Why does the chest on the left hurt when coughing. Why does the chest hurt when coughing and what should I do? Do I need to see a doctor and which one?

Chest pain when coughing makes you think of the darkest. Crayfish? Pneumonia? Am I falling apart? How much do I have left? Well, sometimes the answers to these questions are disappointing, although most often the problem is not as bad as it seems. And sometimes such pain is generally not associated with the lungs or heart.

Colds

Description
Chest pain when coughing can be caused by two main reasons: tracheitis and overstressed diaphragm. In the first case, the trachea hurts, in the second, the diaphragm. Both types of pain go away on their own with a cold.
Cough, fever
With tracheitis, the temperature rises slightly (up to more than 37 degrees), the cough is strong, without sputum, it rolls in long bouts.

When the diaphragm is tense, the patient has a history of long bouts of severe coughing, with a temperature of 37-40, with or without sputum.

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Irina Martynova. Graduated from the Voronezh State Medical University. N.N. Burdenko. Clinical intern and neurologist of BUZ VO \"Moscow Polyclinic\".

Breathing is usually difficult due to these same bouts of coughing.

The nature of the pain
With tracheitis - intense, cutting pain in the throat and in the back of the sternum, which increases with movement. It hurts during a cough, sometimes after it.

If the muscles of the diaphragm are tired of the tension caused by coughing, then pain sensations occur under the lungs, during coughing they are acute, in between - aching.
Additional symptoms
Any symptoms characteristic of an acute respiratory illness.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist. Usually, anamnesis and tests are sufficient for the diagnosis of ARI.
Treatment
Depends on the disease. Antibiotics, antivirals, vitamins, bed rest. Sometimes hospitalization is required.

Pain will pass as soon as the cause of the cough is removed.

Cardiovascular diseases

Description
Cough in diseases of the cardiovascular system is associated with the fact that the heart does not work properly - it does not have time to pump blood from the pulmonary circulation. As a result, too much blood remains near the lungs, and it gets inside.
Cough, fever
With this type of cough, the temperature does not rise.

The cough may be dry or with a small amount of bloody sputum, sometimes foam.

The nature of the pain
The pain is bursting, the patient does not have enough oxygen. Sometimes there is a pressing pain behind the sternum on the left.
Additional symptoms
Cough, like pain, occurs after physical exertion. Only in the most advanced cases do symptoms occur at rest - when the patient lies on his back.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist, cardiologist.

The main method will be an ECG and X-ray.

Treatment
Depends on the pathology causing the cough.

Pleurisy

Description
Pleurisy - inflammation of the lining surrounding the lungs.
Cough, fever
The temperature rises to 37-38 degrees.

The cough is dry and barking, does not go away.
The nature of the pain
At rest, pain is aching, felt by all the lungs.

At the height of inhalation and when coughing, pain sensations are sharp, strong, “shooting through”.

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Additional symptoms
Breathing is weak, there is a lack of oxygen and increased fatigue, wheezing is heard.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist. Methods: anamnesis, blood and urine tests, percussion, listening, X-ray, if necessary - puncture.
Treatment
Treatment is to eliminate the causes of pleurisy. Since it is most often caused by infectious diseases, antibiotics are the most common treatment.

Pneumonia

Description

Pneumonia - is a common name for many types of lung inflammation. It is mainly caused by bacteria and fungi.

It has a complex course, if left untreated, it can lead to death.

Cough, fever
The temperature rises sharply to 39-40 degrees, the patient begins to pursue a strong cough with a large amount of purulent sputum.
The nature of the pain
The pain is aching, strong, the location depends on the localization of the focus of pneumonia. When coughing, the pain intensifies.
Additional symptoms
The pain decreases or subsides if you lie on the side of the diseased lung or press the place of pain with your hand.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist. Methods: anamnesis, tests, culture, X-ray, blood gas analysis.
Treatment
First of all, it is antibacterial.

Additional methods - drugs to relieve cough, vitamins.

Acute tracheitis

Description
Tracheitis - inflammation of the trachea caused by viral or bacterial pathogens. Children are more susceptible to this disease than adults.
Cough, fever
The temperature usually rises to 37.5-38 degrees in adults, in a child - up to 39.

Cough - strong, hacking, without sputum. Feels tingly. As the disease progresses, “normal” sputum appears.

