When to get help, causes, and home treatment

Painful respiration is discomfort that occurs when a person breathes in or out. Infections, musculoskeletal injuries, and heart problems can cause this pain.

The lungs do not have pain receptors, so when a person experiences painful respiration, it is not the lungs themselves that hurt. However, conditions that affect the lungs, organs, joints, or muscles within the chest cavity can cause pain when breathing.

In this article, we discuss when to get help and the possible causes of painful respiration. We also cover diagnosis, home treatment, and prevention.

Share on PinterestAnyone who experiences excessive sweating alongside painful respiration should seek immediate medical attention.

Pain when breathing can sometimes be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

Seek immediate medical attention if the pain accompanies any of the following symptoms:

• choking
• loss or a decreased level of consciousness
• chest tightness or pain, especially if it spreads to the arms, back, shoulder, neck, or jaw
• severe shortness of breath
• blue skin, fingers, or nails
• struggling or gasping for air
• excessive sweating
• sudden dizziness or feeling lightheaded

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the air sacs within the lungs. The most common cause of pneumonia in adults is a bacterial infection, but other causes include viral and fungal infections.

People with pneumonia often have chest pain that can worsen when inhaling.

Other symptoms of pneumonia can include:

• coughing
• a high fever
• fatigue
• shortness of breath

People with symptoms of pneumonia should see a doctor. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, which are the tissues that line the chest cavity and the outside of the lungs. Many conditions can lead to pleurisy, including viral and bacterial infections.

People with pleurisy tend to experience sharp pain when breathing. Other symptoms may include:

• pain that may spread to the shoulder blades
• chest pain that is worse when coughing or sneezing
• shortness of breath
• unexplained weight loss

People with symptoms of pleurisy should see a doctor. Treatment depends on the underlying condition.

Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects the breastbone and the ribs. The cause of this inflammation is not always clear, but it can sometimes result from a chest injury, severe coughing, or a respiratory infection.

Costochondritis typically causes sharp pain and tenderness around the breastbone. People may find that this pain radiates to the back and gets worse when breathing deeply or coughing.

Costochondritis often gets better on its own, but people should see a doctor if the pain interferes with daily activities.

Share on PinterestChest pain that gets worse with breathing or coughing could be a sign of pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural space, which is the space between the chest wall and the lungs. The buildup of air increases the pressure in the pleural cavity, which can cause part or all of a person’s lung to collapse.

A chest wound, lung injury, or a complication of lung disease, such as emphysema or tuberculosis, typically cause pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax can cause chest pain that gets worse with breathing or coughing. Other symptoms can include:

• a fast heart rate
• bluish skin or nails
• shortness of breath
• tiredness
• chest tightness
• flaring of the nostrils

People with symptoms of pneumothorax should see a doctor. To prevent a person’s lung collapsing, a doctor may need to remove air from the pleural space.

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the heart. A wide variety of factors can cause pericarditis, including:

• bacterial and viral infections
• injuries or surgery to the heart
• certain medications
• autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• rarely cancer

Pericarditis can lead to painful breathing or sharp chest pain that may feel better when sitting upright and leaning forward. People with pericarditis may also experience:

• a fever
• irregular heartbeat or palpitations
• shortness of breath
• lightheadedness or dizziness

Anyone with symptoms of pericarditis should seek medical attention. Doctors can usually treat pericarditis with anti-inflammatory medications.

Injuries to the chest, such as pulled muscles, broken ribs, or a bruised chest wall, can lead to pain when breathing. This pain may occur only on the side of the injury.

Other symptoms of a chest injury may include:

• bruising or skin discoloration
• pain that radiates to the neck or back
• shortness of breath

Chest injuries can result from:

• blows and impacts to the chest
• sports injuries
• severe coughing
• surgery
• falls

People with minor chest injuries can often treat themselves at home with rest and pain medications. However, individuals with serious injuries or other concerning symptoms should seek medical attention.

A doctor will typically ask a person about their symptoms, review their medical history, and perform a physical examination of their chest.

The doctor may then recommend one or more tests to help determine the cause of a person’s pain.

