SYMPTOM
You're feeling discomfort or a sharp pain in your chest that gets worse when you inhale deeply. This type of pain, often called pleuritic pain, can be due to inflammation of the lung lining (pleurisy), or sometimes it’s a sign of infections like pneumonia, a blood clot, or even a pulled muscle in your chest.
For general awareness only. This is not medical advice. If symptoms are severe or persistent, consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 8 causes
Pneumonia
A lung infection has caused inflammation that irritates the lining of your chest. This irritation is felt as sharp pain when you take a full breath.
Costochondritis inflammation
The cartilage joining your ribs to your breastbone is inflamed which causes tenderness and pain. Deep breaths stretch this area and make the pain worse.
Pleurisy inflammation
Inflammation in your lung lining could cause sharp pain as it rubs with each deep breath. This feels like a stabbing sensation with every inhale.
Pneumothorax
A collapsed lung means air has leaked into the space between your lung and chest wall. This causes sharp pain when breathing deeply as the lung tries to expand.
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot in your lung is causing inflammation and damage to lung tissue. This irritates the lining of your chest, which makes deep breaths painful.
Pericarditis
Inflammation in the sac around your heart could cause sharp, stabbing chest pain.
Lung cancer
A tumor in the lung could irritate the pleura or invade chest structures. This leads to pain that worsens with deep breaths or coughing.
Rib fracture
A broken rib moves and irritates surrounding tissues with every breath. Deep breathing causes maximum movement which leads to intense, sharp pain at the fracture site.