The nature of the pain
Pain is located in the upper chest, itchy and aching. During bouts of coughing, the pain can become sharp and burning, after an attack, it returns to its “original position”.
Additional symptoms
Symptoms are aggravated on inspiration, with a sharp change in air temperature.
Who diagnoses and how?
A therapist who performs a routine clinical examination.
Treatment
Antibiotics, antiviral, antipyretic if necessary.

Renal colic

Description
Renal colic - most common symptom of kidney disease.

Caused by impaired conduction of the urinary tract.

Cough, fever
Colic by itself does not lead to coughing. A slight increase in temperature is possible.
The nature of the pain
The pain spreads through the abdomen, then radiates to the thoracic region. It has a strong, sharp, stabbing character, aggravated by inhalation, it hurts when coughing.
Additional symptoms
Increased urination, lack of apparent causes, Paroxysmal nature of pain.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist or nephrologist.

Methods: differential diagnosis.

Treatment
Treatment is inpatient, mostly surgical.

Intercostal neuralgia


Description

This condition occurs when a patient, for some reason (trauma, displacement of internal organs) pinched nerves lying between the ribs.
Cough, fever
Temperature and cough are not provoked by neuralgia.
The nature of the pain
Pain sensations - sharp, "nervous", can either be at one point or spread throughout the chest. When coughing, the pain "shoots" along the entire pinched nerve.

It is frankly painful for the patient to cough, liquid fire spreads in the sternum.

Additional symptoms
There were chest injuries prior to the onset of pain.
Who diagnoses and how?
Traumatologist, surgeon, neurologist. Methods: anamnesis, picture.
Treatment
Depends on the cause of neuralgia, most often - medications and exercise therapy.

In difficult cases, surgery is indicated.

chest injury

Description
Chest concussion, bruises, broken ribs.
Cough, fever
Not provoked.
The nature of the pain
For a bruise - dull, aching. For concussion - “generalized”, chest pain, pain of low or medium intensity. For a fracture - sharp, strong, immobilizing.
Additional symptoms
Visible hematomas. Concussion may cause disorientation and vomiting.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist, traumatologist, surgeon. Usually just taking a picture is enough.
Treatment
Most often conservative - bed rest and medicines.

The operation is prescribed only in extreme and directly life-threatening cases.

Lungs' cancer

Description
Cancer develops when body cells begin to divide uncontrollably, absorbing neighboring tissues. In the initial stages, the prognosis is relatively favorable; in the final stages, there is a high probability of death.
Cough, fever
The temperature remains normal or rises slightly. The cough depends on the location and size of the tumor: it may be severe, dry, or bloody, or it may persist as a small cough.
The nature of the pain
The pain is located in the same place as the tumor. It can be both point and girdle. Usually - aching, burning or pressing.

When coughing, the pain intensifies.

Additional symptoms
Depends on the type and size of the tumor.
Who diagnoses and how?
An oncologist deals with cancerous tumors. Methods: MRI, x-ray, biopsy, studies with contrast, tests.
Treatment
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery to remove.

Short interpleural ligament

Description
The interpleural ligament connects the diaphragm and lungs.

With inflammation, it shortens, and the patient begins to experience constant bouts of coughing.

Cough, fever
The temperature has risen to 37 degrees. The cough is not strong, but constant, aggravated by physical exertion and by talking.
The nature of the pain
When running or other exertion, there is a stabbing or cutting pain in the lower part of the chest, on the left or right. In this state, the cough gives pain in the sternum.
Additional symptoms
Great fatigue, pressing feeling in the lower part of the chest.
Who diagnoses and how?
Therapist.

You can diagnose with the help of analyzes and a snapshot.

Treatment
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Description

Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the joints are damaged in one way or another. In the vast majority of cases, osteochondrosis is understood as a disease of the spine, in which the vertebrae suffer.
Cough, fever
Osteochondrosis does not cause cough or fever.
The nature of the pain
The pain is localized in the spine, can "give" to the arms or legs. The nature of the pain is dull, aching or burning. The back can hurt both day and night. Increases with exertion, weakens slightly at rest.

If the middle section of the spine is affected, then when coughing, it is possible to “pierce” back pain.

Additional symptoms
Reduced flexibility of the back, curvature of the spine.
Who diagnoses and how?
This disease should be dealt with by an orthopedist, but in our reality, a surgeon usually deals with it. Methods: CT, MRI, X-ray.
Treatment
Depends on the stage, includes medications, exercise therapy, limiting stress and a healthy lifestyle. In the worst case, surgery may be required.