Possible tests include:

• Chest X-ray. X-rays create an image of the inside of the chest and allow the doctor to check for conditions, such as injuries and infections.
• CT scan. This test involves taking a series of X-rays from different angles to create more precise images. CT scans are sometimes more useful than a chest X-ray.
• Pulmonary function tests. These involve a person doing a series of breathing tests that help determine how well their lungs are functioning. Doctors can use the results to diagnose respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Electrocardiogram (ECG). Doctors use an ECG to measure the electrical activity of a person’s heart, which can help diagnose heart problems.
• Pulse oximetry. Pulse oximetry measures oxygen levels in the blood. Low levels of oxygen can indicate certain respiratory conditions, such as a pneumothorax or pneumonia.

Medical treatment for people with painful respiration depends on the underlying cause. However, home treatment may help relieve chest pain and other symptoms.

People who experience pain when breathing may wish to try:

• Pain medications. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help reduce pain from conditions such as costochondritis and minor chest injuries.
• Changing positions. Leaning forward or sitting upright can sometimes help relieve chest pain from conditions such as pericarditis.
• Breathing more slowly. Relaxing the chest and breathing more slowly may help ease symptoms in some people.
• Cough suppressants. If symptoms also include coughing, taking OTC cough medications may help to reduce discomfort.

Share on PinterestEating a healthful diet can reduce the risk of some conditions that cause painful respiration.

Preventing painful respiration is not always possible. Conditions that can lead to painful breathing do not always have a clear cause, which makes them hard for a person to prevent.

However, some lifestyle interventions can help reduce the risk of infections and other chest problems that can lead to painful respiration. These can include:

• quitting smoking
• practicing good hygiene, such as regularly washing hands
• having an annual flu shot
• eating a balanced and healthful diet
• doing regular exercise
• getting enough sleep

Painful respiration is not a disease itself but usually a symptom of another condition. Causes can range from mild to severe and can include chest injuries, infections, and inflammation.

It is generally advisable for people with painful breathing to see a doctor for an evaluation. Anyone with chest pain as well as difficulty breathing should seek immediate medical attention.

Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis – The Fibro Guy

Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis are two conditions that often go hand in hand with each other. Over the years we have lost count of the number of clients who were plagued with the hallmark sharp stabbing pains, that often come with Costochondritis. Within this topic are many questions, most of which become a whole lot harder to answer when we factor In Fibromyalgia.

There are many people in the general population who have Costochondritis, it’s not just another issue that comes along with Fibromyalgia. However, as we will come to find when we take a look at some of the research, Costochondritis does seem to be far more prevalent in those with Fibromyalgia.

What is Costochondritis?

Costochondritis is the term given to inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone, also known as the costochondral joint. Inflammation is a natural response to illness or injury, it’s essentially the immune system’s response to help initiate the healing process, in other words, it is a defence mechanism that is vital to our survival. 

Whilst Inflammation is one of the body’s greatest tools, it doesn’t feel all that great when it does happen. After all, the point of inflammation is healing, and this means that more blood is redirected to the area, tissues become more permeable to allow increased blood flow and nutrients to the areas, and the nerves in the surrounding areas become a whole lot more sensitive. If you have ever had a paper cut you will know exactly what I mean. For such a small cut, it sure does impact your day to day activities.

With Costochondritis, the costochondral cartilage, which connects your ribs to your breastbone, and surrounding tissue can become inflamed, making it tender and unpleasant when pressure is applied, and in most cases, simply from breathing or even moving.

Symptoms of Costochondritis

The obvious leading symptom is chest pain, typically it is described as a sharp or stabbing pain, and sometimes it is described as more of a dull ache which often becomes worse when moving or exerting the chest muscles. This can also include breathing, which can cause an increase in pain with large breaths. Many people find that even the slightest touch or pressure around the sternum and ribs can fire off a pain response, as the nerve becomes more and more sensitive due to the inflammatory response.

The most commonly reported pain from Costochondritis can be found in the sternum, around the 4^th-6th ribs. However, as the inflammation increases, it’s not uncommon for the pain to begin to spread.

