Sharp Pain In My Left Chest Area. Very Painful To
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Chest pain can due to any structure in the chest: lungs and its coverings, heart, esophagus, muscles and bones, nerves
Heart attack pain is most concerning with any chest pain but it is not likely with the symptoms described. Heart attack related pain does not vary with breathing or coughing or sneezing or movement.
Pleuritic pain can be worsened with breathing, sneezing, coughing, laughing. Pleuritic pain refers to pain due to inflammation or irritation of the pleura.
The pleura refer to linings that cover the outside of the lungs. They can become inflamed for different reasons : (1)viral infection
(2)pulmonary embolism (PE)- clot in the lungs
(3)pneumothorax(air in the space outside the lungs, in the chest space)
PE and pneumothorax tend to get worse over a few minutes to hours whereas pleuritic pain due to infection takes days. this helps to distinguish causes but tests are still needed
There are conditions such as pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart- also commonly due to a viral infection) that can also cause this type of pain
A chest x ray, ECG- provide further information if the pain continues.
The fact that your pain also varies with movement implies that it may also be muscle related- inflammation of the muscles of the chest wall. Inflammation of the muscles can cause pain with any movement of the muscles even with taking a deep breath or laughing
Anti inflammatory pain medication is commonly used for pleuritic pain or muscle related pain eg naproxen, cataflam, ibuprofen
If related to a PE , then additional treatment needed
Summary: With pain on movement, muscle pain is likely but because of the other symptoms,need to rule out pleuritic pain as a cause
Tests may be needed
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions