Chest Pain When Breathing: Causes And When To See A Doctor
Sanja Jelic, MD is board-certified in pulmonary disease, sleep medicine, critical care medicine, and internal medicine. She is an assistant professor and attending physician at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY.
Chest pain when breathing is a serious symptom. This is true whether it happens with regular breathing or when taking a deep breath.
Issues like muscle strains or shingles may be to blame, but chest pain when breathing can also be a sign of asthma, heart problems, or cancer.
You should always see a healthcare provider if you experience chest pain when breathing. And if chest pain and shortness of breath come on suddenly, call 911. You may be having a heart attack.
This article discusses the conditions that may lead to chest pain when breathing, including specific situations like chest pain when lying down or at rest, plus how these conditions are diagnosed and treated.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Lower Back Pain When Breathing: A Guide To Potential Causes
If you have pain in your lower back when breathing, youre probably eager to discover the cause. People of any age and background can experience this symptom, but the causes differ greatly, and some are more serious than others.
In some cases, lower back pain when breathing is acute, caused by an injury that heals over time. In others, the pain is a symptom of a serious health condition, so its important to know when to seek medical advice.
Find out more about lower back pain, why you might feel pain when you breathe, and when its time to see a doctor.
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Possible Causes Of Upper Back Pain That Affects Breathing
According to the American Chiropractic Association , around 80% of the American population has already experienced back pains at some point in their lives. Its also the most common reason why people miss workdays. The cause for back pains ranges from something as simple as hunching over computers and phones to more serious conditions, such as ruptured discs, bacterial infection, and cancer.
Most cases of back pain are treated with rest, stretches, and medication. But if its accompanied by other symptoms, its better to consult a doctor to find out the underlying cause. Upper back pain that occurs when a person takes a deep breath is already a sign to visit a physician. Here are some of the possible causes for the discomfort:
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How To Prevent Back Pain
- Exercise regularly: Low-impact aerobic exercises, or those that dont strain or shock your back, can help you build back strength and endurance, as well as improve the function of your muscles. Swimming and walking are both wonderful options. Discuss the hobbies you might want to attempt with your doctor.
- Build up your flexibility and muscle strength: Exercises that build your core, such as abdominal and back muscle strengthening, help train these muscles to function together.
- Maintain a proper weight: Obesity puts a pressure on the back muscles. If youre overweight, losing weight might help you avoid back discomfort.
- Stop smoking: Smoking raises your chances of developing low back discomfort. Because the risk rises with the amount of cigarettes smoked each day, stopping should help lower it.
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What Causes Back Pain When Breathing
Why does my back hurt when I breathe and what can I do about it?
Youre getting ready to relax after a long day when *yawn* OUCH!!!! Your deep breath caused a sharp pain in your back. You take another deep breath and sure enough, you still have pain when breathing.
Someone who experiences pain in their back when breathing may feel worried, but sometimes its nothing more than a short-lived twinge. Unfortunately there are instances when its a nagging pain that wont go away. Could it be something serious? Is something wrong with your lungs or heart? Do you need medical attention?
Read on to discover the top causes for back pain when breathing and what you can do about it .
Symptoms Of Back Pain
Acute and chronic pain can have very similar symptoms. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of back pain.
- Shooting, burning, or aching pain that persists or returns despite the use of home treatments such as ice, over-the-counter medicines, massage, or physical therapy
- Stiffness or tightness, especially after extended durations of lying, sitting, or standing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakness in the lower extremities, like numbness or tingling
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Can I Prevent Upper Back Pain
Preventing upper back pain when breathing is challenging if the onset of symptoms is sudden and acute. Not every potential cause is preventable. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene practices may reduce the likelihood of developing a cardiovascular condition or infectious disease. In addition, exercising and stretching can help a person avoid muscle strains.
Pain In Back Ribs When Taking Deep Breath
When you take a deep inhale, you may have upper back pain. This is called ribhead out. What actually occurs is that if your back muscles go into spasm, they may actually pop the head of your rib up and into a nerve route, which results in even greater agony and muscular spasm. It is also possible that the intercostal cartilage between your ribs is in spasm as well.
