Lung conditions can instigate symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Some of these signs and symptoms due to lung conditions such as chest pain and pressure can be mistaken for symptoms of a heart attack, gastrointestinal issues or blood vessel disorder. The chest pain due to lung conditions can also be complemented by bluish color of the lips and skin as well as blood-streaked sputum during coughing. Lung conditions that initiate chest pain can be momentary or continuing and can be experienced as generalized or confined pain.
It is vital to enroll in a course on first aid today so that you can perform the appropriate steps in order to alleviate the pain experienced by the individual.
Chronic coughing
It is important to note that coughing serves as a way to clear up the lungs and airways from irritating substances as well as protect the lungs. The cough can clear up mucus containing phlegm or the inhaled particles from the lungs. Nevertheless, once the lungs are swollen, the cough reflex is triggered, resulting to a chronic cough. Take note that severe and chronic coughing can strain on the chest muscles, resulting to chest pain and soreness.
Pneumonia
Chest pain is usually triggered by pneumonia which causes the inflammation of the lungs along with the pleura that covers them. This results to severe chest pain and soreness especially during deep inhalation. Pneumonia involving the pleura is called as pleurisy and characterized by severe chest pain during inhalation and the cessation of pain upon exhalation. Pneumonia is typically managed with antiviral, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is basically a condition in which air enters the pleural cavity around the lungs and instigates full or partial collapse of the lungs which leads to severe difficulty breathing as well as chest pain and pressure. This health condition can be initiated by injury or trauma to the chest such as a direct hit with a blunt object or a penetrating chest wound.
Pneumothorax develops once the air that enters the lungs is at a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure which is called as tension pneumothorax and typically occurs while mountain climbing or diving. The usual causes of this condition include diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer and other issues caused by cigarette smoking.
Lung cancer
It is important to note that smoking causes most of the cases of primary lung cancers which originate in the lungs and do not spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer can trigger severe chest pain as the masses of the cancer cells compress on the chest wall and other organs. Take note that this pain can be acute or chronic and localized or generalized. The treatment involves the removal of the lobe that is affected, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.