Where Is Lung Pain Felt
The lungs do not have a significant amount of pain receptors, which means that any pain felt in the lungs probably originates somewhere else in the body. However, some lung-related conditions can result in pain in the left lung. The chest contains several vital organs, including the heart and lungs.
Signs And Symptoms Of Pericarditis
A common symptom of acute pericarditis is a sharp, stabbing chest pain, usually coming on quickly. It’s often is in the middle or left side of the chest, and there may be pain in one or both shoulders.
Sitting up and leaning forward tends to ease the pain, while lying down and breathing deep worsens it. Some people describe the pain as a dull ache or pressure in their chest.
The chest pain may feel like a heart attack. If you experience chest pain, call 911 right away because you may be having a heart attack.
Fever is another common symptom of acute pericarditis. Other symptoms are weakness, trouble breathing and coughing. Palpitations, which are feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering or beating too hard or too fast, may occur and can be a sign of deeper heart tissue involvement.
Chronic pericarditis often causes tiredness, coughing and shortness of breath. Chest pain is sometimes absent with this type of pericarditis. Severe cases of chronic pericarditis can lead to swelling in the stomach, feet, ankles and legs and hypotension .
What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider may ask questions such as:
- Is the pain between the shoulder blades? Under the breast bone? Does the pain change location? Is it on one side only?
- How would you describe the pain?
- Does it begin suddenly? Does the pain occur at the same time each day?
- Does the pain get better or worse when you walk or change positions?
- Can you make the pain happen by pressing on a part of your chest?
- Is the pain getting worse? How long does the pain last?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or back?
- Is the pain worse when you are breathing deeply, coughing, eating, or bending?
- Is the pain worse when you are exercising? Is it better after you rest? Does it go away completely, or is there just less pain?
- Is the pain better after you take nitroglycerin medicine? After you eat or take antacids? After you belch?
- What other symptoms do you have?
The types of tests that are done depend on the cause of the pain, and what other medical problems or risk factors you have.
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Blunt Trauma To The Chest
Chest pain can also happen because of tears to the pectoralis muscle, according to 2021 research. Tears are usually caused by indirect trauma or a direct blow to the chest. Blunt trauma can also result in rib fractures or rib displacement.
Symptoms of a chest injury or rib displacement include:
- chest pain that gets worse with coughing, sneezing, or laughing
- shortness of breath
If youre experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether your injury will be able to heal on its own or if treatment is necessary.
Stomach And Chest Pain
Although commonly associated with heart attacks, stomach and chest pain can also be related to issues with various areas of your body including your intestines, lungs, muscles, ribs, and/or nerves.
Regardless of the cause, chest and abdominal pain is not something that should be ignored. Though pain or discomfort in these areas is commonly associated with a heart attack, know that there are many other possible causes. Other common causes of chest and abdominal pain could include gas, appendicitis, or even gallstones.
If you are at all worried about your symptoms, dont wait to head into one of Complete Cares freestanding ER locations. Our 24/7 walk-in locations are fully equipped with professional medical staff prepared to diagnose and treat your stomach and chest pain symptoms.
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Is Your Chest Pain A Sign Of A Heart Attack Or Something Else
Chest pain is frightening and must be taken seriously. So know this: If you are having severe discomfort in the chestespecially if the chest pain is radiating to your neck, jaw or armsand its accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness and sweating, call 911 immediately. Some people may not have chest pain at all during a heart attack, but they may have the other symptoms listed. In that case, its still best to call 911.
But sometimes chest pain isnt a heart attack. It might have a different cardiac cause or be totally unrelated to your heart. Here are three clues that its not a heart attack:
If you are experiencing chest pain like this, call your doctor to make an appointment.
Chest pain that isnt a heart attack can be heart-related or not .
Experiencing Abnormal Stomach And Chest Pain Visit Complete Care Er For Quality Treatment
Stomach and chest pain can have different variants of pain level and location. Some people have a sharp, stabbing pain while others experience a dull, burning, aching, or tight sensation. Whatever type of pain or discomfort youre feeling, never hesitate to call your doctor or head into the emergency room. You know your body better than anyone and asking for help may just save you from a life-threatening emergency.