When the cartilage, which links the breastbone and the ribs, becomes inflamed, the condition is known as costochondritis. The severity of the chest discomfort caused by costochondritis can vary from minor to severe. People suffering with costochondritis frequently complain of chest discomfort that might extend to the back.
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Schedule An Appointment Today
The Pain Experts of Arizona was founded to bring the highest level of care in a state-of-the-art setting that emphasizes the belief of treating our patients with the same respect, compassion, and dedication we would treat our own friends and family.
Contact our office to schedule an appointment and let us help you get back on your way to an active life without the limitations of chronic pain. From our Phoenix office, The Pain Experts of Arizona, serves pain management patients in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and the entire Phoenix area.
When To See A Gp
See a GP if you have sharp stabbing chest pains when you breathe or other symptoms of pleurisy.
Pleurisy can usually be diagnosed based on your symptoms.
The GP will listen to your chest. A distinctive dry, crunching sound may suggest you have pleurisy.
Further tests may be needed to find out what’s causing pleurisy and how severe it is.
These tests include:
- a biopsy where a small sample of pleural tissue or lung tissue is removed for further testing
Get immediate medical help if you have severe chest pain, particularly if you also have other symptoms, such as coughing up blood, feeling sick or sweating.
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Back Pain Specialists In Maricopa And Pinal County
The professionals at the Arizona Pain and Spine Institute are experts in identifying, alleviating, and managing pain. Our staff is composed of seasoned medical providers in multiple specialties of care. We currently accept dozens of insurance plans and have three office locations for your convenience. Contact our office today at 986-7246 to schedule an appointment.
Why Does My Back Hurt When I Take Deep Breaths
Summit back, neck, and spine specialist Erik Ekstrom, M.D., explains some of the possible reasons for back pain that happens with deep breaths.
Our bodies can certainly be mysterious and strange aches and pains are some of the confusing signs our bodies can send. But what does it mean when your back hurts each time you take a deep breath? Erik Ekstrom, M.D., back, neck, and spine specialist at Summit Orthopedics, explains some of the diagnostic possibilities from an orthopedic perspective.
First, a caveat: back pain with breathing is not necessarily an orthopedic issue at all. It could be anything from a sign of a heart problem, to a gastrointestinal issue, to a symptom of anxiety. Deep breaths can shift internal organs like the kidneys and intestines, causing discomfort, and it could also be a problem with the lungs, Dr. Ekstrom said. For those reasons, its important to talk with your primary care doctor to rule out nonorthopedic causes.
But if other causes have been ruled out, it may be time to consider the back itself. There are a range of spine-related conditions that could come into play with a symptom like this, Dr. Ekstrom said.
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Increased Pressure With Deep Breaths
Another possible cause is increased pressure. Breathing increases the intra-abdominal pressure on spine. Taking deep breaths, coughing, bearing down all of these should not cause pain, but if you have a spinal problem, the increased pressure could worsen it, Dr. Ekstrom said. For example, a herniated disc or nerve impingement could cause pain with deep breathing.
But ultimately, Dr. Ekstrom said, even deep breathing shouldnt cause back pain. So if youre having a recurring issue with back pain when you take deep breaths, it may necessitate a higher-level review, he said. Id encourage anyone having these symptoms to come in for a consult, where we can take images of your spine and help you determine what is happening.
Pain When Breathing Deep
Do you feel pain when breathing deep? If so, you should have the matter checked in earnest. Now is the time to contact your physician and let them know about your issues.
The advice you receive will prove very helpful towards recovery from any illness you may be experiencing.
The surest way to find the cause of the breathing issue on your own is by following the process. The process is comprehensive and helps you make wise decisions regarding your health.
So follow along to know what to do as this is vital.
You should share this information with another since breathing problems can make it hard to concentrate. Track all your symptoms, not just deep breathing, to single out the cause of this issue.
Compare your symptoms with the ones for each disease you will read.
Lastly, check the treatments for the condition you could single out. Use the same treatments if you think it could be more than one condition based on symptoms.
Most of all, try to get help if you can. This information is solely in the event you have no other options and need immediate assistance. Here are the conditions for making your comparison.