Does Costochondritis cause fatigue?

A question we hear a lot of is “Does Costochondritis cause fatigue?”

Again, this question takes a little research and some critical thinking to answer. There are some good studies that show us that there is a pretty strong connection between fatigue and Rheumatic conditions in general.  In one study of patients with different rheumatic conditions, there was found a  54% prevalence of fatigue for those with a single inflammatory rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or ankylosing spondylitis. However, this prevalence shot up to 82% for those with Fibromyalgia. In essence, from this and multiple other studies, one out of every two patients with a rheumatic disease seems to be severely fatigued.

On one side of the coin, there are many folk in the general population who do have Costochondritis but report minimal fatigue. And on the other side of the coin, we have those with fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, who report major fatigue associated with it. It’s unlikely that costochondritis directly causes fatigue, as both those with fibromyalgia and without it would be affected. However, that does not mean that it does not indirectly cause fatigue.

If you ask anyone with chronic pain about sleep, they will tell you that it’s incredibly difficult to get a good nights sleep when you are in pain. And one of the hallmark symptoms of sleep disturbances and deprivations is fatigue. Therefore, it’s not such a huge leap to assume that someone with Costochondritis, or Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, would experience fatigue as an indirect result of being unable to sleep properly due to being in pain.

Likewise, many people with Fibromyalgia, often learn and develop certain coping skills for sleeping when it comes to dealing with the pain of Fibromyalgia. It’s very likely that due to differences in the pain experience, Costochondritis may cause undue stress and anxiety which could disrupt sleep also. Pain from Costochondritis is very hallmarked, it’s sharp, disruptive, and can often make people wonder if there is something wrong with their heart. Therefore, many people with Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis may struggle to sleep due to the new pain that comes from Costochondritis.

Is there a connection between Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis 

When living with Fibromyalgia, it is often hard to distinguish what pain comes from which issue. Many people have gone to their doctors with legitimate concerns, only for those concerns to be passed off as just another Fibro symptom.

One example of this is from a consultation we had here at The Fibro Guy, some years back. A young woman had been suffering from severe headaches and every time she went back to the doctors it was promptly put down as caused by Fibromyalgia. However, at her consultation with us, and after going through her history, it was blatant that this young woman had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. What also stood out was that her headaches were immediately cut in severity when she lay down. Suspecting a Cerebrospinal fluid leak we quickly referred her to her local hospital. And low and behold, it was indeed a spinal fluid leak. After a blood patch, and bed rest to closely monitor for leak recurrence, she recovered after around 6 weeks and has never had another headache since.

We have many stories from over the years just like this one, but the point to take is that you should never put new symptoms down to Fibromyalgia.

While working with our clients in the studio, it’s really not uncommon for us to get the “Is my Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia related?” question. And this is a good question, anecdotally you probably know a whole host of individuals with Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, but are they related.

When looking at the evidence on this topic, it becomes more clear that they are likely linked, as the prevalence of patients with Fibromyalgia who also have non-cardiac chest pain is far higher than in the general population. In a study conducted in 2016 that looked at symptoms of people with Fibromyalgia, across 4 groups it was found that on average, 29.1% of the 313 participants either currently or previously had Costochondritis. And when compared to the general population, it was found that chest pain in primary care it only accounted for 13%. 

In an overview of symptoms of patients hospitalised in the US between 1999-2007, there were over 1.7 million people during this time with Fibromyalgia, of those patients, 10% presented with non-specific chest pain (around 170,000 people). While this is closer to the general population we have to remember that these were only the ones who felt the pain was bad enough to go to the hospital, and its worth remembering that when living with Fibromyalgia, it tends to take a much higher level of pain before seeking medical intervention due to living in pain being accepted as normal.  

