Overview
Numerous conditions can cause pain when breathing. Pain that occurs when a person breathes may indicate a problem with the chest wall or the organs contained within the chest cavity, including the heart and the lungs. Pain when breathing may be sharp and stabbing or dull and aching. Traumatic injuries and certain medical conditions are the most common causes of pain when breathing. A person who experiences pain when taking a breath in should visit her physician for an evaluation.
Anatomy
The chest is the area between the collar bones and the upper abdomen, on the front of the body. The chest wall -- the wall that surrounds the chest and protects the contents of the chest cavity -- is composed of the ribs and intercostal muscles. The intercostal muscles are the small muscles found between the ribs that help raise and lower the ribcage when breathing. Overlying the chest wall are other skeletal muscles, such as the pectoralis major and minor muscles. Within the chest cavity are two important organs: the heart and the lungs. Both of these organs are possible pain generators during breathing.
Causes
Numerous injuries or conditions can cause pain when breathing. Pain when breathing often accompanies chest pain. Blunt-force trauma to the rib cage can fracture ribs and bruise tissue, causing pain when taking a breath in. In some cases, ribcage trauma and rib fractures can cause a pneumothorax or a collapsed lung, which causes breathing-related pain and shortness of breath. Certain medical conditions can cause pain when breathing, including pericarditis or inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, costochondritis and pleurisy or an infection of the membrane that lines the chest cavity and lungs.
Symptoms
Symptoms associated with pain when breathing largely depend on the cause of the pain and the tissues involved. Common signs and symptoms associated with pain when breathing include sharp pain when taking a breath in or when the ribcage expands, reduced pain between breaths, visible swelling and bruising throughout the ribcage, chest pain when the sternum or breastbone is pressed and trigger points -- hyper-irritable nodules or knots -- in the intercostal muscles.
Risk Factors
Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing pain when breathing. The MedlinePlus website states that a person with chronic or long-term heart-related problems, or even acute or short-term heart problems, can experience chest pain that may be made worse when breathing. A person who participates in certain sports or athletic activities, especially contact sports such as football, hockey or martial arts, may have a greater risk for ribcage trauma and pain when breathing.
Treatment
Treatment for breathing-related pain usually depends on the cause of the pain. If the pain is due to traumatic injury that does not affect the organs in the chest cavity, certain conservative care methods, such as rest, ice and activity modification may speed healing of injured tissues. Certain manual medicine techniques, such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, trigger point therapy and massage therapy may also be beneficial. Kinesio taping and cold laser therapy are gentle and effective treatment techniques that may reduce pain and swelling in the ribcage and ease breathing-related pain. Chest organ problems and severe traumatic injuries usually require surgical intervention to resolve breathing-related pain.
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