Painful Breathing: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Pain when breathing can be a form of muscle pain or, conversely, organ pain. For example, it can be felt in the chest, behind the sternum, in the back or between the shoulder blades. It can be felt when taking a normal breath, but sometimes chest pain is felt only when taking a deep breath.

In the case of muscle pain, it does not have to be a serious health problem or disease. If it is organ pain inside the chest when breathing in, it may indicate a more serious lung disease or even an inflammatory disease originating from the abdominal cavity.

So, do not neglect this symptom.

Pain after exertion

Muscle pain occurs when there is a major strain or stretch of muscles, muscle groups and other soft structures located on the chest and between the ribs.

It can also involve the main respiratory muscle, i.e. the diaphragm.

In case of physical exertion, such pain can be observed temporarily.

It also occurs, for example, during a sprint or acute overstrain of the muscles of the diaphragm and ribs, for example, during physical activity in cold weather.

Pain transferred from the organs

While muscle pain is not long-lasting and will subside after a while, visceral pain when inhaling that is felt in the chest is a more serious symptom. Several vital organs are located in the chest cavity.

Occasionally, such pain occurs in people with asthma or in smokers. Irritation and pain is also provoked when dust is inhaled, which is manifested by coughing and pain.

Pleurisy and pain on inspiration

The inner wall of the chest is lined with a layer called the pleura. It is very sensitive to various irritations. Since there are a large number of nerves in its structure. In addition, it can also become inflamed, i.e. pleurisy. 

The latter is very painful, especially when inhaling. The pleura covers both the right and left lungs. Pain also occurs on the site of the inflammation. If the right side is inflamed, there is pain on the right when breathing in. In the case of left-sided pleurisy, the pain is felt on the left.

Another cause of pain may be, for example:

• pneumothorax
• mesothelioma
• lung embolism

Inflammation of the respiratory tract

Another example is inflammation of the airways, both the upper and lower airways. If the upper airways are inflamed, the pain is felt predominantly in the upper chest and sternum. It is aggravated mainly on inspiration.

Conversely, with lower respiratory tract inflammation, such as inflammation of the trachea and bronchi, the pain is felt in the middle and lower part of the chest. The pain can be burning, cutting, stinging, and is aggravated by a shortness of breath.

Cause is in the lungs

Pneumonia can be localized only to a particular site or side of the lung. As a result, lung pain is felt according to the site of pneumonia. It can be aggravated just by breathing in.  

However, many times the pain on inhalation is caused by tuberculosis. This is a serious disease that attacks the lungs first. If left untreated, it can reach other organs and tissues in the body, such as the brain and bones, through the bloodstream and is accompanied by coughing.

Among the very serious diseases is lung cancer. The main risk factors for its development are air pollution, smoking and genetic predisposition. In addition to impaired breathing, its symptoms include chest pain. Chest pain can be aggravated by breathing.

Of course, other symptoms for this disease should also be noted:

• cough, prolonged and its unsuccessful treatment with antibiotics
• coughing up blood
• increased body temperature
• weight loss
• lack of appetite
• fatigue

Other causes of pain on inspiration

This symptom may not only be the case in respiratory diseases. Because, the chest is very close to the abdominal wall and abdominal organs. Thus, pain of this type is often manifested, for example, by inflammation of the abdominal cavity, specifically the peritoneum.

Alternatively, pain under the ribs may also occur in peptic ulcer. Pain under the left ribs, aggravated on inspiration, may also be present in pancreatitis. Even pain from the colon may be associated with inspiration, i.e. breathing in.

If, when breathing in, there is pain in the kidney area, it may be a sign of a disease, namely inflammation or kidney stones. Symptoms of spinal disorders and problems, especially under the shoulder blades, are usually pain when breathing in. Radiating or shooting pain may be transferred towards the area below the ribs or to the whole chest, especially if it concerns the cervical and thoracic part of the spine.

Chest pain is also felt after chest trauma. Its intensity is the same in the case of a bruise, but in cases of one or several broken ribs. The pain is aggravated by a change in position, movement, and even movement of the chest when breathing. Even in the case of the aforementioned impingement, it persists for several weeks.

Another example is Tietze syndrome, i.e. an inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs (costal cartilage).