An attack of coughing is often accompanied by pain in the chest. The reasons for this state of affairs are many. Chest pain when coughing can be a sign of a severe inflammatory process occurring in the lungs or in the pleura. But diseases of the respiratory system are not the only cause of possible pain in this area. Also, such a symptom may indicate problems in the cardiovascular system, etc.
Reasons
Let's look at the most common causes of chest pain when coughing:
- SARS, seasonal flu, etc.
- Bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia.
- Pleurisy.
- Emphysema.
- Diphtheria.
- Epiglottitis.
- Asthma.
- Allergic reactions.
- Foreign body.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Rib fractures.
- Intercostal neuralgia.
- Tumors of various origins(benign and malignant).
- Tuberculosis.
- Cardiovascular disease.
Let's look at some of the diseases that cause this symptom in more detail.
Pleurisy
The pleura is a serous membrane that covers the surface of the lungs and the inner wall of the chest. Thus, between them there is a pleural cavity. When the pleura becomes inflamed, pleurisy occurs. It can be exudative, with accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, and dry.
The following symptoms are typical for pleurisy:
- Dry cough, chest pain, shortness of breath.
- Weakness and excessive sweating, usually at night.
- Temperature subfebrile, rarely rises to high numbers.
- If the patient lies down on the affected side, then pain is slightly reduced, since respiratory movements are limited.
With exudative pleurisy (in case of accumulation of fluid), shortness of breath increases. And if pleurisy turns into a purulent form, the temperature rises sharply.
Antibacterial therapy is used to treat this disease, and in the case of purulent contents of the pleural cavity, it is recommended to remove the fluid by pleural puncture.
Pneumonia
With this disease, chest pain when coughing is also characteristic. Especially if croupous pneumonia develops with damage to a lobe or segment of the lung. The disease usually begins with a sharp rise in temperature. She canreach up to 40 degrees. Pain in the chest also appears with a deep breath. Shortness of breath occurs in the patient from the first days.
The patient's condition worsens. In addition to the symptoms described - chest pain, cough, fever - red spots may appear that are visible on the face from the side of the lesion, as well as cyanosis (cyanosis) of the lips, if the cardiovascular system is involved in the pathological process. Heart palpitations and irregular heart rhythms may occur.
After a few days, phlegm begins to be coughed up, at first clear, then it becomes rust-colored.
Symptoms may worsen within two weeks. Then, with proper treatment, the crisis passes, and gradually the patient becomes better. Croupous pneumonia is a very serious disease. It is treated with antibiotics only. Sometimes several antibacterial drugs are used at once. Before the advent of antibiotics, this disease was very often fatal.
Cold diseases
Chest pain when coughing can be caused by colds caused by viruses or bacteria. These diseases include:
- ARVI.
- Flu.
- Whooping cough.
- Tracheitis.
- Bronchitis and others
The following symptoms are characteristic of these diseases: cough, chest pain, runny nose (with bronchitis and tracheitis it may not be). In addition, the patient is worried about weakness, chills, there is an increase in temperature, sometimes up to 38-39 degrees andabove. It is not uncommon for patients to report that they have a sensation as if someone is scratching their chest from the inside. With the start of treatment, these sensations gradually disappear. With bronchitis, the patient is often tormented by a strong cough, while chest pain intensifies.
Antiviral therapy is used for influenza and SARS. In the presence of a runny nose, vasoconstrictor drugs (drops, sprays) are used. Antibiotics may be used to treat bronchitis and tracheitis.
Intercostal neuralgia
This disease is characterized by pain in the chest, which can occur as sharp exacerbations in the form of shots. They are aggravated by deep inspiration and may be unbearable, according to sufferers.
With intercostal neuralgia, it is important not to confuse this disease with angina attacks or other heart diseases.
Chest injury
These include bruises and broken ribs. Pain sensations are sharply expressed, with any movements they intensify. It is important not to confuse them with pain in osteochondrosis. For this, a chest x-ray is taken. Similar symptoms sometimes give and injuries of the shoulder joint (subluxations, dislocations, fractures).
In case of fractures of the lungs or other injuries (knife or gunshot wounds, etc.) of the chest, pneumothorax can sometimes occur - this is the penetration of air into the pleural space around the lungs, which compresses the lung and prevents it from expanding when inhaled. This condition usually requires surgery.
Sometimes a small spontaneous pneumothorax can occur, it resolves on its own and does not require treatment.
Lung cancer
In this tumor process, uncontrolled growth of pathological cells in the tissues of the lung occurs. The process can also affect nearby organs. It is important to identify the pathology as soon as possible and take urgent measures. Therefore, all citizens are advised to undergo a fluorography or X-ray examination of the lungs at least once a year.
Statistics show that of all cases of lung cancer, 85% of patients are smokers. The remaining 15% are patients with aggravated heredity, living in ecologically unfavorable areas, working in hazardous industries, etc.
Pain in the chest with lung cancer tingling, sharp. They can encircle the entire chest or be located only on one side, give to the neck, arm, shoulder blade. If the process has gone far, and metastases penetrate into the spine or ribs, then the patient suffers from very strong, literally unbearable pain in the chest area, which intensifies with any movement.
When these symptoms occur, you need to identify the cause of discomfort and pain. To do this, you need to seek medical help. Only a specialist will establish their true cause and prescribe the right treatment.
