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What Causes Left-sided Chest Pain With Severe Cough?

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Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 2015
Question: i'm having a pain in my chest under my left breast. it becomes sharp when I move. my heart rate is 110.
could it be anxiety? I am on Lexapro and having been taking it for a while. I also just got over bronchitis and still have a nasty deep cough, maybe I pulled a muscle?
Correction to my typing: I have NOT been taking Lexapro for awhile...maybe I need to start taking it again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Rib nerve pain can be the case.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Sharp chest pain which gets more intense when moving or breathing is characteristic for rib nerve irritation or pulled muscle indeed. Severe cough is a very common reason of such pain. Please note that coughing is a very complicated reflex action which engages lots of chest and abdominal muscles. So it is easy to pull a muscle or cause an inflammation which irritates rib nerve.

Left chest pain can always be caused by heart issue, however heart pain is not sharp. It is rather dull and squeezing or burning like. And it tends to radiate to left arm or jaw.

Your pain is rather not caused by anxiety. But for sure your heart rate can be stimulated by an anxiety.

Lexapro should not be stopped suddenly. So it would be good to ask your doctor about its continuation.

To get rid of this pain, please try Ibuprofen, hot bath, physical therapy like massage. You should also start Magnesium supplementation.
If this wont help, you should consult orthopedist.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5797 Questions

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What Causes Left-sided Chest Pain With Severe Cough?

Brief Answer: Rib nerve pain can be the case. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Sharp chest pain which gets more intense when moving or breathing is characteristic for rib nerve irritation or pulled muscle indeed. Severe cough is a very common reason of such pain. Please note that coughing is a very complicated reflex action which engages lots of chest and abdominal muscles. So it is easy to pull a muscle or cause an inflammation which irritates rib nerve. Left chest pain can always be caused by heart issue, however heart pain is not sharp. It is rather dull and squeezing or burning like. And it tends to radiate to left arm or jaw. Your pain is rather not caused by anxiety. But for sure your heart rate can be stimulated by an anxiety. Lexapro should not be stopped suddenly. So it would be good to ask your doctor about its continuation. To get rid of this pain, please try Ibuprofen, hot bath, physical therapy like massage. You should also start Magnesium supplementation. If this wont help, you should consult orthopedist. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.