Check a Symptom
Chest Pain
The most common causes of chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing (called pleuritic chest pain) are a pulled muscle in the chest wall, inflammation of the joints between the ribs and other bones in the chest area, a rib injury, irritation of the lining around the lung or heart and an infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Less commonly, pleuritic chest pain is caused by a partially collapsed lung called a pneumothorax or blood clots in the lung (pulmonary emboli).
The presence of shortness of breath in addition to pleuritic chest pain may indicate a problem that needs immediate medical attention, such as a pneumothorax or pulmonary emboli.
Do you have shortness of breath independent of the chest pain?
Yes or I am not sure.
No, I am not short of breath.
Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
Used with permission of StayWell.
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