Why Does Your Chest Hurt When You Breathe?

Painful breathing is an alarming symptom. The pain can range from mildly unpleasant to sharp and severe, and it can occur as you breathe regularly or only when you inhale deeply. Conditions that make you experience pain with breathing vary greatly - both milder short-term health issues and life-threatening conditions that involve vital organs like the lungs and heart could be the cause. 

 

Medical tests are usually required to rule out these serious medical emergencies and diagnose the root cause of the symptom, That is why you should always see a healthcare professional when you experience painful respiration. We look into the possible causes of this symptom below.

 

Respiratory infections

For many people, the first concern they think of when someone experiences painful breathing is pneumonia. As you will find out later, that’s not necessarily the case, but respiratory infections are certainly a possible cause of painful respiration. Even though the lungs don't have pain receptors, surrounding tissues can become inflamed, tender, and painful, so lung conditions can actually cause pain while breathing. 

 

Painful breathing caused by respiratory infections is more pronounced when you take a deep breath or lie down, and it’s rarely the only symptom. Shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, fever, chills, fatigue, night sweats, or other cold and flu symptoms usually co-occur with painful respiration and help point your physician in the right direction. The following respiratory infections can cause pain with breathing: 

 

Pneumonia - an infection of the lungs caused by either a virus, bacterium, or fungus. 

 

Bronchitis - an infection of the bronchi, which are the tubes in your lungs that carry air throughout the lungs. 

 

Pleurisy - an infection of the pleura, a membrane that lines the lungs and separates it from the rest of the thoracic cavity. 

 

Tuberculosis - a serious lung infection caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium (uncommon in the US but common around the world). 

 

Shingles - a dangerous infection that, in rare cases, can cause viral pneumonia. The condition is caused by the same virus that’s responsible for chickenpox - the Varicella zoster virus.

COVID-19

Here’s an important side note. Pain with breathing can be a sign of severe COVID-19 - according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you were diagnosed with Covid or experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical help: 

 

Loss of taste and smell 

 

Sore throat 

 

Fever 

 

Chills 

 

Fatigue 

 

Muscle pain. 

 

Painful breathing is also sometimes reported in patients with long Covid or post COVID-19 syndrome for as long as 3 months after the initial COVID-19 diagnosis.

If you experience difficulty breathing and pain with respiration, don’t assume that an infection is to blame. Certain lung injuries and disorders can produce identical symptoms. Some of the most common respiratory conditions that fall within this group are: 

 

Pneumothorax - a medical emergency when air enters the pleural cavity and causes either partial or complete lung collapse. Severe chest pain and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms. Pneumothorax is usually a complication of chronic lung issues, severe lung infections, or injuries. 

 

Pulmonary embolism - another emergency that occurs when a blood clot travels from other parts of the body and gets stuck in the lungs. This is the most common life-threatening cause of pain with breathing, accounting for 5-21% of painful respiration cases. Pulmonary embolism can develop as a result of deep vein thrombosis, heart disease, or as a side effect of surgery. 

 

Pulmonary infarction - the death of some lung tissue caused by the restriction of blood supply. 

 

Chronic lung issues, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Lung injuries caused by chemicals or smoke. Certain cancers, such as lung cancers or mesothelioma (cancer in the pleura).

Conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system

In some cases, pain in the chest may not be linked to your vital organs at all. The chest area contains a lot of bones, cartilage, muscles, and other connective tissue that could be responsible for pain while breathing. This pain can get worse when you breathe more deeply or with certain movements. The pain may also get better when you reposition the body or move after a long period of sitting or standing. 

 

Here are a few of such conditions: 

 

Problems with the thoracic spine, such as nerve compression, thoracic osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, etc. With a pinched nerve, the back pain can sometimes even radiate to the hand and mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. 

 

Rib fracture - sudden pain that gets worse when you breathe more deeply or cough. This is a medical emergency, as the broken rib can potentially puncture vital organs or blood vessels. 

 

Costochondritis - a relatively rare inflammatory condition affecting the cartilage that connects the ribs and the breastbone. It causes sharp pain and tenderness in the breastbone that can mimic a heart attack. The causes of costochondritis are not always identifiable, but the condition can develop as a result of chest injury, respiratory infections, and severe coughing. Costochondritis sometimes goes away on its own.