There may well be a few reasons why are more commonly found together:

1. Sleep
   If the last few decades of research into sleep and pain have taught us anything, it’s that with lack of sleep comes a prevalence for more pain. Sleep disruptions lead to hyperalgesia pain changes, which means that your brain becomes far more responsive to noxious stimuli, lowering the pain threshold, and even going as far as to impact your own body’s ability to realise pain-killing chemicals. For those with fibromyalgia, sleep is most often a major issue. Therefore, an activity that would not normally be deemed as strenuous, may become strenuous for someone with Fibromyalgia, and could potentially lead to the development of Costochondritis, due to inflammatory responses from strenuous activity or movement.
2. Guarding response
   For those in pain, it’s really not uncommon to find them adopting postures to make the pain more bearable. Whilst this may help in the short term, over time staying in any one position can become painful. In the instance of Costochondritis, it’s not a far reach to assume that putting prolonged strain on the costochondral joints and cartilage, could potentially cause an inflammatory response causing Costochondritis for those with Fibromyalgia.
3. Lack of activity
   The decrease in activity levels amongst those with Fibromyalgia, as well as being in pain, can lead to sensitisation which lowers tissue tolerance to stress before an inflammatory response is deemed necessary. For tissue to be healthy, we need to move, and for those with Fibromyalgia, this can often be an issue. This gives us another potential reason for a link between Fibromylagia and Costochondritis.
4. Hypermobility
   It has been shown in a number of studies that there is a link between hypermobility and Fibromyalgia. One study showed that 46.6% of the Fibromyalgia patients participating, scored at least 4 or more on the Beighton scoring system (A method used to determine hypermobility), compared to 28. 8% of the control group. When we look deeper at the connection between Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility, the issues surrounding chest pain and Fibromyalgia can be further explained.The high prevalence of misdiagnosis in the hypermobile population most likely contributes to the increase of those with Fibromyalgia experiencing inflammation of the chest. A common symptom surrounding hypermobility, is that of joint subluxation/dislocation, due to the genetic make-up of collagen. And a common issue associated with this is rib subluxation. We wrote an article about hypermobility rib subluxation earlier this year, which you can find here. Hypermobility may account for the prevalence of Costochondritis in the Fibromyalgia population, as slipping rib syndrome is pain from inflammation of the cartilage that

Fibromyalgia Chest Pain

Chest pain can be terrifying when it happens, it can even be severe enough to mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. I remember when I had my first experience of this, I actually thought I was dying and it wasn’t until I was in the hospital, that I found out that I was fine. But, nonetheless it was a pretty scary experience, as I couldn’t breathe properly because of the pain, and it felt like a tight band around my chest.

The good news though, is that Costochondritis is it is not cardiac-related, so it isn’t related to the heart. When there is inflammation in the chest this often leads to shortness of breath, due to us trying to breathe in a more limited fashion to reduce the pressure on the chest. This change in our respiration will often lead to us not taking in as much oxygen as we normally would, and can leave us feeling like we can’t breathe and panicked. But, again, Costochondritis is it is not cardiac-related.

Can Fibromyalgia make Costochondritis worse? 

Living with Fibromyalgia is bad enough, but when adding Costochondritis to the mix it can seem a whole lot worse. But can Fibromyalgia make Costochondritis worse?

Fibromyalgia often leads to central and peripheral sensitization where nerves are a lot more sensitive to noxious stimuli, so it will take less pressure on the chest before these nerves fire and alert the brain of a potentially dangerous stimulus. This would make it feel a lot more tender to the touch than it should normally be. Think of a turn dial that usually likes to sit at 1-3 unless something is wrong (like inflammation) and is then turned up when there is an issue. With Fibromyalgia though, the dial is already sitting at 7, so when a potential threat is noticed this can turn it up to 10. This can result in more painful sensations than are usually warranted. So, given what we know about the current pain mechanisms, having fibromyalgia is likely to make having Costochondritis worse than it would be for someone without fibro.

Treating Costochondritis or Fibromyalgia chest pain 

Your first port of call when it comes to Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis should be your doctor. Anti-inflammatories will help to deal with a lot of the pain from Costochondritis, but this isn’t a long term solution. As we previously mentioned, having a healthy and happy rib cage means that it needs to be able to move freely, so this should be your second port of call: focusing on relearning to move your ribs.

