Right chest pain
Respiratory stabbing in the right side of the chest may also indicate a pneumothorax. Broken or bruised ribs can also cause pain on the right side. A pulmonary embolism located in the right lung and close to the pleura can cause right-sided stabbing.
Diagnosis for breast pricks
If a doctor is consulted because of severe chest pain or severe stinging in the chest, he or she will want to rule out life-threatening diseases as soon as possible. The diagnosis begins with the so-called anamnesis, i.e. questions about the current condition and the previous history. The physician interviews the patient in order to be able to narrow down the pain exactly.
To do this, he uses questions about the onset of the pain, its localization, the character of the ailment and factors that aggravate or improve the pain. In addition, previous illnesses and current medication are also asked. This is followed by a specific physical examination, including the so-called vital parameters (oxygen saturation of the blood, pulse, blood pressure).
In addition, the heart and lungs are monitored. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is then prepared, blood is taken and examined for irregularities. This can be followed by diagnostic imaging, for example an X-ray or a computer tomogram of the chest.
Accompanying symptoms of breast pricks
A frequent accompanying symptom of thoracic stabbing is shortness of breath. On the one hand, this can be caused by the fact that deep breathing is not possible or is avoided due to the stinging. This can cause an objective shortness of breath, i.e. combined with a drop in blood oxygen saturation.
A subjective shortness of breath is also possible: the inability to breathe deeply can cause panic. Inflammatory changes can cause fever. In the case of pericarditis, the filling of the heart chambers is disturbed, which increases the pressure in the veins.
The superficial veins in the neck (jugular veins) may be congested and thus protrude visibly on the surface. In addition, the heart rate increases because the heart can pump less blood per beat. If the breath-dependent stinging in the chest is associated with a burning sensation, the main cause is irritation of the esophagus or stomach.
If stomach acid rises up into the oesophagus, heartburn occurs. Heartburn can occur due to excessive acid production, caused by stress or diet. On the other hand, the sphincter muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach can be weak and cause the acid to rise.
If the burning sensation comes from the stomach, the symptoms may be more severe after large meals or when lying down. If, in addition to stabbing pain when breathing, a pulling in the chest is felt, a muscular cause for the pain is likely. If a muscle is damaged or overstrained, a reflex-like tension of the muscle occurs.
This tension of the muscle can be perceived as a kind of pulling. If, for example, an intercostal muscle is injured by trauma, the sharp pain when breathing may be accompanied by a pulling sensation. In women, a pulling in the breast may be related to the cycle-dependent changes in the mammary gland.
