Why do you have chest pain when taking a deep breath?

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Chest pain when taking a deep breath is a warning sign of many serious health problems. The cause of chest pain when breathing deeply can come from chest wall disease due to costal cartilage inflammation or trauma, cardiovascular disease, embolism or infection of the lungs - pleura... When there are pain symptoms When taking a deep breath in the chest, the patient needs to go to the doctor for timely detection and treatment.

1. What is chest pain when taking a deep breath?

Chest pain when taking a deep breath is a warning sign of many serious health problems. This chest pain can originate from the left, right, or both sides. For each person, the pain can be a sharp pain after taking a deep breath or a dull pain with each inhalation. Symptoms associated with chest pain may be shortness of breath, cough, ... or not.
The main mechanism of chest pain when taking a deep breath is because when breathing in, the expansion of the lungs causes the rib cage to expand as well. When there are structures related to the chest wall such as the lungs, pleura, pericardium, and costal cartilage, there will be symptoms of chest pain when taking a deep breath.

2. Causes of chest pain when taking a deep breath

The cause of chest pain may be cardiac or noncardiac. In particular, chest pain when taking a deep breath is a form of chest pain that is atypical of the heart. In addition, there are other causes of chest pain when taking deep breaths such as:
2.1 Pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung parenchyma, including inflammation of the bronchioles at the ends of the alveoli, alveolitis. and inflammation of the connective tissue (interstitial) tissues of the lungs. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi, the most common of which are influenza viruses and streptococci. In the elderly, pneumonia is mainly caused by bacteria.
Pneumonia causes chest pain and is characterized by symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue... Especially if the inflammation spreads to the pleura, the pain will become more pronounced and intense when inhaled deep breath .
If you have symptoms of pneumonia, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The decision to treat will depend on the person at risk, the cause as well as the severity of the disease. If the pneumonia is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are the most effective treatment.

2.2 Pleurisy The pleura is a thin layer that covers the surface of the lung, consisting of 2 parietal leaves and visceral leaves, containing little fluid inside so that the 2 pleural sheets slide over each other easily. If the pneumonia spreads to the outer surface of the lungs, pleurisy can result. Bacteria and viruses are two common causes of pleurisy. Pleurisy symptoms may include:
Fever; A cough; Shortness of breath; Chest pain that increases when taking a deep breath or sneezing, the pain may spread to the shoulder blades; Weight loss for no apparent reason. 2.3 Pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the blood vessels of the lungs, usually from a blood clot in the deep veins of the lower extremities. Pulmonary embolism is one of the serious causes of chest pain when breathing. In addition to chest pain, patients also have symptoms such as shortness of breath, heart palpitations, coughing up blood, and right-sided heart failure.
Pulmonary embolism with shock, if not treated promptly, can cause death. In emergencies, fibrinolysis is the first-line treatment. People with mild to moderate pulmonary embolism can be treated with parenteral anticoagulants or oral anticoagulants (including vitamin K antagonists and newer oral anticoagulants).
2.4 Pneumothorax Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space. The greater the accumulation of air, the greater the pressure inside the pleural space, which can lead to partial or total collapse of the lung. The cause of pneumothorax is usually chest trauma (open or closed), trauma to the lung, complications of chronic lung disease such as tuberculosis or emphysema. In addition, some people who smoke or are tall and thin may also develop spontaneous pneumothorax of unknown cause. Common symptoms of pneumothorax are shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing, fatigue, heart palpitations, and pale skin. If the amount of qi is low, it is possible to just rest and the disease will subside. However, if the pneumothorax is large, causing shortness of breath and severe chest pain, the patient needs aspiration and drainage of air out of the pleural space to prevent atelectasis.
2.5 Lung cancer Lung cancer usually begins with symptoms such as a persistent cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss. Smoking is also one of the major causes of lung cancer. Chest pain during deep breathing may also occur if cancer is involved in the pleura.

2.6 Costochondritis Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs and sternum. The cause of costochondritis can be a respiratory infection, chest trauma, or a violent cough. Costochondritis usually causes sharp pain in the chest around the sternum, which radiates to the back and is aggravated by coughing or taking a deep breath. Costochondritis usually resolves on its own, but if severe pain interferes with daily activities, medical attention should be sought.
2.7 Pericarditis The pericardium is a membrane that surrounds and protects the heart, containing little fluid inside. Pericarditis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, certain medications, heart surgery or trauma, and sometimes occurs in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. short .
Pericarditis can lead to persistent chest pain or chest pain with deep inhalation, which is relieved when the patient sits upright and leans forward. In addition, people with pericarditis may also have other symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations.
2.8 Chest Injury Chest trauma can cause muscle strain, bruising, or broken ribs, leading to chest pain when taking a deep breath. For example, if a person with a chest injury has a broken rib, the fragments of the ribs will rub against each other and cause chest pain. In addition, the broken ribs punctured the lungs and pleura, leading to pneumothorax. Muscle tension or bruising in the chest area can also cause the same condition. Chest pain when taking a deep breath can spread to the neck or back.
2.9 Abdominal infections Abdominal infections can also cause chest pain when breathing, especially if the infection involves the liver or spleen. Since the liver and spleen are adjacent to the diaphragm, when breathing in and out, the diaphragm will move up and down with the breathing, these infected organs will also be affected, causing chest pain and discomfort. .

In short, chest pain when taking a deep breath can be a warning symptom of many dangerous diseases. When these symptoms appear for a long time, the patient needs to go to a reputable hospital to be examined by a specialist and have an appropriate treatment plan. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading addresses in the country for examination, diagnosis, screening and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in general and other internal and surgical diseases in particular. With the convergence of a team of experienced, reputable experts in the field of surgical treatment, internal medicine, interventional cardiac catheterization and the application of advanced techniques in diagnosis and treatment, along with a system of modern equipment, on par with the most prestigious hospitals in the world such as: MRI 3 Tesla (Siemens), CT 640 (Toshiba), high-end endoscopy equipment EVIS EXERA III (Olympus Japan), Avace advanced anesthesia system, Hybrid operating room according to international standards... Vinmec International General Hospital has achieved many successes and gained the trust of many people. patient.

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