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Why People Experience Back Pain When Breathing
Home » Blog » Why People Experience Back Pain When Breathing
The lungs occupy a significant portion of the chest cavity, with its total size variable on your breathing. This expansion and contraction usually go unnoticed, as your body has a dedicated space and process to account for the activities of your respiratory system. But because it is so interconnected with the muscles in your back and the nerves in your spine, this process can be incredibly sensitive to changes in your body.
So why do people sometimes experience back pain when breathing? Many causes can trigger acute or chronic pain while you breathe, with most causes usually a sign or symptom of a serious condition that needs to be treated right away.
Causes Of Upper Back Pain While Breathing Or Moving
Upper back pain may either be acute or chronic. However, it is better to get it checked by a doctor because in some cases, upper back pain while breathing or moving can indicate a serious health issue like a heart attack or spinal injury. It can cause discomfort throughout the backside of the chest and upper abdominal region.
Some major causes of upper back pain while breathing or moving can include the following:
1) HEART ATTACK
The upper back can be a common location for the spread of pain due to a heart attack. Myocardial infarction clogs the arteries and blocks blood flow to the heart muscles. Because of this, people may experience chest pain that can radiate towards the jaw, shoulders, upper back and cause difficulty in breathing.
Symptoms of heart attack can include shortness of breath, nausea, sudden pain in the chest, cold sweats, and feeling light-headed.
2) POOR POSTURE
Most people dont pay attention to their postures. Over time, bad posture can become a cause of upper back pain. Hunched shoulders can put too much stress on the back muscles, leading to upper back pain while moving. Poor posture can also make the muscles stiff and thus can be the leading cause of upper back pain in adults as well as in teenagers.
People who sit in one place for a long period of time can develop poor posture. Office workers spend most of their time while working on a computer, sitting in a hunched position. Correcting the body posture can help relieve upper back pain.
3) OBESITY
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The First Thing To Do When It Happens
BREATHE take a slow, deep breath, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your first couple of deep breaths might hurt a little, but as you do a few more it will get easier and easier.
I breathe 543256060 times a day, why do I need to focus on doing more?
There are close to 20 muscles that assist the body with breathing . Majority these muscles are in fact attached to the mid back as well. So if your breathing is restricted, it will affect how well the muscles are doing in the back and vice versa. A slow and controlled breath can help these muscles settle as well as calming the central nervous system down.
Think about it like a pulled hamstring muscle
Once the pain and discomfort has relatively settled, just like you would for a pulled hammy, you will need to get it moving and make it strong. This is the best way to prevent you from having this nasty pain again.
As you move into the harder exercises it is still important to time your breathing with your movements. We typically ask our patients to take a breath out as they go into the stretch or when they have to contract the muscle.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
People suffering from COPD have impaired respiratory function. They often have air that builds up in their lungs from an increasingly weakened diaphragm muscle at the base of the lungs. To compensate, these individuals may rely more on the muscles located in the neck or chest region to assist with breathing function. As a result, the muscles can quickly create pain that stems into the back and other risk factors.
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When To Visit A Doctor For Upper Back Pain
Most cases of upper back pain subside after some time of at-home treatments, such as over-the-counter medicine or stretching routine. But if its accompanied by other symptoms, its better to see a doctor to get treated immediately. Visit a physician if youre experiencing the following upper back pain symptoms:
- Its both severe and persistent.
- It worsens progressively.
Symptoms Of Upper Back Pain When Breathing
Upper back pain mostly occurs anywhere along the spine between the base of the neck and the bottom of the ribs. Some people with upper back pain feel discomfort when they sneeze, cough, or take a deep breath.
If you have a medical condition that affects your internal organs like your lungs or heart, you may experience upper back pain while breathing.
You may also feel upper back pain in your shoulders and neck if they have been affected by a medical condition or injury.
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Bruised Or Broken Rib
An injury to the ribs can lead to a bruised or broken rib. Rib injuries can make even the simplest movements like breathing or laughing lead to pain in your back. Middle back pain when breathing could be the result of a bruised or broken rib. A bruised or broken rib will typically cause muscle spasms or twitching in the area and result in tenderness around the injured area. Because the symptoms of a bruised rib and a broken rib are similar, your doctor will typically need to run diagnostic imaging tests to determine the most accurate diagnosis. An X-ray or CT scan can support the diagnosis of a bruised or broken rib that is causing you pain while breathing.