When should you go to the doctor?

You need to go to the doctor anyway. None of the causes will go away by itself, so the sooner treatment begins, the sooner chest pain disappears when coughing.

Self-medication is not the best choice, because you can aggravate the situation.

First aid for pain

What if the cough is very strong? You can use syrups like licorice root and cough drops. If the pain is not only when coughing, you can drink non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen).

Cough with chest pain is a symptom of a complex disease that is not very easy to diagnose.

If you are faced with it, contact the clinic, as the lack of treatment can have a very bad effect on later life.

Often, coughing fits, both in a child and in an adult, are accompanied by pain in the chest area. Such symptoms often indicate the presence of inflammation in the pleura or in the lungs, but respiratory diseases are not the only cause of this condition. Often, chest pain when coughing is one of the symptoms of a disease of a completely different nature.

Why does pain occur when coughing? The causes of these symptoms (in the middle, on the left or on the right side of the chest) are very different. The main states are:

  • colds;
  • cardiovascular disease and heart failure;
  • allergy;
  • oncological diseases;
  • chronic and acute bronchitis;
  • asthma;
  • epiglottitis;
  • pneumonia;
  • tracheitis;
  • pleurisy.

It is necessary to consider in more detail certain diseases that are characterized not only by chest pain when coughing, but also by other additional symptoms. From them and the localization of pain, it is sometimes possible to determine why such unpleasant sensations arise.

Colds

If chest pains appear due to a cold that has developed against the background of exposure to bacteria or viruses, then most likely the doctor will make the patient one of these diagnoses:

  1. SARS;
  2. tracheitis;
  3. whooping cough;
  4. seasonal flu;
  5. swine flu.

These conditions are characterized by the following symptoms:

  • dry cough that does not pass for a long time and is accompanied by pain;
  • fever and chills;
  • sore throat;
  • severe fatigue.

With these diseases, chest pains disappear when the virus is eliminated.

Cardiovascular diseases

Basically, discomfort in the chest area when coughing, which are caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system, are symptoms of one of the following conditions:

  1. heart failure;
  2. violations of the valvular apparatus;
  3. cardiac ischemia;
  4. heart disease.

Chest pain when coughing in such cases is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • shortness of breath and lack of air;
  • palpitations during coughing fits;
  • discharge, often in the form of sputum with blood.

With these pathologies, pain in the chest is tingling.

It should be noted that only an experienced cardiologist is able to make an accurate diagnosis and offer an effective method of treatment.

Pleurisy

The inside of the chest and lungs are covered by a membrane called the pleura. When it becomes inflamed, a pathology such as pleurisy occurs, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • dry cough;
  • excessive sweating, particularly during sleep;
  • dyspnea;
  • pain in the chest area.

An important symptom of pleurisy is also a decrease in pain when turning the patient to the affected side. Thus, it limits the respiratory movements, which relieves pain.

Pneumonia

The main symptom of the disease is a strong increase in temperature from the very first days. Pain during coughing is also accompanied by sputum, which gradually acquires a rusty hue. There may be red spots on the face and a rapid heartbeat. As a rule, the symptoms of pneumonia increase for two weeks, after which, with proper treatment, the crisis will pass.

Acute tracheitis

Such a disease can appear both independently and as a complication of a respiratory tract infection. It is accompanied by fever, dry cough and nasal congestion. Pain during coughing is combined with a burning sensation in the chest.

Renal colic

This pathology is accompanied by both back pain and pain in the right side of the chest when coughing. This disease is provoked by disorders in the functioning of the kidneys and urinary tract. The main symptoms are the following conditions:

  • pain in the abdomen;
  • pain in the stomach;
  • pain in the right forearm or right under the shoulder blade.

Intercostal neuralgia

With this disease, the pain that accompanies a cough is often simply unbearable and resembles shots in the chest. During deep breaths, they tend to noticeably increase.

It is important to immediately be examined by a doctor, since this disease is similar in its symptoms to angina attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

chest injury

This list includes primarily fractures and bruises of the ribs. Pain during coughing can be on the right or left (depending on the affected side) and pronounced. Pain is aggravated not only during coughing, but also with any movement.