We would also suggest that you check to make sure that you are indeed not Hypermobile and that the pain doesn’t arise from a rib subluxation. In either case, we have some gentle exercises designed to open up the rib cage and turn down sensitivity, in the video below.

We hope you enjoyed ready!

— The Fibro Guy Team —

Looking for more articles on Fibromyalgia?

Read our blog on Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis
Read our blog on Fibromyalgia headaches

What is costochondritis? Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

WHAT IS COSTOCHONDRITIS?
Costochondritis is described as an inflammation that can be mistaken for the condition known as “ Thierse Syndrome ” as the symptoms are acute with pain that radiates from the chest to the shoulders or arms. This experienced pain can last up to several weeks. Swelling of the area where pain is felt tends to occur also at the intersection of the sternum and ribs.
Inflammation in the case of costochondritis occurs in the cartilage, which is the intersection of the rib and sternum (sternum). These affected areas are known as costochondral junctions. The pain that occurs with costochondritis is similar to the pain that occurs with heart disease.
Typically, costochondritis is not fatal and does not have a specific cause. Reducing pain with pain medications pending recovery is an option considered in this case as the patient may recover without any form of treatment, however adult chest pain should be considered an emergency requiring further evaluation and treatment. testing for possible heart disease. This recovery may take weeks or months.
RISK FACTORS FOR COSTOCHONDRITIS
The main difference between tier syndrome and costochondritis is the age range of onset. Tietze’s syndrome is most common in children between the ages of 10 and 21, while costochondritis occurs mainly in adults.
The female sex is more susceptible to this condition than men, with a ratio of 70 to 30% according to statistics. In addition, people over the age of 40 are prone to costochondritis.
Minor risk factors that accompany costochondritis are listed below:

1. Manual labor is beyond human capabilities.
2. Allergy and exposure to irritants.
3. High impact activity.
4. The presence of diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism.
5. Children with heavy backpacks.

COMPLICATIONS OF COSTOCHONDRITHIS
Complications associated with costochondritis include:

1. Fatigue and restlessness.
2. Difficulty concentrating.
3. Depression.
4. Excessive pain.
5. Headache.

DIAGNOSIS OF COSTOCHONDRITIS
Typically, costochondritis does not have a specific cause and therefore does not have a specific diagnosis for the condition. Therefore, tests for possible lung disease, heart disease, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems are done using an electrocardiogram (ECG). computed tomography (CT), x-ray, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out the possibility of the aforementioned conditions.
The patient will have a physical examination around the breastbone as the doctor feels the area looking for swelling or tenderness. Soreness is mainly felt in the area from the fourth to the sixth rib. The hands will move in a certain way to trigger the symptoms.
Patients with a history of chest surgery will be checked for swelling, redness, pus, and then advanced imaging, known as a “gallium scan”, will be performed. An increase in the radioactivity of the gallium material may indicate the presence of costochondritis.
The number of leukocytes in the body will be examined. Also, the presence of pneumonia is examined using a chest x-ray.
COSTOCHONDRITIS PREVENTION
Costochondritis has no specific cause, so no preventive measures can be taken to avoid it.
COSTOCHONDRITIS TREATMENT
The inflammation may go away on its own, but the pain may be relieved. Treatment can be divided into medication use, lifestyle, therapy, and surgical procedure.

• Medical treatment:

Some medications may be used to relieve pain associated with costochondritis. These medicines are briefly underlined below:

• over drugs

Medicines containing codeine or oxycodone are prescribed to the patient when severe pain occurs as a result of costochondritis.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be used, but depending on the depth of the pain, a stronger NSAID may be recommended by the doctor, although these may have side effects such as damage to the lining of the stomach or kidneys.

• Anticonvulsants

Special drugs used by patients with epilepsy, known as gabapentin, may be used to relieve acute pain.

• Antidepressants

Medications such as amitriptyline, known as tricyclic antidepressants, may be used to relieve acute pain, mainly when trying to sleep.

• therapy

Physical therapy can improve the recovery process. This therapy includes:

• Nerve stimulation

The nerve is stimulated using a device known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This involves sending an electrical current near the area of ​​pain to mask pain signals from reaching the brain.