When youre experiencing pain accompanied by the onset of other abnormal symptoms, dont wait to head into a Complete Care emergency room. We offer effective ER treatment for chest and abdominal pain without the typical long wait times of your typical ERs when you visit one of our locations in Colorado or Texas today.
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Gallbladder Or Liver Inflammation
The gallbladder and liver are two organs of the abdominal cavity that are located on the right side of the body. When they become inflamed or are not functioning correctly, pain can be felt on the right side. Although it is more common for pain to be felt in the abdominal area, in some cases, pain can radiate to the chest too.
In addition to pain, problem with the gallbladder or the liver can produce other symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, general malaise, and jaundice.
What to do: If you suspect you have gallbladder inflammation or a liver problem, its important to consult a gastroenterologist for assessment and to start appropriate treatment. Gallbladder inflammation is usually quite serious, especially if a gallbladder duct is obstructed by a stone. In these cases, the pain is very strong, and fever and vomiting can occur. If this happens, go to the hospital immediately.
Treatment And Prevention Of Chest Pain On Right Side
As pain in the right side of the chest is a symptom of an infection, disease, or disorder, treatment focuses on the underlying cause.
To prevent these causes, doctors recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet based on whole or natural healthy foods.
Avoiding triggers such as smoking and alcohol abuse will go a long way in preventing such causes.
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Describe Chest Pain To Your Doctor
Doctors use several pieces of information to determine who is, and who isn’t, having a heart attack. In addition to the description of your symptoms and your heart risk profile, doctors use the results of an electrocardiogram and a blood test called cardiac troponin. But sometimes these don’t immediately show abnormalities. So, what you describe to the doctor and your medical history are extremely important in determining the initial steps in your treatment.
Here are some things your doctors will want to know about what you are experiencing:
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What is it that you are feeling ?
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Where is the discomfort?
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Has it gotten worse or stayed the same?
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Is the feeling constant, or does it come and go?
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Have you felt it before?
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What were you doing before these feelings started?
Clear answers to these questions go a long way toward nailing down a diagnosis. A few seconds of recurrent stabbing pain is less likely to be a heart attack , while pain centered in the chest that spreads out to the left arm or jaw is more likely to be one.
When To Visit The Er For Chest Pain
You should go to the ER if you experience chest pain along with other symptoms. This usually indicates a heart attack. Call 911 or get to the ER right away if you experience chest pain with:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain that moves to include your arms, neck, or jaw
- Symptoms last more than five minutes
Heart attacks are often fatal and can cause permanent damage to your heart. Thats why if you experience heart attack symptoms, get medical help. The sooner its treated, the less damage it does.
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Heart Attack And Right
If you have chest pain that gets worse or is triggered by physical activity or stress, and it goes away with rest, that could be angina, which is chest pain due to heart disease. Resting doesnt make a difference when its pain caused by a heart attack.
If your right-side pain is also accompanied by symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness, or shortness of breathyou should seek medical attention immediately, as it could signify a heart attack, says Ankur Kalra MD, an interventional cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Akron, Ohio.
As a reminder, these are the symptoms of a heart attack. Call 911 to get help.
- Chest pain or discomfort with pressure or tightness
- Feeling weak, lightheaded, or dizzy
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders
- Shortness of breath
Its important to note that some women might experience different heart attack symptoms than men. Only about one-third of women have the typical heart attack symptoms, says Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbara Streisand Womens Heart Center in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Other women might not have chest pain at all, and instead experience less obvious symptoms such as fatigue, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, problems breathing, or pain in the back, neck, jaw, or throat.
PeopleImages/Getty Images
Chest Pain Left Side Vs Right Side
The term chest pain can describe pain anywhere in the chest, but one common question with chest pain is if there is a difference between pain in the left side of the chest and the right side of the chest. This is because people typically associate only left side chest pain with a heart attack, as most people known that is where the heart is located.
However, left side chest pain doesnt always indicate a heart issue. Nor should right side chest pain be ignored. Heart attacks cause pain all over the bodyfrom the right side of the chest, to the left side of the chest and other places on the body, like the jaw.