It is necessary not to confuse these symptoms with unpleasant sensations in osteochondrosis. Therefore, in such situations, you should undergo a chest x-ray before starting to treat the disease.

With various chest injuries, pneumothorax can occur, which is characterized by the penetration of air into the peripulmonary space and squeezing the lung. The main signs of this disease can be called excruciating pain on the left or right side of the chest, which intensify during coughing attacks.

Lungs' cancer

Chest pain when coughing can also be triggered by a tumor process, in which there is an increase in metastases inside the lung. Pain in such cases is sharp and tingling. They occur in the middle of the chest or on one side, often give into the arm, neck or shoulder blade.

According to statistics, 85% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers.

Short interpleural ligament

Everyone has an interpleural ligament in the bronchial region, which serves to stabilize the functioning of the respiratory system. It can be short due to congenital pathology or inflammation of the pleura. In such cases, there is pain in the chest when coughing and burning in this area.

Osteochondrosis

This disease occurs against the background of various posture disorders and injuries. As you know, it is useless to treat it, but doctors are able to alleviate the condition by eliminating some of its symptoms in the form of pain when coughing and sudden movements.

Diagnosis of chest pain

To identify the cause of pain during a cough, the doctor can use the following diagnostic methods:

  • complete blood count;
  • blood test for viruses and bacteria;
  • sputum culture;
  • radiography of the lungs in various projections;
  • tuberculin test.

In cases of suspicion of a malignant tumor, a histological examination is necessary, for which a puncture of the lung tissue is required.

With SARS and symptoms of respiratory diseases, both in a child and in an adult patient, a detailed x-ray of the lungs, sputum analysis and often a general blood test should be performed to identify the degree of danger of inflammatory processes in the respiratory system.

Treatment

Of course, before treating the pain itself during coughing fits, it is necessary to identify its underlying cause. Often, such symptoms can be relieved with a warming ointment, which should be applied to the affected area and rubbed thoroughly into the skin.

With a strong cough, you can also use antitussive drugs, which significantly reduce the number of attacks and, therefore, reduce pain.

When pain when coughing is provoked by a bacterial or viral infection, the doctor usually prescribes antibacterial and antiviral drugs that effectively cope with diseases of this nature. However, if the child has symptoms, it is better not to abuse the drugs and give him plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially drinks with a weak alkaline reaction.

If pain occurs with a dry cough without sputum, self-medication should not be done either. Such signs may indicate the presence of a serious illness that requires the help of a specialist.

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons for the occurrence of chest pain during a cough. And for effective treatment, first of all, an accurate diagnosis is needed, which can only be made by an experienced doctor.

Cough does not pose a serious threat to human life, but can serve as an indicator of a complex disease. What to do if it hurts in the chest when coughing?

The process of coughing

Cough itself is a protective function of the body, which is activated when irritants enter the cough receptors - pungent odors, viruses, bacteria, foreign bodies, dust, animal hair and other things. During the act of coughing, the human brain receives a signal from irritated receptors and sends a message to the muscles of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, back, neck and abdominal cavity to go into active action. The muscles contract, there is a short deep breath, narrowing of the trachea and a sharp quick exhalation of the air flow, with which the irritant that caused the cough should come out.

What can cause pain?

The synchronous interaction of such a large number of muscles can provoke small contractions in related areas of the body. And if they have a pathology, then a person has a chest pain after coughing. However, if the pain is one-time and does not recur, then there is most likely nothing to worry about, since a single spasm can be caused by incorrect body position, weight lifting, and active sports.

A possible etiology why the chest hurts when coughing can be diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, spine, various neuralgia, tumor processes and neoplasms of the chest, including in the mammary glands in women, inflammatory processes in the muscles .

Determining the etiology of pain

When, with a strong cough, the chest hurts for more than 5 days (7 days after a cold and SARS), or the pain is very sharp, stabbing, unbearable, you should immediately consult a specialist to exclude dangerous diseases that pose a threat to life.

Doctors prescribe diagnostic procedures for the heart muscle and blood vessels, then the lungs and stomach and other internal organs in the chest area for neoplasms.

After a thorough study of the functional state of the internal organs, specialists will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a comprehensive treatment for the pathology. How to treat a patient who has a chest pain from coughing for a long time, the doctor must definitely decide, self-medication can lead to negative health consequences. The most positive and rapid results are obtained in the treatment of early stages and initial forms of diseases.