• Physiotherapy

This involves regular slight stretching of the pectoral muscles.

• Surgical procedure

When another form of treatment fails, a surgical procedure is used as a last resort by removing the inflamed cartilage from the body.
Home remedies for costochondritis
There are certain self-care steps you can take to speed up the healing process for costochondritis. Here you can use over-the-counter NSAIDs, painkillers.
Applying ice or a hot substance to the affected area can relieve pain. A heating pad or cloth soaked in hot water and pressure on the affected area may relieve discomfort.
In addition, applying ice to the affected area several times a day can help recovery.
Abstaining from activities that may cause pain is recommended, so heavy lifting should be avoided.
DEATH FROM COSTOCHONDRITIS
Statistics indicate a 25% mortality rate immediately after the patient comes into contact with costochondritis.

symptoms

SYMPTOMS OF COSTOCHOCHONDRITIS

Symptoms suggestive of costochondritis are listed below:

1. Acute pain in the chest area.
2. Pain in the sternum, predominantly on the left.
3. Pain when breathing or coughing in the chest.
4. Sensation of tenderness when touching part of costal joint. The absence of this pain indicates the absence of costochondritis.
5. Redness, pus or swelling in the chest area. This is due to the history of surgical procedures performed in the region, which resulted in bacterial contamination.

Other symptoms that should be investigated before concluding that costochondritis is present are listed below:

1. Presence of severe fever.
2. Heavy breaths.
3. Nausea.
4. Profuse sweating.
5. Excessive pain even after medication.
6. Feeling dizzy.

Causes

WHAT CAUSES COSTOCHONDRITIS?

As a rule, costochondritis does not have a specific cause, so it cannot be attributed to any family of diseases.

Costochondritis may result from any of the following causes listed below:

• Trauma

Any form of injury that occurs in the chest area near the arm can lead to costochondritis. Physical abuse or even hard blows to the chest can damage the cartilage.

• Voltage

Excessive use of the arm, such as lifting heavy objects beyond human capacity, can lead to costochondritis. In addition, it can cause a series of violent coughs.

• Arthritis

Conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, or ankylosing spondylitis can cause acute pain in the shoulder and sternum leading to costochondral cartilage.

• Tumor

Some tumors, which may be cancerous or benign, can lead to costochondritis because they tend to migrate to the chest, sternum, or shoulders.

• Infection

Infection in the area of ​​cartilage can also lead to costochondritis. Components such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses that can lead to syphilis, tuberculosis, or aspergillosis tend to infect the breastbone.

Infections present in the respiratory system can also provoke costochondritis. Chest surgery or intravenous medication may play a role in causing acute pain.

• Trauma

Possible chest trauma can cause costochondritis, especially when the injury occurs frequently.

• Breast size

Large breasts contribute to costochondritis, which makes women more susceptible.

FAQ

What is the difference between costochondritis and Tietze syndrome?

Both are mistaken for the same thing, but differ in the age group of occurrence and the presence of edema. Costochondritis is not accompanied by swelling.

Can costochondritis be fatal?

When costal chondritis is left untreated, it becomes more painful, so painkillers are used before costal chondritis is completely gone.

Is costochondritis for life?

No, costochondritis just stays for a few weeks before going away on its own if proper care and prescribed methods are followed.

Can costochondritis turn into a heart attack?

No, costal chondritis cannot progress to a heart attack, but the pain experienced is synonymous with a heart attack.

Is costochondritis a sign of cancer?

Costochondritis can be a sign of cancer, as cancerous growths can lead to disease. In addition, viruses or bacteria can infect the breastbone, causing tumors.

What can cause sharp pain when inhaling? | Medical Insider

Sharp pain when inhaling can occur for several reasons. This symptom can vary in severity, with some experiencing mild discomfort and others experiencing severe pain. In most cases, chest and rib pain is not a sign of a serious illness and resolves on its own or with minimal treatment. However, sometimes it can be an emergency that requires urgent medical attention.

