Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Breathe?

The reasons why the chest hurts when breathing is very varied. In some cases, it has to do with serious heart or lung disease. At other times, it is a symptom of problems that are not so delicate. Learn more about it in this article.

Sometimes the chest hurts when breathing and the causes can be many. Some of them are quite serious, so this is a symptom that should never be overlooked. As a general rule, all chest pain should be a reason for medical consultation as soon as possible.

The reasons why your chest hurts when you breathe are generally associated with lung or heart problems. It is a symptom that is present in different conditions and by itself it is not enough to determine what happens. Therefore, it must be subject to medical evaluation.

From all that has been said, it is clear that it is not easy to establish why the chest hurts when breathing. However, the main reasons are usually as follows.

Pleurisy, one of the reasons why your chest hurts when you breathe

Pleurisy or pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura. This, in turn, is a membrane that contains two layers. One of these layers lines the inner area of ​​the rib cage and the other layer surrounds the lungs. When it becomes inflamed, it causes quite severe chest pain, which is increased by breathing.

In fact, the main symptom of pleurisy is that pain that increases when you breathe in and out. For this reason, it is also common for there to be a sensation of lack of air, since the person tries to breathe very gently so as not to increase the discomfort. Sometimes the pain spreads to the shoulders and back.

Sometimes fluid builds up between the two layers of the pleura. This is known as a pleural effusion . If there is a lot of fluid, pressure appears on the lung that can lead it to partially or totally collapse. This causes a cough and increased shortness of breath.

Pericarditis

In pericarditis you  also feel that the chest hurts when you breathe. This is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is a membrane that surrounds the heart. It has two layers and, when inflamed, the fluid level between them increases. This puts pressure on the heart and limits its pumping.

The main symptom of pericarditis is severe pain on the left side of the chest. This pain increases when you breathe, especially if it is done deeply. This pain worsens when lying down and is usually accompanied by a cough, fever and a general feeling of discomfort .

Pulmonary embolism: chest hurts when breathing

Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disease that occurs when a thrombus breaks loose from another part of the body and reaches the pulmonary arteries. Generally, this thrombus comes from the lower extremities of the body.

The symptoms of pulmonary embolism are not always the same. However, it is very common to have acute chest pain, which increases when breathing with a certain depth. There is also usually dizziness, agitation, anxiety, fainting or seizures, among others.

Pneumothorax or lung collapse

Lung collapse, or pneumothorax, is a condition that occurs when air escapes from the lung and settles between the lung itself and the rib cage. This accumulation of air exerts strong pressure on the lung and prevents it from expanding normally during inspiration.

The typical symptom of pneumothorax is sharp pain in the chest, which is increased by breathing or coughing. There is also shortness of breath and chest tightness. Sometimes it causes dizziness and lightheadedness, as well as a bluish color to the skin, increased heart rate, and shock.

Pneumonia

Another reason why your chest hurts when you breathe is pneumonia. This is an infection that causes inflammation in one or both air sacs in the lungs. These sacs can fill with fluid or pus, causing a strong, phlegmy, or pus-filled cough. Pneumonia is of variable severity and is life threatening.

One of the characteristic symptoms is chest pain when breathing or coughing. There is also a cough, fatigue, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and, in some cases, disorientation or changes in mental functioning.

Costochondritis: chest hurts when breathing

Costochondritis is an inflammation that occurs in the cartilage that joins a rib with the chest bone or sternum. Such inflammation causes severe pain in the chest, which is often mistaken for a heart attack.

The pain is noticeably increased with deep breathing or coughing. The cause of this phenomenon is not known, which usually goes away on its own after a few days or weeks.

Do you have chest pain when you breathe? If so, we encourage you to consult with your doctor as soon as possible so that he can give you a complete check-up and tell you what you have and how you should take care of yourself to improve yourself.