Attention! With great concern, you should treat the situation if the child has a chest pain when coughing - immediately contact the pediatrician.

Clinical analyzes of biomaterials

At the first visit to a general practitioner or family doctor, a specialist prescribes a clinical and detailed biochemical blood test. We need indicators such as expanded leukocyte formula, bilirubin, ALT, AST, antistreptolysin O, rheumatoid factor; urinalysis and cardiac electrocardiography. After receiving the results, the doctor will have a working hypothesis and the direction of further procedures for making a diagnosis.

Diagnostics of the state of the heart

Suspecting heart problems (when it hurts under the right chest when coughing), the cardiologist conducts an ultrasound examination of the heart and a “stress test” - a cardiogram of the heart after a sports load in the form of running on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike, and compares the results with the lines of the cardiogram at rest . By checking the human heart for the condition of the vessels, valves, wall thickness and volume of the cavities, as well as the response to cardio loads, one can say with confidence whether the pain is related to the heart and whether the patient has anything to worry about.

Respiratory examination

If it hurts when coughing under the left breast (or in both), and heart tests showed a normal state, pulmonologists take up the studies. X-ray of the lungs is prescribed with the study of the pattern of lung tissue, vessels and ducts. Often, these studies end with a diagnosis of bronchospasm after an illness with severe coughing attacks. In such cases, clinic patients complain that the cough has passed, and the chest hurts. After the appointment of antispasmodics and sometimes bronchodilators, the pain disappears within a few days. Untreated bronchitis and an obstructive cough can also cause mild, burning pain in the chest when coughing. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalations with bronchodilators and the use of mucolytic agents in combination.

The situation is worse if at any slightest cough under the chest it hurts so much that a person cannot swallow and breathe, and wheezing and shortness of breath accompany inhalation and exhalation. Another alarming symptom is the release of blood with sputum when coughing, and at the same time it hurts very much in the chest. This symptom is often characteristic of tuberculosis and requires early diagnosis by doctors. In such cases, after the results of radiography and according to indications, pulmonologists prescribe a bacteriological examination of mucus (smear from the throat) with the determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics, bronchoscopy, less often spirometry and plethysmography. Bronchoscopy allows the doctor to see the condition of the bronchi, examine the trachea and ducts for physiological changes and the presence of neoplasms, take biological material to study the condition of the mucosa and sputum clots.

On a note! In medical practice, there are cases when allergic swelling of the bronchial mucosa during coughing caused severe acute pain in the chest area, and less than an hour after taking antihistamines, the pain went away.

The study of the state of the stomach

A coughing act that causes a sharp sharp pain in the center of the chest under the ribs (closer to the solar plexus) may be a symptom of an exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the intestine and duodenum.

People who suffer from chronic gastric reflux (spitting up part of the food they eat) often experience chest pain when they cough. Reflux itself is the norm of the digestive process in children, in adults it is more common with spasms of the pharynx with psychosomatics and anorexia and is treated by a psychotherapist using ataractic medications.

Breast diseases in women

Pain in the chest in women when coughing can be observed in the initial stages of cancer or the presence of neoplasms. If you suspect symptoms of breast disease, palpate the chest and armpits for nodules and lumps. If detected, contact a gynecologist or mammologist to prescribe examinations (ultrasound of the breast, mammography)

neuralgia

Prolonged exposure to stressful situations and mental stress in combination with a long stay in an unchanged sitting position, disruption of sleep and wakefulness, unbalanced nutrition and oxygen starvation lead to neuralgic consequences:

  • damage to individual nerves;
  • pinching of the nerve plexuses and roots;
  • spasm of the chest muscles.

A normal cough act, involving a certain group of muscles, provokes an increase in the tone of neighboring muscles and nerve endings - this causes pain. At the same time, it hurts inside the chest under the right chest from coughing, it is often impossible to take a sharp breath. The condition is similar to the pain of a heart attack, intercostal colic. But with neuralgia, there are no violations of the heart, and after an echo and electrocardiogram, the patient is sent to a neurologist. Therapy of such diseases of the nervous system is as follows:

  • the appointment of B vitamins and magnesium (for example, Neuromultivit, Magnesium B6, Magnelis B6);
  • the appointment of drugs based on the plant component of ginkgo biloba, which stimulates the work of the central nervous system;
  • courses of massage, reflexology to relieve hypertonicity of the muscles (in more severe cases - sessions of osteopathy);
  • local pain relief by rubbing in ointments and gels based on NSAIDs (indomethacin, diclofenac, nimesulide);
  • normalization of the mode of work and rest, a balanced diet.

