, there are a number of pathologies not related to the respiratory system, the manifestation of which is pain when inhaling.

Chest pain when taking a deep breath

Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system

The chest is formed:

Structure of the chest

Human chest

The bone apparatus is surrounded by muscle mass and penetrated by nerve fibers. All these formations can become a source of pain. And with a number of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, pain appears precisely when taking a deep breath. The reason for this is the movement of the chest during breathing.

The position of the ribs at the entrance and exhalation

As you inhale, it rises and expands, which can lead to pain in some pathologies.

Osteochondrosis

Degenerative pathology of the spine, which affects more than half of the adult population of the planet. With osteochondrosis, atrophic changes in the intervertebral disc occur. The nucleus pulposus of the disc loses its elasticity due to its pronounced hydrophilic properties. The moisture leaves, the disc becomes less elastic and more flattened.

The fibrous ring, which normally maintains the proper volume of the nucleus pulposus, also suffers. Due to the displacement and approach of neighboring vertebrae to each other, radial cracks may appear on the ring. The ligaments that support the spinal segment are destroyed. Its instability develops, the vertebrae shift, causing radicular syndrome with pain.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Such changes appear to varying degrees in all people as they age. They are more pronounced in the presence of excess weight, irrational physical activity, and a long-term sedentary lifestyle. Chest pain when inhaling appears with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, when the movement of the chest affects the affected vertebral segments.

Important! Pain with osteochondrosis radiates to the interscapular region or upper limbs.

Intercostal neuralgia

A neurovascular bundle runs along the lower edge of all ribs. The nerves passing through it are often the source of neuralgia.

The etiology of this lesion is different:

The most common episodes of intercostal neuralgia occur against the background of spinal osteochondrosis.

Pain due to intercostal neuralgia

Slightly less often, the pain is caused by herpes zoster, a herpetic infection. Activation of the herpes virus can be triggered by hypothermia and always occurs against the background of a natural decrease in immunity:

  • in old age;
  • for diabetes mellitus;
  • with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.

Shingles (Herpes zoster)

With intercostal neuralgia, the pain is constant, it is localized on the affected side. Its intensification during inspiration is also associated with the movement of the chest, in particular the ribs. The nature of the pain is strong and burning, radiating along the entire length of the nerve fiber, from the sternum to the spine.

Fractured ribs

Closed chest trauma in more than half of the situations is complicated by damage to the ribs. This occurs more often in older people, due to increased fragility and fragility of bones. Depending on the number of broken ribs, a person's condition can range from moderate to very severe.

Fractures of 1-2 ribs are usually not severe and do not require hospital treatment. With fractures of 3 or more ribs, the risk of damage to the chest organs increases: the heart, lungs, and large vessels. Multiple bilateral fractures always require emergency medical attention.

Mechanism of rib fractures

Chest pain associated with rib fractures is localized to the site of the impact or suspected fracture. It intensifies even with shallow breathing and coughing, which can lead to forced hypoventilation and pneumonia.

Pain from broken ribs

Heart pathologies

Chest pain associated with breathing may also be a sign of one of the dangerous pathologies of the heart or blood vessels. Myocardial infarction or angina pectoris are common, but they are characterized by constant pressure sensations not associated with breathing. Let us consider in more detail exactly those pathologies in which pain appears or intensifies on inspiration.

Important! For any chest pain in people over 40 years of age, an electrocardiogram should be performed.

Pericarditis

Pain on inspiration accompanies only dry pericarditis. With it, fibrinous adhesions form in large quantities on the pericardial sheets, which significantly worsen the friction of the sheets during heartbeat. Sharp, painful sensations appear, which intensify with deep breathing.

The causes of dry pericarditis are varied:

  • systemic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma;
  • end-stage chronic kidney disease, in which urate is deposited on the pericardium;
  • gout, with deposition of uric acid salts;
  • tuberculosis.

In addition to chest pain, pericarditis may cause rhythm disturbances: paroxysmal tachycardia, extrasystoles. A person is worried about fatigue, shortness of breath, and a feeling of interruptions in the functioning of the heart. Without treatment, dry pericarditis can develop into exudative over time.

