Cough hypersensitivity and chronic cough
What Might Cause Upper Back Pain When Breathing?
Upper back pain can occur when breathing, especially when taking a deep breath. Possible causes range from muscle strain to asthma, anxiety, and heart problems.
Pain in the upper back when breathing usually extends around the chest. A sharp pain could be a sign of pleurisy or a heart attack. A dull ache may be due to a fractured vertebra or muscle strain.
Looking out for other symptoms can sometimes help a person identify the cause of the pain. If upper back pain is causing ongoing difficulty breathing, it is important to seek medical advice, as there may be a serious cause.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the possible causes of upper back pain when breathing.
Muscle strain is a common cause of upper back pain. It can cause pain when breathing, as moving air in and out of the lungs stretches the back muscles.
A person may strain the muscles in their upper back due to exercise, injury, or lifting something heavy.
TreatmentPeople can treat a muscle strain with rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and ice.
Applying a towel-wrapped ice pack to the upper back for up to 20 minutes regularly throughout the day should ease the pain and swelling.
Pleurisy affects the tissue covering the outside of the lungs, and this tissue swells because of an infection. This swelling can cause difficulty breathing and pain that radiates around the chest.
Many conditions can lead to pleurisy. A common cause is viral or bacterial respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
Other causes of pleurisy can include:
TreatmentIt is possible to treat a mild chest infection at home with rest, fluids, and pain relievers. However, people should seek medical advice for a more serious infection or a child or older adult.
Chest infections caused by bacteria will likely require taking antibiotics.
Treating lung cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer but often requires chemotherapy or radiation.
The vertebrae are bones that make up the spine. A person may fracture a vertebra in a serious accident, such as a car crash or a fall from a height. It can also result from a sports injury.
If a person fractures a vertebra in the upper part of their spine, it can cause pain in the upper back when breathing. This pain often gets worse with movement.
TreatmentThe type of treatment will depend on the severity of the fracture, and a visit to a doctor is the only way to determine the severity of the injury. A back brace, physical therapy exercises, and a gradual return to normal movement can help a person heal.
Body aches can be more common in people who have anxiety and other mood disorders.
A person may feel upper back pain as a result of anxiety and panic attacks. Other possible symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, sweating, shaking, dizziness, and a racing heart.
TreatmentTreatment for anxiety disorders can involve therapy, anxiety medications, and relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises may help if a person feels as though they are about to have an anxiety or panic attack.
A person may need to try different treatments before they find something that works well for them.
The symptoms of an asthma attack can be similar to a panic attack, and the two conditions sometimes occur together.
In cough-variant asthma, a person may experience a persistent, dry cough, which may strain or pull a person's back muscles over time, causing back pain.
In people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breathing difficulties and coughing can also cause strain on the chest and back.
TreatmentTreatment for either COPD or asthma may involve preventive measures, such as limiting exposure to allergens that may trigger symptoms, getting an annual influenza vaccine, maintaining a healthy weight, and undergoing immunotherapy.
A person may also need to use a bronchodilator or corticosteroid inhaler.
Scoliosis is a condition that causes a sideways curve of the spine. Depending on the severity of the condition, a person may also experience back pain. The back pain may be spinal pain and is not always dependent on their breathing.
Other possible symptoms include slightly uneven shoulders or hips and the body leaning to one side.
TreatmentFor children and teenagers, a back brace or surgery can help stop a curve in the spine from developing any further. Exercise can help strengthen the back muscles and support the spine to reduce pain.
Problems with the heart can cause chest and back pain, as well as breathing difficulties.
Heart attackHeart attacks and other cardiovascular events can cause chest tightness, shortness of breath, and radiating pain throughout the upper chest area.
Other symptoms of a heart attack can include:
Females are more likely than males to experience back pain as a symptom of a heart attack.
Pulmonary embolismA pulmonary embolism is another condition that can cause difficulty breathing and pain in the upper back.
it occurs when a blood clot prevents blood flow to the lungs. These clots often form elsewhere in the body before coming loose and moving through the circulatory system.
Symptoms include:
Both a heart attack and a pulmonary embolism are medical emergencies. If a person is experiencing any symptoms, dial 911 immediately.
A person having a heart attack may require CPR until emergency services arrive. A trained person may perform this manually or use a defibrillator, if available. Once hospitalized, a person can receive several different treatments, including a coronary artery bypass or angioplasty.
Treatment for an embolism will require hospitalization, where the person will receive oxygen through mechanical ventilation and receive blood-thinning medications to break up the clot.
This section includes some additional answers to questions a person may have about upper back pain while breathing.
Is my upper back pain from my lungs?Health conditions affecting the lungs, such as pleurisy, can cause pain that radiates to the upper back. Intense coughing from asthma, COPD, and other respiratory conditions can also cause muscle strains around the chest and into the back.
Can I prevent upper back pain?Preventing upper back pain when breathing is challenging if the onset of symptoms is sudden and acute. Not every potential cause is preventable.
However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene practices may reduce the likelihood of developing a cardiovascular condition or infectious disease. In addition, exercising and stretching can help a person avoid muscle strains.
