Male chest pain due to deep breathing

If you experience chest pain when taking a deep breath, you should be careful because it is likely caused by pleurisy, costochondria, esophagitis, or pericarditis. Regardless of which inflammation it is, it has a negative impact on men's health and requires timely treatment. Below, we will introduce the specific causes of chest pain when taking a deep breath.

1. Pleurisy

It refers to pleurisy caused by pathogenic factors (usually viruses or bacteria) irritating the pleura, also known as "pleurisy". There may be fluid accumulation in the chest cavity (exudative pleurisy) or no fluid accumulation (dry pleurisy). After the inflammation is controlled, the pleura may return to normal, or the two layers of pleura may adhere to each other. The main clinical manifestations are chest pain, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even difficulty breathing. It is more common in young people and children.

2. Costochondritis

Also known as Tieze disease or Tieze syndrome, painful non-suppurative swelling of the costal cartilage, sternal cartilage pain, and chondrosis, it is a common disease, divided into non-specific costochondritis and infectious costochondritis. The most common clinical disease is non-specific costochondritis, which accounts for more than 95% of outpatient visits. It is a non-specific, non-suppurative inflammation of the costal cartilage. It is an inflammatory lesion of the costal cartilage at the junction of the costal cartilage and the sternum of unknown cause, manifested as a self-limiting disease with localized pain and swelling. It is more common in adults aged 25 to 35, mostly women, with a male to female ratio of 1:9. The elderly also suffer from the disease. It is common at the junction of the 2nd to 5th rib cartilages. It is usually multiple and can be seen beside the sternum on one side, or symmetrical on both sides. Single cases are common in the 2nd rib cartilage. Infectious costochondritis, also known as suppurative costochondritis, is a relatively rare surgical infection.

3. Esophagitis

Esophagitis refers to inflammation caused by edema and congestion of the esophageal mucosa due to irritation or damage to the superficial or deep tissues of the esophageal mucosa. Chemical irritation includes gastric acid, bile, strong alcohol, strong acid, strong alkali, drugs, etc.; physical irritation includes hot food and drinks, esophageal foreign bodies (fish bones, etc.) entrapment, long-term placement of nasogastric tubes, etc. Esophagitis can also be caused by local damage to the esophagus due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or by infection with tuberculosis, fungi (Candida) or viruses due to the patient's own decreased resistance. The most common clinical reflux esophagitis is caused by gastric acid reflux.

4. Pericarditis

It refers to acute inflammatory reaction and exudation of the pericardium due to bacteria, viruses, autoimmune, physical, chemical and other factors, as well as chronic changes such as pericardial adhesion, thickening, constriction, calcification, etc. Clinically, there are mainly acute pericarditis and chronic constrictive pericarditis. Patients have symptoms such as fever, sweating, cough, sore throat or vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Acute pericardial tamponade may occur if a large amount of pericardial exudate occurs. Patients have chest pain, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, pale complexion, and even shock. There may also be symptoms such as ascites and hepatomegaly.