Pericarditis pain

Pulmonary embolism

One of the life-threatening pathologies that requires emergency medical care. We are not talking about the fulminant form of thromboembolism of the large trunk of the pulmonary artery, in which a reflex cardiac arrest occurs.

Pulmonary embolism

Pain in the chest during inspiration is more typical for emboli of small branches, which can cause recurrent infarction-pneumonia. It is for her that chest pain is typical, diffuse, with intensification on inspiration. In addition to pain, a person is bothered by a cough, possibly with rusty sputum, and a high temperature. Symptoms of respiratory distress may occur.

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism almost always occurs against the background of good health. But, upon examination, provoking causes can be identified:

Deep vein thrombosis

Schematic explanation of arrhythmia

Important! Prolonged immobilization, associated, for example, with a long flight or a complex operation, contributes to the appearance of an embolus.

Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

A number of problems with the gastrointestinal system can cause chest pain when inhaling:

  • gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, hiatal hernia - burning, pressing pain. Localized in the central and upper part of the chest. Associated with belching and regurgitation;

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Hiatal hernia

Stomach ulcer

Cholecystitis - inflammation of the gallbladder

Pulmonary pathologies

The lung tissue itself does not have pain receptors; its pathologies do not manifest themselves as pain if they do not affect the pleura. Among all the organs of the respiratory system, the pleura is the most innervated, which means that pain is associated precisely with its damage.

Pleuropneumonia

In some cases, the focus of inflammation during pneumonia may be located close to the pleural cavity. Then the inflammation spreads to the pleura, causing pain. It can be constant, or it can only appear with deep breathing. In any case, coughing and forced breathing significantly increase pain.

In addition to pain, a person is worried about:

  • symptoms of intoxication - weakness, fatigue;
  • heat;
  • cough, usually with sputum.

High temperature is a symptom of pleuropnemonia

In the case of massive pneumonia, symptoms of respiratory failure may appear - shortness of breath, cyanosis, decreased saturation. The disease is most severe in the elderly, children and people with immunodeficiencies.

Important! The most common cause of pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pleurisy

Chest pain when inhaling is more typical of dry pleurisy. Its morphology is very similar to dry pericarditis: fibrinous threads deposited on the surface of the pleura. They make friction of the pleura painful. The pain intensifies when breathing, as well as the slightest cough, or when bending to the healthy side.

The condition is alleviated on the contrary, by tilting towards the affected lung. This reduces the tension of the inflamed pleura. It also becomes easier for a person with pleurisy when he lies on the side of inflammation. This reduces the excursion of the affected side of the chest, thereby relieving pain.

Pleurisy pain

In addition to pain, there may be symptoms of inflammation:

Often with pleurisy, a dry reflex cough occurs. The causes of fibrinous pleurisy can be:

  • tuberculosis;
  • chronic kidney disease;
  • Dressler's syndrome;
  • systemic diseases.

Complications from pleurisy

Pneumothorax

Another pulmonary cause of chest pain on inspiration. In this case, the pain is extremely sharp, acute, sudden.

Pneumothorax can be:

  • open – with contact between the pleural cavity and the environment;
  • closed – the pleural cavity is not in contact with the environment;
  • valve - air is sucked into the cavity when you inhale, but does not come out of it when you exhale, gradually “squeezing” the lung.

Spontaneous pneumothorax on the right

Scheme of open pneumothorax

In addition to pain, a person is bothered by severe symptoms of acute respiratory failure:

Cyanosis (blue discoloration of lips and skin)

With massive pneumothorax, mediastinal organs may move toward the collapsed lung. This will manifest itself as symptoms of cardiovascular shock and can lead to cardiac arrest.

Among the causes of pneumothorax are:

  • injuries with rib fractures;
  • lung tumors;
  • bullous disease is a source of spontaneous pneumothorax in young people.

Important! With valvular pneumothorax, it is possible to change the position of the mediastinal organs, moving to the side of the healthy lung.

Comparative characteristics

Finally, here is a table that summarizes the basic data on the most common causes of breathing-related chest pain.

Video - Why does the chest hurt?

Video - 3 deceptive pains in the heart. What hurts in my chest

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Source: http://med-explorer.ru/nevrologiya/simptomy-otolaringologiya/bol-v-grudnoj-kletke-pri-glubokom-vdoxe.html