Information about the Causes of Sore Lungs
There are a number of different ailments that can cause sore lungs; some are far more serious than others. A few of the medical conditions that can cause pain in the lungs include pleuritis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, as well as asthma and bronchitis. In addition to these problems, there are also other conditions that can make you fell like your lungs are sore, but the above-mentioned conditions are among the most serious.
- Pleuritis – With pleuritis the lining of the lungs is inflamed; when your have sore lungs associated with this illness the pain will be sharp and often it will be accompanied by sharp breathing and a cough. When someone suffers from pleuritis, the act of breathing and coughing can actually cause more pain.
- Pneumonia – A lot of people are aware that pneumonia can cause sore lungs and chest pain. When someone has pneumonia they will also have other symptoms, such as coughing, fever, and they will find that they feel breathless. Other signs include a buildup of phlegm, plus the pain may worsen when the person tries to take deep breaths.
- Pulmonary Embolism – When someone has a pulmonary embolism what he or she has is a blood clot located in the lung. With a pulmonary embolism there is a blockage in the pulmonary artery. The blood clot often originates from the legs where it breaks loose and travels to the lungs. Although this is a rare medical condition, it is life threatening and immediate medical attention is essential. The symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include a sudden and sharp pain in the lungs that tends to get worse with rapid breathing.
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Pneumothorax – Another cause of sore lungs or pain in the lungs is pneumothorax; this is basically a collapsed lung. Due to the fact that this usually only happens to one lung the pain will be felt only on one side. The pain will start very suddenly, and will be worsened by sharp breathing.
- Pulmonary Hypertension – This is a very rare medical condition where the blood pressure increases in the lung vasculature, which includes the pulmonary artery. When someone has this condition the symptoms will include sore lungs, chest pain, and shortness of breath; heavy breathing and physical exertion aggravate the condition.
Along with sore lungs caused by asthma or bronchitis, you can also experience pain in the lungs when exercising, or if you are exposed to chemicals that you inhaled. Being around smoke can also cause this after a period of time. This includes second hand smoke from smokers, or other sources of smoke, such as a campfire.
If you are experiencing sore lungs on a frequent basis, or you have sudden pain in your lungs or chest, you will need to see your doctor as soon as possible for an evaluation. For chest pain, it is important that you treat this as an emergency situation and call 911, as this could be a sign of an impending heart attack.
For sore lungs without chest pain symptoms, you will still want to see your doctor. Keep track of when you experience the pain, and if there seems to be any triggers, such as exercise or smoke. It is likely that you have a condition that is easily treated, but you will need to see your doctor for a diagnosis to know for sure.
If you have sore lungs, it is important to remember that this isn’t normal and is your body’s way of letting you know that there is something wrong, so don’t’ ignore it.