Chest pain refers to discomfort in some area of the front part of the body that extends from the neck to the upper abdomen. It is pretty standard for people to be scared when they feel pain in this body area since it is generally associated with a heart attack or various heart problems. However, this discomfort does not always refer to a heart attack; in any case, you must visit a doctor as soon as you feel any pain in the place.
To begin with, it is important to differentiate that different types of discomfort can be felt in the chest. The pain can be permanent, or it can only manifest when you breathe in or out; that’s why at FastlyHealwe will explain everything about chest pain when living: causes.
Table of Contents
Osteochondritis can cause pain when breathing.
Osteochondritis, also known as costochondritis or Tietze syndrome, occurs when there is an inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs and is a prevalent cause of chest pain when breathing. In addition to pain and tenderness in the chest, other symptoms that this pathology can generate are tenderness when pressure is applied to the ribs, a stabbing pain that can travel to the stomach or back, and minor pain when in a state of repose.
Some of the causes of costochondritis can be:
- A thoracic injury
- Having exerted a lot of effort to cough
- Lifting excessive weight or rigorous exercise
- Viral infections
- Arthritis
- Infections after surgery
- The use of intravenous drugs
Respiratory infections cause chest pain.
Respiratory infections can also be some of the causes of chest pain when breathing; for example, pneumonia, bronchitis, pneumonitis, enter other disorders in which the lung could meet an infection and cause discomfort when inhaling or exhaling.
Another symptom of these disorders is fever, chills, cough with phlegm, or shortness of breath when moving. It is essential to visit a doctor as soon as possible if you have one or more of these symptoms. In addition, in our articles, bronchitis: types, symptoms and treatment and pneumonia: symptoms, causes, and treatment, we explain more about these conditions.
Pneumothorax causes chest pain when breathing.
Lung collapse, also called a pneumothorax, occurs when air escapes from the lung and fills the space between the lung and the chest wall. The organ cannot usually expand when you breathe since the air puts pressure on it and causes pain. This disorder could be due to a lung injury or neuropathies such as asthma, while tuberculosis or cystic fibrosis can also increase the possibility of suffering from this pathology.
In addition to chest pain, a collapsed lung can also cause:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency
- Fatigue
- Feeling of tightness in the chest
Myocarditis, another cause of chest pain
Myocarditis can cause chest pain when breathing because it is a heart muscle inflammation. It is a fairly common condition. Generally, it is caused by viral infections such as hepatitis C, herpes, HIV, and parvovirus or by bacterial infections such as mycoplasma, treponema, streptococcus, or, finally, by fungal infections such as candida, Histoplasma, cryptococcus, among others.
The symptoms of this pathology can include:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Fever
- Fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling in the legs
- Of course, chest pain when breathing in or out
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, popularly known as COPD, is a disorder in the central organ of the respiratory system, the lung. There are two types, the so-called chronic bronchitis, in which there is a prolonged cough with mucus, and the second type, called emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time. The leading cause of COPD is smoking, although it can also be due to exposure to certain gases or pollution.
The most common symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Respiratory infections
- Cough that can be with or without phlegm
- Chest pain
It is essential to visit a doctor urgently in case of any doubt or type of pain that may appear in the chest. In our article pulmonary emphysema: symptoms, causes and treatment we explain more about this condition.
Pericarditis, another cause of chest discomfort
Pericarditis is another cause of chest pain when breathing. It is a pathology in which the covering around the heart, similar to a sac called the pericardium, becomes inflamed. Pericarditis becomes more common in men between the ages of 20 and 50. It is usually the result of different viral and bacterial infections, although the latter is usually less common than the former. They are also infrequently caused by fungal infections.
This disorder in the pericardium usually causes:
- Severe pain when breathing
- Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles
- Fatigue
- Dry cough
- Anxiety
- Difficulty breathing when lying down
Visit your doctor
Intense or constant pain in the chest when we breathe that lasts for days requires a medical review to determine the cause of this condition, so from OneHowTo, we invite you not to let it pass and go to a specialist if the discomfort is significant.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Chest pain when breathing: causes , we recommend that you enter our Lung and respiratory tract category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.