Heart-related conditions

Several types of heart disease can trigger chest pain while breathing, shortness of breath, or other types of breathing discomfort. The pain can also spread to the arm, shoulder, neck, and jaw. Statistical data reveals that more than a quarter of all patients with heart-related health issues seek medical help because of breathing discomfort. 

 

Some other symptoms that point towards a heart-related condition are an irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, dizziness, burning sensations, and nausea. 

 

What conditions can produce these symptoms? There are a great many of them, but we feature some of the most serious and common ones below: 

 

Heart attack - serious medical emergency characterized by the restriction of blood flow to the heart. 

 

Heart failure - another potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart isn’t capable of effectively pumping blood. 

 

Pericarditis - a condition that arises when the pericardium, a fluid-filled membrane that protects the heart, becomes inflamed. Sharp chest pain that improves with sitting upright or leaning forward is a common sign of pericarditis. 

 

 Myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). Myocarditis can affect the heart's ability to pump blood. Infections, adverse drug reactions, or other inflammatory conditions can trigger the condition. Shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, and an irregular or fast heartbeat are the primary symptoms. 

 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux, is a health condition that occurs because the muscle that prevents stomach acids from going up into the esophagus is malfunctioning. When the acids leak out into the esophagus, they damage and irritate the lining of the esophagus, which usually causes a burning sensation in the chest known as heartburn. 

 

GERD is very common - it affects 1 in 5 Americans. Although heartburn is the most common symptom of this condition, some patients also report a chronic cough and pain with breathing. However, the majority of symptoms associated with GERD still involve the digestive system - difficulty swallowing, nausea, and bad breath. 

 

Even though GERD isn’t considered a life-threatening condition, it could lead to complications and should be addressed by your doctor.

 

Panic attacks

Panic attacks are extreme and unbearable. Sudden waves of anxiety and fear, often accompanied by shallow breathing, are the hallmark of panic attacks. For those who have never experienced a panic attack, the symptoms can resemble a heart attack or a respiratory issue, but symptoms usually go away after 20-30 minutes. 

 

Panic attacks occur as a response to stress, excessive exercise, or even after drinking too much coffee. These events send your body into stress mode, and you will start breathing very quickly. The resulting hyperventilation usually causes even more troubling symptoms, including painful breathing, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, and losing the sense of reality. 

 

Some people experience panic attacks regularly, whereas others only get them once or twice, if ever. Breathing techniques and spending time in a calm and safe space can help a person experiencing a panic attack recover more quickly.

 

When is painful respiration a sign of a medical emergency?

Painful respiration can point to a number of very serious conditions, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Any unexplained chest pain, even if it seems minor, is best reported to a medical professional. Your healthcare provider can help you rule out serious conditions or make sure that the condition you have isn’t progressing. 

 

Contact emergency services IMMEDIATELY if you have chest pain with any of the following symptoms: 

 

Fever 

 

Shortness of breath 

 

Gasping for air 

 

Rapid breathing 

 

Choking 

 

Dizziness 

 

Confusion or loss of consciousness 

 

Sweating profusely 

 

Pale skin or blue lips, toes, or fingers 

 

Coughing up blood.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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9 Misleading Myths About High Blood Pressure

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over a billion of the world population suffers from hypertension, but many of these people have no idea they have the disease or knowingly neglect their condition, exposing themselves to the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other no less serious complications. In part, this is because many of us are misled to believe that high blood pressure is not a serious issue, or that only older people suffer from it. None of that is true. 

 

In fact, reputable sources like the WHO and the American Heart Association (AHA) report that there are quite a lot of dangerous myths surrounding high blood pressure, myths that end up causing a great deal of harm to hypertension sufferers all across the globe. In this article, we dispel 9 such seriously misleading myths, so that we’re able to understand hypertension more and take better care of ourselves and our loved ones.

1, Hypertension isn't a serious health issue

Hypertension is one of the most common chronic irreversible health conditions in the US. According to the AHA, around 45% of Americans suffer from hypertension, which is nearly half of the overall population. At the same time, the severity and potential dangers of this health condition are grossly underestimated, and many consider high blood pressure to be no big deal. This is just not true, and in reality, high blood pressure can lead to many serious complications and even sudden death.

