Chest pain when coughing

If chest pain occurs during coughing, this is usually a sign of overloading of the respiratory muscles or of a lung disease, which should be clarified by a doctor. Constant coughing causes overstrain which is comparable to a sore muscle. Often smokers suffer from chest pain when coughing, because chronic bronchitis has developed and increased secretions have to be coughed up.

Non-smokers suffering from acute bronchitis can also show chest pain when coughing.A systemic malfunction of the secretion production, as in cystic fibrosis, also leads to chronic coughing and subsequent chest pain. Another cause can be prolonged exposure to exogenous factors such as fine dusts, silicates or asbestos fibers. These substances lead to an increased formation of defence cells in the lung tissue and thus to an overproduction of secretion that has to be coughed up.

Special coughing techniques (huffing), expectorant drugs (secretolytics), sedative drugs, inhalations and anti-inflammatory steroids are used to provide relief. However, chest pain when coughing can also occur after a rib fracture. In this case, X-ray evidence is necessary for clarification. You can read more about this topic in the article Breastbone pain.

Chest pain when breathing in

Chest pain is particularly painful and persistent after chest contusions (chest contusion). The pain intensifies with deep inspiration and can cause stabbing pain, especially when coughing. The cause is often a rib fracture, irritation of the periosteum (periosteum) at the ribs, blockage between vertebra and rib or a hematoma.

Chest pain when inhaled is often misinterpreted by those affected as a heart attack, as the pain can radiate over the entire thorax. With every movement of the lungs, inhalation and exhalation, the thorax also moves, since it forms the bony protection of the lungs. So that the lungs can expand during inhalation, the ribs are attached to the spine by small joints.

Vertebral blockages often occur under stress, through deep breathing with the wrong movement. Another possible cause may be pleurisy (inflammation of the costal pleura), since the pleura and the lungs slide against each other during inhalation. An inflammation in this area causes friction, which causes chest pain.

Untreated, pleuritis can lead to pleural effusion. In this case, a serous secretion forms between the two pleural leaves. In order to identify the cause of the chest pain when inhaling, the first step should be inspection (breathing movement), listening to the breathing sounds (auscultation) and percussion (tapping).

X-ray evidence can provide information in the event of a fracture, lung carcinoma or pleural effusion. In addition, a detection of inflammatory markers in the blood or a liquor extraction by lumbar puncture can provide information about an inflammatory disease. These articles may also be of interest to you: Physiotherapy for BWS Syndrome, Physiotherapy Pain on inspiration, Exercises against pain on inspiration