Traumatology and Neurosurgery

Pain in the chest when coughing, playing sports, sudden movements can sometimes be associated with previous injuries of the spine or ribs, as well as with an inflammatory process in the paravertebral tissues. Ointments from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethocin, diclofenac, nimesulide) help to quickly reduce pain and spasms. This group of medicines is also available in the form of tablets, rectal suppositories. But in the presence of diseases of the digestive tract, you should refrain from taking them without consulting a doctor. Warm compresses are also not recommended. Thermal exposure provokes the growth of neoplasm cells and the progression of the inflammatory process, and this can lead to serious complications.

Important! If the pain does not go away for more than 2 months after the injury or turns into pain in the legs and arms, then clinical studies are needed.

A number of serious diseases of the vertebrae that cause pain are not diagnosed on x-rays. For example, hemangioma of the vertebral body is a genetic disease that requires urgent surgical treatment in case of exacerbation and its increase in size. To obtain a complete picture of the state of the bone tissue, the method of computer or magnetic resonance imaging is used.

A debilitating dry cough accompanied by chest pain is a symptom of many dangerous health problems. Even if they arose due to the usual SARS or flu, such symptoms are a clear reason to seek medical advice. Most often, this is a sign of inflammation of the airways caused by an infection. In rare cases, this can be a sign of serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as well as the nervous system. Most often, pain when coughing is localized to the left or right in the chest. It can be sharp and stabbing, or vice versa blunt, “pulling”.

Causes of cough in the sternum and pain in the chest in the middle

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of these symptoms. If the pain when coughing is accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, you need to seek help immediately.

With a viral infection, it is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Often pain in the sternum is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, sometimes a headache or pain in the hands. In this case, the pain lasts only a few seconds and disappears after a coughing fit. The most dangerous thing is if there is a dry cough, accompanied by pain in the sternum, but there is no high temperature. This can be a sign of serious problems such as:

  • pleurisy;
  • tuberculosis;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • foreign body in the airways;
  • pulmonary embolism;
  • intercostal neuralgia;
  • chronic lung diseases;
  • renal colic;
  • chest injury;
  • lungs' cancer;
  • diphtheria.

It can also be a chronic "" caused by tobacco smoke. Another important cause is allergic rhinitis, which causes irritation of the respiratory tract.

If a dry cough accompanied by pain in the sternum does not go away longer than 5 days, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Additional symptoms - fever, sore throat, runny nose and headache

A doctor is needed urgently if symptoms such as:

  • a sharp rise in temperature, especially above 38 C and a severe headache;
  • severe weakness, sweating;
  • sore throat;
  • coughing fits are getting worse;
  • difficulty inhaling or exhaling;
  • secretion of mucus with blood;
  • pain in the side;
  • severe blanching of the face.

These symptoms can mean a threat to life. Therefore, you need to seek help immediately by calling an ambulance.

If a child develops these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

If a dry cough is accompanied by moderate pain and a slight increase in temperature in the evening, this may be a sign of diseases such as:

  • tracheitis;
  • epiglottitis;
  • bronchitis;
  • pneumonia;
  • pleurisy.

All these conditions are often accompanied by severe weakness and fatigue. A slight increase in temperature in this case occurs in the late afternoon.

Each disease causes a characteristic localization of pain. This will make it easier for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

In order to determine the exact cause of the problems, the doctor may prescribe the following types of studies:

  • clinical blood test;
  • detailed radiograph of the lungs;
  • tuberculin test;
  • sputum examination;
  • analysis for presence;
  • analysis for bacterial infection.

A detailed blood test allows you to determine the prevalence and duration of the inflammatory process.

Possible complications of a symptom that has arisen in the chest

Even if the coughing fits and pain in the sternum are minor, and all this is accompanied by a normal temperature, you should not “drag out” with a visit to the doctor. Even if they are caused by a common viral infection, untimely treatment can lead to serious problems such as:

  • acute tracheitis;
  • bilateral pneumonia;
  • dry pleurisy;
  • dry pericarditis.

With untimely treatment, the cough can become chronic. In this case, it is difficult to treat. Full recovery can take up to 1 month.