Over time, hypertension makes larger blood vessels less elastic, which impairs the oxygen supply to various organs, and can even make small blood vessels in the brain burst and become blocked. According to the WHO, high blood pressure can lead to the following health issues:

Heart attack 

 

Heart failure 

 

Irregular heartbeat (this can lead to sudden death) 

 

Chest pain, also known as angina 

 

Stroke 

 

Kidney damage. 

 

Medical News Today further reports that hypertension can lead to vision loss, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease. Without a doubt, these dangerous factors make hypertension a very serious condition that requires treatment and lifestyle adjustments.

2. I don’t use salt in my food, so I’m managing my sodium levels

Managing your sodium intake is crucial when you have high blood pressure. Many people conflate sodium intake with the amount of salt you add to your foods, but in reality, reducing or eliminating the use of table salt in your diet is just part of the solution. As a matter of fact, the CDC established that processed foods account for at least 40% of our daily sodium intake, namely the following foods: 

 

Pizza 

 

Sandwiches 

 

Bread 

 

Eggs and omelets 

 

Sandwich meat 

 

Canned soup

 

Chips, pretzels, crackers, and other savory snacks 

 

Tacos and burritos 

 

Cheese.

Even sweet ultra-processed foods, such as chocolate, candy, breakfast cereals, and soft drinks are extremely high in salt. Therefore, looking at labels is key - search for the keywords “sodium”, “Na”, and “soda” on the ingredient label. Also understand that consuming added sea salt or kosher salt is the same as regular table salt, as all three of these have the same sodium content. The WHO recommends cutting down your daily sodium intake to 5 grams a day, a small sacrifice to pay for your cardiovascular health. They state that doing so would prevent 2.5 million deaths every year.

3. Hypertension is inevitable

Another common misconception is the idea that high blood pressure cannot be prevented, especially in older age, and everyone is bound to get it. Although hypertension is more prevalent in older adults, it’s by no means a normal part of aging. Not all seniors and not only older people suffer from this condition: the condition affects 63.1% of people 60+ years old, 33.2% in the 40-59 age range, and 7.5% in the age range of 18-39.

In addition, many people also believe that they will surely have hypertension if the condition runs in the family. While it is certainly true that hypertension has a genetic component, research shows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet can cancel out the genetic predisposition to high blood pressure.

According to a 2018 study looking at 277,005 patients concluded the following: “We show that adherence to a healthy lifestyle (including [healthful] diet, limited alcohol consumption, low urinary sodium excretion, low body mass index [BMI], and increased physical activity) is associated with lower blood pressure regardless of the underlying blood pressure genetic risk”. Therefore, though hypertension isn’t curable, it’s very much so preventable, no matter what your genetic risk or age is.

4 .Only men suffer from hypertension

As we’ve already established, lifestyle plays an incredibly important role in diminishing one’s risk of hypertension. Similarly, a poor diet, low activity levels, and being overweight can increase one’s risk of high blood pressure for both men and women.

In fact, in the age range of 45–64 years, men and women have a nearly identical risk of hypertension according to 2016 statistics. What’s more, after 64 years old, women have a higher risk of hypertension than men. The only age range in which men are more likely to develop hypertension is 45 years old and younger.

5.You're fine if only one of the measurements is off

 

You’re likely aware that blood pressure (bp) readings consist of two measurements - the top (systolic) blood pressure number and the second (diastolic) number. Systolic measurements show the pressure with which blood runs through the veins during a heartbeat, whereas the diastolic measurement reflects the blood pressure while your heart is resting. 

 

Systolic blood pressure of 130 and above is considered high, as is diastolic pressure of 80 and greater. 

 

Oftentimes, people pay more attention to the top number, as higher systolic bp is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attack in older adults. However, higher diastolic measurements are just as important as systolic ones, and you must seek treatment if you get any consistently high readings to prevent your organs from damage. 

