Pleurisy: why breathing can hurt

 

Today I am writing about the lung condition of pleurisy.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura—the thin layers of tissue surrounding the lungs and lining the inside of the chest. When these layers become inflamed, they can rub together as you breathe, causing sharp chest pain.

The main symptom is a sharp or stabbing pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply, cough or sneeze. The pain may spread to your shoulder or back. You may also have a cough, fever or breathlessness, depending on the underlying cause.

Chest pain is not something to self-diagnose. Other conditions, including a blood clot in the lung or a heart problem, can cause similar symptoms.

I could not find any figures about how common it is.

How do you get this well it often follows a viral infection, but it can also be linked to pneumonia, autoimmune conditions or other illnesses. Finding the cause matters because treatment depends on what is triggering the inflammation.

How is it treated you wonder well a healthcare professional may examine your chest and arrange tests, such as a chest X-ray or blood tests. Treatment may involve pain relief and treatment of the underlying condition. Antibiotics are only useful when a bacterial infection is involved; they do not treat viruses.

Rest may help while you recover and of course take pain relief.

If you think you may have this seek prompt medical assessment for new or unexplained chest pain, even if it seems mild. Call your local emergency number for sudden or severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, or chest pain with sweating or pain spreading to your arm, jaw or back. Coughing up blood also needs urgent medical attention.