The transition of pulmonary diseases into a chronic form can lead to serious problems in the future.

Another possible complication of an advanced inflammatory process in the airways or lungs is fibrosis. It occurs due to the formation of scar tissue in the lungs. This leads to a decrease in lung elasticity and breathing problems. Depending on the severity of the disease, fibrosis can be unilateral, bilateral or focal.

Prevention of pulmonary fibrosis is the timely treatment of infectious diseases that cause inflammation.

Treatment - what medications will help suppress the symptom

The specific method of treating symptoms such as dry cough, accompanied by pain in the sternum, directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. Even if the cause of the disease is a common viral infection, such as seasonal flu, its improper treatment can lead to serious complications. Only a doctor should prescribe treatment for a dry cough, accompanied by even slight pain in the chest.

The main task in the treatment of infectious diseases of the respiratory tract is to make a dry cough moist and productive. This will make it easier for the sputum to pass away, preventing it from stagnation in the lungs.

In order for recovery to become quick, it is important to create the right conditions for the body to do so. First of all, the air in the room should be cool and humid. The air temperature should not be higher than 20 - 22 C °, and the optimum humidity should not be less than 60%. This will help keep the mucus from drying out in the airways.

Daily wet cleaning of the house reduces the amount of dust particles in the air. This will help reduce dry cough due to respiratory irritation.

When treating a dry cough, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. This contributes to the effective moistening of the mucosa and liquefaction of sputum. Thinner sputum is much easier to cough up, so it does not stagnate in the lungs. Plentiful warm drink is an important element of treatment even with an unproductive dry cough. This helps to moisturize the mucosa and replenish fluid losses due to elevated temperature in time.

Scheme for the selection of methods of drug treatment of diseases with a cough symptom

How to get rid of pain in the lungs and a strong cough with medication

A common cause of such symptoms is muscle strain after serious physical exertion. In this case, you should seek the help of a surgeon. He will prescribe a warming ointment that reduces muscle pain. If a dry cough is caused by an inflammatory process in the airways, it is important to make it productive.

Do not use any cough medicines on your own, as this can worsen the situation.

Most often, a dry cough is caused by an inflammatory process in the airways, it is important to make it productive. For this, expectorants or combined preparations are used that contribute to easy sputum discharge.

Treatment with expectorants should be accompanied by plenty of fluids. This will not thicken the sputum formed in the bronchi.

If a dry cough is caused by non-communicable diseases such as tuberculosis or asthma, it becomes unproductive. In this case, they are very exhausting, making it difficult to eat and sleep. To alleviate the condition, the doctor will prescribe special drugs that block the cough reflex.

In no case should you use cough medicines for self-medication or give them to children. Not every cough is harmful, which means that only a doctor can prescribe adequate treatment.

Folk remedies

It is possible to use folk remedies for the treatment of dry cough accompanied by pain only if these symptoms are caused by a viral infection. They can serve as an excellent addition to medical treatment prescribed by a specialist. It is best if it is a plentiful warm drink that relieves a dry cough.

Any folk remedies for such symptoms can be used only after consulting with your doctor.

Homemade herbal tea not only effectively moisturizes the mucous membrane, but also improves well-being. The best options for replenishing body fluids may be:

  • Tea with lemon;
  • raspberry tea;
  • dried fruits compote;
  • berry juice;
  • herbal tea.

An excellent drink for a dry cough can be warmed juice from fruits or berries: orange, apple, currant, grape. This is an excellent source of vitamins for a weakened body.

Do not use aggressive substances, such as mustard, as a warming agent. This can significantly worsen the condition.

Video

This video will tell you about the causes of coughing.

Pain and its causes in alphabetical order:

chest pain when coughing

Chest pain on coughing and inhaling or other breathing movements usually points to the pleura and pericardium or mediastinum as a possible source of pain, although chest wall pain is also likely influenced by breathing movements and has nothing to do with heart disease. Most often, pain is localized in the left or right side and can be either dull or sharp.

What diseases cause chest pain when coughing:

The main causes of chest pain when coughing:

1. Pain in the chest when coughing and inhaling occurs due to inflammation of the membrane lining the chest cavity from the inside and covering the lungs. Dry pleurisy can occur with various diseases, but most often with pneumonia.
Pain in dry pleurisy decreases in the position on the affected side. Restriction of respiratory mobility of the corresponding half of a thorax is noticeable; with unchanged percussion sound, weakened breathing can be heard due to the sparing of the affected side by the patient, the noise of pleural friction. Body temperature is often subfebrile, there may be chills, night sweats, weakness.