When should I see a doctor?Any time a person experiences sudden pain, difficulty breathing, or a sudden worsening of existing symptoms, they should call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
If the experience is not acute, a person should visit their doctor when the symptoms begin to interfere with their daily life or if they do not know the cause. This will ensure a person gets the right diagnosis and the best treatment.
If the upper back hurts when a person breathes, they may have strained a muscle. If this symptom occurs after an accident or injury, it is important to see a doctor, who can check for any damage to the spine.
Pleurisy and chest infections can both cause pain when breathing. A person may need medication to get rid of the infection.
Sharp pain and difficulty breathing could indicate a more serious medical problem, such as a heart attack. Therefore, people should seek urgent medical attention for sharp chest or back pain.
Why Does My Chest Hurt When I Cough?
A person's chest may hurt when they cough as a result of muscle strain from coughing. However, it can also be a sign of pleurisy, pneumonia, and other serious conditions.
In many cases, the pain goes away on its own as the infection clears. However, chest pain can sometimes signal a serious chest infection, such as pneumonia, so it is important to see a doctor for chest pain when coughing.
Chest pain with a cough comes in many forms. The pain may be stabbing or throbbing, and it can range from very mild to unbearable.
When there are other symptoms, especially fever or trouble breathing, this may indicate a serious underlying infection. Some other symptoms that a person might notice include:
The possible causes of chest pain when coughing include:
Muscle exhaustionA person uses many muscles in the chest, back, and abdomen when they cough. An intense cough or many days of coughing can exhaust these muscles, making them feel sore or painful, especially when a person massages the affected area.
The pain usually peaks during a cough and then gets better between coughs.
It can be difficult to distinguish muscle pain from other types of pain, such as the pain of an inflamed lung. Therefore, if a person is uncertain about the origin of the pain, it is wise to see a doctor.
PneumoniaPneumonia is a common but potentially dangerous lung infection. Viruses, bacteria, and even fungi or parasites can cause pneumonia. In some people, viral pneumonia develops after a cold or the flu.
Healthy people usually recover from pneumonia with routine treatment. However, this infection can potentially be fatal in older adults, infants, and people with a weakened immune system.
Some symptoms of pneumonia include:
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleural tissue, which covers the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. People with pleurisy may also develop fluid in between layers of pleural tissue.
Pleurisy is a possible complication of pneumonia, although other infections and noninfectious conditions can cause this potentially life threatening disorder.
Symptoms include:
Bronchitis causes inflammation and swelling in the bronchial tubes, which connect the throat to the lungs. This inflammation makes it more difficult to breathe and can cause chest pain and pressure.
Although bronchitis can sometimes be a chronic disease, many people experience it as an acute, short-term infection. In many cases, bronchitis comes during or after a cold or the flu.
Some symptoms of bronchitis include:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that cause inflamed, swollen, and obstructed airways. The disease is progressive, which means that it gets worse over time.
The main symptoms are chest pain and a cough. Some people also notice:
Asthma causes inflamed and narrowed airways. Certain triggers can suddenly increase the inflammation and swelling, making it difficult to breathe. People refer to this as an asthma attack.
During an asthma attack, a person may have trouble breathing or catching their breath. They may hear themselves wheezing or feel tightness in their chest. Some people also have chest pain during or following an asthma attack.
Learn what to do at home for an asthma attack.
CancerSome people with chest pain and a cough may worry about lung cancer, especially if the symptoms are chronic and do not appear to be due to an infection, such as a cold or the flu.
Lung cancer can cause chest pain when coughing, but most people also experience other symptoms, including:
Mild chest pain from muscle fatigue usually goes away on its own.
However, a serious chest infection can be life threatening without treatment. Some potential complications include:
If a person has a weakened immune system or underlying health conditions, or is an older adult or an infant, an untreated chest infection can potentially be lethal.
To diagnose the cause of chest pain, a doctor may:
The right treatment for chest pain when coughing depends on the cause. When a person has a mild cold, a doctor may recommend rest and fluids. Some other home remedies can help with viral illnesses, such as the flu, bronchitis, and even mild pneumonia. A person can try:
If the chest infection is bacterial, a doctor will generally prescribe antibiotic therapy.
Severe chest infections may require a person to stay in the hospital, where they can get intravenous fluid or medications, supplemental oxygen, and nebulized breathing treatments.
Some other treatments that a doctor might recommend include:
COPD is incurable, but treatment can help manage symptoms and prolong life. A doctor may prescribe corticosteroids, bronchodilators (which help dilate the small airways), a type of training called pulmonary rehabilitation, or surgery.
People with lung cancer may need chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.
A person with mild chest pain can usually wait a few days to see a doctor. If the person has symptoms that do not improve within a few days, is an older adult or an infant, or has a respiratory condition, it is best to see a doctor immediately, even if the symptoms are not severe.
A person should also see a doctor if they have:
Emergency treatment is necessary if:
Factors that affect the outlook of a person experiencing chest pain when coughing include:
Seeing a doctor is essential for ensuring the successful diagnosis and treatment of chest pain when coughing.
Asthma Resource Center
Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality: How Long Could Health Effects Last?While millions of Americans in the Midwest and on the Eastern Seaboard got some relief from the wildfire smoke from Canada, with more relief expected over the weekend, health experts warned that for for at-risk people, some hazardous health effects may persist.
Comments
Post a Comment