Chest pain on the right side of the chest rarely signifies a heart issue–but that doesnt mean that right side chest pain isnt serious. There are several reasons behind chest pains on right side, some serious and others not as serious such as:
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When To Go To The Doctor
Many times, right-sided chest pain disappears after a few minutes and if it does, theres no reason to worry. However, assessment by a doctor is the only way to really identify the underlying cause. It’s best to go to a hospital if:
- The pain is very intense or gets worse with time
- The pain lasts for more than 15 minutes
- Other symptoms appear such as difficulty breathing, fever or fainting
In addition, elderly people and those with chronic problems, especially respiratory or heart disease, should be assessed by a doctor, as the pain may indicate that the condition has worsened, and treatment may need to be adjusted.
How To Diagnose Chest Pain When Breathing
Chest pain does not always depict a heart attack. So calm yourself! But health care providers in emergency departments usually test to exclude fatal conditions. So, doctors will execute a thorough examination to identify the cause of your chest pain.
Sequence to diagnose chest pains when breathing includes:
- a complete history of presenting illness
- medical and medication history
- family history of cancer, lung and heart disease
- allergic history
- last meal taken
- previous history of a similar event
You might need extra tests to determine the causes of chest pains when breathing. The investigations may include:
- chest X-ray to visualize the heart, lungs, and blood vessels
- CT scan or angiogram to identify the blocked vessels
- blood and urine tests to review the cholesterol and enzyme levels
- electrocardiogram to check the hearts electrical activity
- stress test to estimate heart function
- pulse oximetry to measure the oxygen saturation
- echocardiogram to determine the valve and heart abnormalities
- pulmonary function test to study the lung volume, capacity, and gas exchange.
Later, you might have to meet the specialist if there is difficulty in determining the cause of your pain. With that, doctors will compose the best treatment strategy for you!
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Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Some episodes of chest pain occur as part of an anxiety or panic attack.
In addition to chest pain and overwhelming feelings of anxiety, these attacks can cause symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, breathlessness and dizziness.
Most panic attacks last for 5 to 20 minutes. In the long-term, you may benefit from psychological therapy and medication, or both.
Chest Pain Right Side Shortness Of Breath Numbness And Tingling Right Arm
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Chest pain on right side like a knife sticking in my back. Shortness of breath like I can’t take a deep breath. Numbness and tingling in right arm, and also a lack of strength in that arm
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Causes Of Pain On The Right Side Of The Chest When Breathing
Taking a deep breath and experiencing right-sided chest pain provokes physical discomfort and anxiety. Chest pain brought on or worsened by forceful breathing is called pleuritic chest pain 4. This symptom typically originates from an infection, injury or other condition affecting the right lung or chest wall. A person’s age, health history and accompanying signs and symptoms help doctors determine the most likely causes.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Heart Disease And Other Heart Issues
Heart disease is another possible cause of painful breathing. In such cases, youll likely have shortness of breath and breathing discomfort.
About 26 percent of people with heart-related issues, such as a heart attack, may seek treatment because of the breathing difficulty alone.
Types of heart disease that can contribute to painful breathing include:
- angina, when blood flow to your heart is decreased
- heart attack, when blood flow to your heart is blocked
- heart failure, when your heart cant pump blood properly
- myocarditis, when the heart muscle becomes inflamed
- pericarditis, when inflammation of the sac surrounding your heart causes a sharp pain
Heart-related chest pain can also cause:
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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 for chest pain when breathing. And if chest pain and shortness of breath come on suddenly, call 911. It’s possible that 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. It also explains how these conditions are diagnosed and treated.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
When To Seek Medical Attention
Seek emergency medical attention for any right-sided chest pain associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Even if the pain is not causing breathing difficulty, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible to evaluate unexplained pleuritic pain, especially if associated with an injury, fever or other symptoms. Remember that pain is a warning sign to seek medical attention.
Reviewed by: Tina M. St. John, M.D.
- Seek emergency medical attention for any right-sided chest pain associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Even if the pain is not causing breathing difficulty, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible to evaluate unexplained pleuritic pain, especially if associated with an injury, fever or other symptoms.
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