2. Restriction of chest movement or chest pain when coughing, inhaling and exhaling with shallow breathing is observed with functional disorders of the rib cage or thoracic spine (limited mobility), pleural tumors, pericarditis.

3. With dry pericarditis, chest pain increases with coughing, inhalation and movement, so the depth of breathing decreases, which exacerbates shortness of breath. The intensity of pain during inhalation varies from mild to severe.

4. With shortening of the interpleural ligament, there is a constant coughing, aggravated by talking, taking a deep breath, physical activity, stabbing pains in the chest when coughing, running.
The interpleural ligament is formed from the fusion of the visceral and parietal pleural layers of the lung root region. Further, descending caudally along the medial edge of the lungs, this ligament branches in the tendon part of the diaphragm and its legs. The function is to provide springy resistance during caudal displacement of the diaphragm. In the presence of an inflammatory process, the ligaments shorten and limit caudal displacement

5. With intercostal neuralgia along the intercostal spaces, there are sharp “shooting” pains in the chest, sharply aggravated by coughing and inhaling.

6. With renal colic, pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and in the epigastric region and then spreads throughout the abdomen. The pain radiates under the right shoulder blade, to the right shoulder, increases with coughing and inhalation, as well as with palpation of the gallbladder area. There is local pain with pressure in the zone X-XII of the thoracic vertebrae 2-3 transverse fingers to the right of the spinous islets.

7. From a blow or compression of the chest, a fracture of the ribs can occur. With such damage, a person feels a sharp pain in the chest when coughing and inhaling.

9. Chest pain when coughing and inhaling may also indicate the presence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

10. Chest pain that occurs against the background of a cold (flu, SARS) and is accompanied by a dry, obsessive cough, manifested by a sensation of scratching behind the sternum, aggravated by coughing, is a sign of tracheitis - inflammation of the trachea (breathing tube connecting the larynx to the bronchi). Such sensations pass on their own along with the cold itself. In addition, with a long, frequent, "hot" cough, pain occurs in the lower parts of the chest, at the level of the lower ribs. It is due to the fact that coughing is carried out mainly due to the contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm. Like any other muscle, the diaphragm gets tired during prolonged work and pain occurs with each sharp contraction. This pain also goes away after the cold and cough are over.

11. In lung cancer, the nature of the pain is different: acute, stabbing, girdle, aggravated by coughing, breathing. The pain can cover a certain area or half of the chest, it can radiate to the arms, neck, stomach, etc. The pain becomes especially intense and painful when the tumor grows into the ribs, spine.

13. Chest pains in pneumothorax are often unbearable, but sometimes they are moderate and, like other pleural pains, are aggravated by coughing and movements. Sometimes spontaneous pneumothorax can occur even without pain.

Which doctor should I contact if there is chest pain when coughing:

Do you experience chest pain when you cough? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can book an appointment with a doctor Eurolaboratory always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, study the external signs and help identify the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide the necessary assistance. you also can call a doctor at home. Clinic Eurolaboratory open for you around the clock.

How to contact the clinic:
Phone of our clinic in Kyiv: (+38 044) 206-20-00 (multichannel). The secretary of the clinic will select a convenient day and hour for you to visit the doctor. Our coordinates and directions are indicated. Look in more detail about all the services of the clinic on her.

(+38 044) 206-20-00

If you have previously performed any research, be sure to take their results to a consultation with a doctor. If the studies have not been completed, we will do everything necessary in our clinic or with our colleagues in other clinics.

Do you have chest pain when you cough? You need to be very careful about your overall health. People don't pay enough attention disease symptoms and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called disease symptoms. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you just need to several times a year be examined by a doctor not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the body as a whole.

If you want to ask a doctor a question, use the online consultation section, perhaps you will find answers to your questions there and read self care tips. If you are interested in reviews about clinics and doctors, try to find the information you need on. Also register on the medical portal Eurolaboratory to be constantly up to date with the latest news and information updates on the site, which will be automatically sent to you by mail.

The symptom map is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and how to treat it, contact your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of the information posted on the portal.

If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and types of pain, or you have any other questions and suggestions - write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

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