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that causes the air sacs to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus. Pneumonia occurs as a result of a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. The severity of the condition depends on the person’s age and general health. Pneumonia often causes chest pain on inspiration.

Other symptoms include:

• cough with green or rusty sputum
• fever
• chills
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• palpitations

Type of pneumonia and the severity of the condition will determine the method of treatment.

• For bacterial pneumonia, which is the most common form, antibiotics help treat symptoms.
• Antivirals, rest, and high fluid intake may help treat viral pneumonia.
• Antifungal drugs can help treat fungal types of pneumonia.

Your doctor may recommend medicines to reduce the symptoms of pneumonia.

Pneumothorax, also known as collapsed lung, occurs when air enters the pleural cavity, which is the space between the lungs and the chest wall. The accumulation of air can increase pressure in the pleural space, causing part of the lung or even the entire lung to collapse. Pneumothorax can develop as a result of a chest injury or an underlying lung disease such as tuberculosis. Patients with pneumothorax may experience severe chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing. The degree of collapse determines the signs and symptoms of pneumothorax. Symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath
• sudden chest pain
• chest tightness
• palpitations
• tiredness
• cyanosis, in which the skin or lips are slightly blue

Treatment of pneumothorax involves insertion of a tube or needle to remove excess air from the pleural space . In mild cases, the condition may improve without the need for this procedure.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the outer surface of the lungs. Pleurisy often results from a viral or bacterial infection, with viral pleurisy being one of the most common causes. Patients with pleurisy often report sharp pain in the chest when inhaling. Pleurisy symptoms include:

• severe chest pain that worsens with breathing
• pain radiating to the shoulders and back
• shortness of breath
• cough

The treatment for pleurisy will depend on the underlying cause. For example, if the condition is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to manage the symptoms. For the pain and inflammation that pleurisy causes, your doctor will recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of cartilage, the tissue that connects the sternum and ribs. The chest pain caused by costochondritis can range from mild to severe. People with costochondritis often have chest pain that may radiate to the back. The exact cause of costochondritis is unclear. However, this condition can be caused by a chest injury, intense exercise, a severe cough, or a joint infection.

Costochondritis usually resolves on its own. However, a doctor may prescribe an NSAID to relieve pain. Physical therapy, including stretching and nerve stimulation, can also be helpful, as can heat therapy. If other methods do not help, the doctor may recommend injections of corticosteroids or pain medications directly into the affected area.

Injury to the chest may be the result of a sports incident, a surgical operation, or an accident such as a fall from a height. Approximately two-thirds of physically injured patients have a chest injury, with severity ranging from rib fractures to cardiac injury. Injury to the chest can lead to sharp pain when inhaling. Other symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath
• pain radiating to the neck or back
• coughing up blood
• bruising of the chest wall

Doctors will determine the treatment for a chest injury depending on the cause and severity. For example, if the person is choking, CPR would be the first approach. People with a chest injury should seek immediate medical attention.

Severe stress and anxiety can cause panic attacks, a possible symptom of which is a sharp pain when breathing in. An anxiety attack can cause a stabbing, needle-like sensation in the middle of the chest. Fear of an upcoming event or fear that something might happen usually triggers this state. You may experience the following symptoms during an anxiety attack:

• chest pain
• palpitations
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• sweating
• headache

disorders include:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• use of a support group
• antidepressants and anxiolytics to relieve symptoms

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart. The cause of pericarditis remains unclear, but viral infections are a common cause. Other factors can also cause pericarditis, including:

• Heart injury or surgery
• Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus cub
• Other diseases, including tuberculosis or renal failure of

, there is a sharp pain during inhalation or dull pain, which can be felt stronger in sidy. position or leaning forward. The pain may also radiate to the left shoulder and neck. Other symptoms of pericarditis may include:

• fever
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• palpitations
• swelling of the abdomen and legs
• cough

Treatment of pericarditis depends on the cause and severity of the condition. If the condition is mild, it usually goes away on its own. In more severe cases, a doctor may prescribe painkillers and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.

Sharp pain when inhaling can sometimes be a sign of a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack.