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What Causes Chest Pain While Breathing?

Posted on Thu, 9 Jun 2016

Question: I have pain in the left side of my chest!!!When I press my left arm against it,it makes it harder for me to breathe!!! I can't breathe without pain-but my right lung is working fine,so my oxygen levels probably aren't off.It's just so uncomfortable trying to breathe!!!!

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get done chest x ray and PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more because you are having pain on pressing (tenderness).
But since you are taking inhaler and having pain on breathing (pleuritic pain), better to rule out lung related causes like lung infection and bronchitis first.
So get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray to rule out lung infection.
3. PFT (pulmonary function test) for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
You may need antibiotic or additional inhaled bronchodilator on the basis of these reports.
Please let me know
1. Do you have more pain on movements or changing posture?
2. Do you smoke?
3. Do you take inhaler regularly?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (40 minutes later)

The main pain I have with it is when I try to breathe!!!!! I was using my inhalers regularly until this difficulty in breathing and pain on breathing hit,.Then I had to stop it because the medication burned!!! I have NEVER smoked!!! My Mom has told me that whatever doctor diagnosed me with asthma was nothing but a quack!!!!! I was 33 when diagnosed,but my medicine(preventative)for it is $60/3mo. I think that's pretty good,but my Mom had a fit!!!

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Which inhaler you are taking?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
So, you had never been to pulmonologist for your asthma. Is it right?
How can you take inhaler for so many years without consulting specialist?
Please let me know
1. Which inhaler you are taking?
2. Have you ever undergone chest x ray and PFT?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (45 minutes later)

I take Duracell for preventative,and ProAir for relief. I can't go to the hospital now,my family is in bed,I live by myself and can't drive!!! I just took my Peak Flow Meter that I have at home,and took a reading-it was 300.On mine,0-325 is red,330-510 is yellow,and 515-800 is green

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sorry to hear all these.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for your family condition.
Your current peak flow reading in 300. This is in red area for you. This means your asthma is not controlled.
You need more intensive management for asthma.
Please let me know
1. What is your mean peak flow reading? (peak flow reading without symptoms)
2. Which drug is in Duracell?
3. Do you have fever? Do you have cough with expectoration?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 hours later)

It's Dulera-the active ingrediants are mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate.My mean peak flow reading is usually 350-375. When I start feeling really bad,i start coughing with expectoration.it is streaked with blood.I run a low grade fever(99.7-99.9).

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have all these symptoms at present?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are mostly having acute exacerbation of asthma. And most common cause for this is lung infection.
Please let me know
1. Do you have all these symptoms at present?
2. Before this episode, before how many days you had similar kind of acute worsening of asthma?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Yes,I do have all the symptoms now!!! And I've had them for about 2 weeks!!!!

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Better to consult doctor.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
So you are having all the symptoms since 2 weeks.
You are mostly having lung infection and worsening of asthma due to this infection.
In my opinion, you should consult doctor and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray to identify the lung infection.
3. PFT (pulmonary function test) to know the severity of asthma.
Please let me know
1. Is blood in sputum present daily?
2. Do you have weight loss?
3. Have you ever undergone chest x ray and PFT?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar