Localization Right

Very different diseases can be considered for right-sided chest pain. If the pain is more likely to be associated with the outer thorax and occurs independently of breathing, it may be shingles or muscular tension. Lateral chest pain also occurs when the intercostal nerves are irritated.

If the pain is more internal, it may be pneumonia or pleurisy. In many cases, this is accompanied by coughing, fatigue, breath-related pain or even fever. If a sudden shortness of breath occurs in addition to chest pain, it could be a pneumothorax (a lung collapses partially or completely) or a pulmonary embolism (one or more vessels in the lung are blocked by a plug and the subsequent part of the lung can no longer participate in breathing). In both cases, these are emergency situations that require rapid treatment.

Localization – Links

If chest pain is noticed rather on the left side, heart disease is often thought of. For example, a heart attack, although it often causes central pain, can cause pain on the left side of the chest almost as often. Very similar symptoms to a heart attack are triggered by an attack of angina pectoris.

Here too, there is a feeling of pressure or pain behind the breastbone or left-sided chest pain. These symptoms can also occur here, and may also be indicative of a heart attack. Pericarditis, i.e. an inflammation of the pericardium, can cause pain during breathing in particular, because the pericardium rubs against the chest from the inside.

If the pain increases over a longer period of time, it could also be a tumour. The symptoms of a tumour or pneumothorax described here, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, irritation of the muscles or nerves or shingles in right-sided chest pain, are of course not fixed on one side. These conditions can occur on either the right or left side. – Restlessness

Sweating or
Nausea

Chest pain and cough

Coughing is a protective and defensive reaction of the body. A strong exhalation can push fluids or foreign bodies up the airways and lungs. This happens either reflexively, for example when swallowing or breathing in cold air, but can also be controlled deliberately.

Coughing can be an indication of an acute or chronic illness. Especially if, in addition to coughing, there are other symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, weight loss, severe chest pain or if the cough lasts for more than 3 weeks, it is important to find the cause. Medication, allergies or nicotine consumption can also lead to coughing. An infection of the upper respiratory tract, swallowing or inhalation of foreign particles, asthma, but also cardiac decompensation can trigger an acute cough. In the case of chronic diseases, the cause may be bronchitis, obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a tumour.