In the 'Symptoms - Respiratory' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about chest pain when breathing:
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If you experience chest pain, how is it affected by breathing?
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
| 1. |
"Don't know" |
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| 2. |
"The pain is unrelated to breathing" |
Chest pain unaffected by breathing |
A symptom |
| 3. |
"It is worse only when I breathe in deeply" |
Chest pain when breathing |
A symptom |
| 4. |
"It is worse only when I breathe out deeply" |
Chest pain when breathing |
A symptom |
| 5. |
"It is worse when I breathe in or out" |
Chest pain when breathing |
A symptom |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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5 |
A Potentially Urgent Medical Need |
The sensation of a "catch" at the end of a deep breath is clinically important as a symptom of pulmonary embolism (a clot to the lung). This requires immediate evaluation by a physician. |
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3 |
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5 |
Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis) |
Pain in the chest on deep breathing (pleurisy) is experienced by some 45% of lupus patients. |
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3 |
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5 |
Pleurisy |
The hallmark of pleurisy is severe chest pain that starts suddenly. Often strong or stabbing when taking a deep breath or coughing, the pain usually subsides or disappears between breaths, and it is usually felt on one side of the stomach area or lower chest. |
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Pneumonia |
The pain of lobar pneumonia often begins as a general sense of pressure and aching, usually localized to one side of the chest. The pain begins around the time of the chills heralding the onset of the infection. Later, as the process affects the pleura (tissues around the lung), pleuritic pain develops. Patients with atypical pneumonia or bronchopneumonia may complain of a central burning sensation provoked by coughing. |
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5 |
Pulmonary Embolism |
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5 |
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) |
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GLOSSARY
Embolism
Obstruction of a vessel by an abnormal body, usually a detached blood clot.
Lung (Lungs, Pulmonary)
Organ of the body, located in the chest cavity which is designed to bring oxygen from the air into the blood stream, while also expelling carbon dioxide and other waste gases out of the body. Pulmonary: Related to the lungs.
Pleurisy
An inflammation of the serous membranes that both surround the lungs and line the inside of the chest cavity; the two membranes supply fluid lubrication between the expanding and contracting lungs and the body. Most pleurisy (and usually the milder form) follows or accompanies bronchitis or late winter chest colds. It may be dry pleurisy (with few secretions and sharp sticking pain that prevents any but moderate inhalation), or acute or effusive pleurisy (with fever, coughing, and built up serous fluids -- usually dismissed as bronchitis). Some types are part of serious cardio-pulmonary disorders and/or chronic disease.
Pneumonia (Pneumonitis)
Inflammation, usually infectious, of the lungs. Unless the result of only moderate chemical or smoke irritation, it is a potentially life-threatening condition. There are so many defenses against an infection this deep in the body that the very presence of pneumonia signals a pathogen of great virulence or impaired or exhausted immunity, or all three. Pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lungs, from whatever cause. It may be concurrent with pneumonia or pleurisy.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Last updated: Feb 28, 2008
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