Chest Hurts When I Cough

'Chest hurts when I cough', this is a common complaint among people suffering from common respiratory problems. Basically, the portion of the body that lies between the diaphragm and the neck is referred as chest. One of the most important parts of the body, the lungs, are located in the chest area. So, it is obvious that any infection affecting the upper respiratory tract or the lungs are likely to cause chest pain, that is more severe when coughing. A mucus producing cough causing chest pain is an indication of underlying lung disease.

Causes

An injury that causes pulled chest muscle is quite painful, and the discomfort is more prominent while coughing. Apart from pulled muscle injury, chest hurts when breathing, or coughing, is pointing towards the fact that the respiratory system is not functioning efficiently. It is discussed below:

Common Cold
Common cold, a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract typically causes runny nose, fever, trouble breathing and chest congestion. Coughing and sneezing activity associated with common cold may cause dull to sharp chest pain.

Influenza (Flu)
Influenza is considered to be a severe form of cold that can also bring about chest discomfort while coughing. Although, this respiratory problem initially imitates the symptoms of common cold, the onset is sudden and rapidly worsens with time. Besides high fever, headache and muscle aches, you are likely to experience dry cough that gives rise to stabbing pain in chest area.

Pneumothorax
This is yet another respiratory condition that can trigger chest pain while coughing. Also referred to as collapsed lungs, in this condition the air inhaled enters the forbidden region located between the chest wall and outside the lungs. As the air continues to fill up this space, lungs find it difficult to expand properly. This happens because the accumulated air in the space put excessive pressure on the lungs from outside. Pneumothorax is typically marked by breathing problems and chest discomfort that worsens during an episode of cough. A chest injury (inflicted from an accident or a gunshot) or pre-existing lung diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia can cause pneumothorax.

Excessive Coughing
With every cough, the chest muscles involved in breathing contract. Repeated contraction of muscles due to excessive coughing can eventually damage the muscles. Frequent bouts of cough can be strenuous for the chest muscles. Chest muscle pain is something that has been commonly linked to excessive coughing. Discomfort on any side of the chest is a common complaint in people suffering from whooping cough. A pulled chest muscle due to coughing is also quite common but in most cases heals without any medical intervention.

Costochondritis
The reason behind 'chest burns when I cough' could also be mean that you have costochondritis, a condition in which the cartilage (soft elastic tissues at the end of the bones) that attaches the breastbone to the rib bone is swollen. Ribs is a cage like structure made up of bones surrounding the chest. When this cartilage joining the ribs to the breastbone is inflamed, apart from pain when touching the breastbone, you may feel chest pain while coughing.

Acid reflux
Burning sensation in the chest area while coughing can also be due to acid reflux disease, a condition in which stomach acids that aid in digestion, gain access to the food pipe. The food pipe is a tube that extends from the mouth to the stomach. All the ingested food enters the stomach through this tube. Acid reflux is a condition in which the stomach acid travels backwards and reach the food pipe. Although the presence of stomach acids causes chest pain, the coughing action aggravates the condition considerably.

Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition in which the moist tissues (mucous membrane) that surround the bronchial tubes are swollen. Bronchial tubes are passages that allow free flow of air, to and from the lungs. Bronchitis is typically marked by mild chest pain that aggravates substantially, whenever the person coughs. In bronchitis, the person suffers from mucus producing cough and with every cough the person has to face the brunt of chest discomfort.

Pneumonia
Respiratory problems in the form of pneumonia can also be responsible for causing moderate to sharp chest pain while coughing. The onset of pneumonia typically begins with fever and cough, followed by breathing problems and chest pain. Coughing activity in pneumonia aggravates the patient's chest discomfort.

Pleuritis
In this condition, the serous membrane lining both the lungs and the inner walls of the chest are swollen. A person affected with pleuritis experiences mild to moderate chest pain while breathing that aggravates by coughing. Chest discomfort associated with pleuritis does not remain localized and may travel all the way up to the shoulder area.

After knowing the factors responsible for 'chest hurts when I cough', you might be eager to be aware of treatment that relieves this sort of discomfort. Taking painkillers like aspirin or other NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen may help to relieve chest pain. In case, the patient is suffering from frequent episodes of cough, taking an over the counter cough syrup is recommended. In order to diagnose the underlying cause, a chest X-ray is necessary. This will assist in identifying abnormalities that have affected the lungs, or its associated tissues. After examining the results of a chest X-ray, the doctor will advice appropriate treatment to cure the pain.