 

6. Low blood pressure isn’t an issue

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is definitely less talked about than hypertension, but that doesn't mean that hypotension is benign. While many people have a naturally lower blood pressure than others, drops in blood pressure can be a concern, as it can cause dizziness, or make you faint or go into shock. The first two are a concern, especially for the elderly, as they often lead to a serious fall. Shock, on the other hand, is even more dangerous, as it can cause sudden death if not treated immediately.

7. Red wine is considered healthy for the heart, so I can safely indulge in it

Red wine is touted for its ability to benefit the body, and the incredible antioxidants present in red wine can really improve your digestion and help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases, including hypertension. However, that doesn't mean that you can drink as much red wine as you can. In fact, according to the most recent research, just 1 glass once in 2 weeks is enough to reap all the benefits of red wine, and having more than half a glass to a glass of red wine a day will actually harm your health. 

 

What's more, the AHA points out that heavy and regular consumption of alcohol can lead to dramatic spikes in blood pressure or even heart failure, stroke, and an irregular heartbeat. Not to mention that all alcoholic beverages are super high in sugar and will make you gain weight if you drink alcoholic beverages regularly. 

 

8. Surely, I would notice the symptoms if I had hypertension

There's a reason why doctors call hypertension "the silent killer". Unfortunately, most people don't know that they have the condition until they start measuring their blood pressure regularly. In fact, it was estimated that around 11 million people in the US do not know that they have high blood pressure. It can take years of having the condition for common symptoms like feeling tired, dizzy, lightheaded, or confused to appear. Therefore, it's safest to measure your blood pressure regularly, especially if you're older or have a genetic predisposition to hypertension.  

 

9. Once my blood pressure normalizes, I can stop taking my prescription

If you were diagnosed with hypertension, you'll likely be suffering from the condition for life, at least until doctors find a cure for it. Medication may bring your blood pressure back to normal, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop taking it, even if you also adjust your lifestyle and diet. 

 

Never discontinue a blood pressure medication prescription without your doctor’s knowledge and approval. As the AHA points out on their website: “Expect to treat high blood pressure for life. Doctors will sometimes reduce a [person’s] drug dosages after achieving normal blood pressure and maintaining it for a year or more, although it is rare for the treatment to be stopped entirely. Some form of treatment must be continued over a lifetime for good results.”

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Avoid Ginger If You Have One of These Conditions

Ginger has long been touted as one of the world's healthiest spices, and rightly so. Packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds, ginger is incredibly beneficial for the body. It's especially effective in the case of ailments with the digestive system. Yet despite its benefits, ginger may, in certain situations, cause more bodily harm than good. Here are four situations where ginger is not recommended.

1. Blood disorders: One of ginger's health benefits lies in its ability to boost blood flow, stimulating circulation. This makes it a beneficial spice among those suffering from obesity, diabetes, Raynaud's disease, or peripheral artery disease. In this genetic disorder, blood clotting is reduced, which means that even a small injury can lead to death. In this case, ginger should be avoided, as it may aggravate the situation and cause hemorrhaging. 

 

2. Taking certain types of medications: Those taking high blood pressure or diabetes medication form part of a special risk group, as ginger has been found to change the medicinal effects on the body. In fact, it has been shown that combining ginger with anticoagulants, beta-blockers, or insulin drugs can be extremely harmful. As ginger stimulates blood thinning and reduces blood pressure, these properties may lower the effects of such medications.

 

3. Underweight people: In case you need to gain some weight, ginger, including ginger supplements, should be avoided. Its high fiber content and its ability to raise pH, as well as its effectiveness in stimulating digestive enzymes, enables ginger to burn fat and lower food cravings, which consequently, may lead to weight loss, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, and poor muscle mass. 

 

4. Pregnancy: Ginger supports muscle health and helps digestion. But, during pregnancy, these properties may lead to premature contractions and preterm labors. It should especially be avoided in the last trimester of pregnancy. Ginger also inhibits the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and dietary iron. Used in small amounts, however, ginger can effectively alleviate morning sickness. Nevertheless, it's essential that you speak to your doctor beforehand.

What can you substitute ginger with? 

 

If you fall under one of the aforementioned categories, substitute ginger with alternative spices like sweet peppers, cayenne pepper, or red paprika. Opt for red paprika if you fancy spicy foods, or sweet peppers if you don't.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.