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Published on: 5/6/2025

Could Chest Pain on the Left Side Indicate a Heart Problem?

Chest pain when taking a deep breath can be due to problems in the lungs or chest wall, such as inflammation of the lung lining, muscle or cartilage irritation, or even rare conditions like shrinking lung syndrome.

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Explanation

When you take a deep breath, your chest expands and the tissues in your chest and lungs stretch. If any of these tissues are sore or inflamed, it can lead to sharp pain. One common cause is pleurisy, which is when the lining around your lungs becomes irritated or inflamed, making each deep breath hurt. Muscle or cartilage issues, such as costochondritis (inflammation where your ribs meet your breastbone), can also cause chest pain that is worse with deep breathing. A condition like shrinking lung syndrome—a rare complication seen in some people with autoimmune diseases like lupus—can also result in chest pain because the lung doesn’t expand properly. Other pulmonary issues like pneumonia or a small blood clot in the lung may also cause pain when you take a deep breath. Since chest pain can be a sign of several different issues, some of which require prompt care, it is important to talk with a healthcare provider if you experience sharp chest pain while breathing deeply. They can run tests to determine the exact cause and suggest the best treatment for you.

(References)

  • Lu L, Liu M, Sun R, Zheng Y, Zhang P. Myocardial Infarction: Symptoms and Treatments. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2015 Jul;72(3):865-7. doi: 10.1007/s12013-015-0553-4. PMID: 25638347.

  • Lowenstern A, Alexander KP, Pagidipati NJ, Hill CL, Pellikka PA, Cooper LS, Alhanti B, Hoffmann U, Mark DB, Douglas PS. Presenting Symptoms in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Disease Evaluation: Association With Noninvasive Test Results and Clinical Outcomes in the PROMISE Trial. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2022 May;15(5):e008298. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.121.008298. Epub 2022 Apr 4. PMID: 35369715; PMCID: PMC9117448.

  • Noory N, Westin O, Maurer MS, Fosbøl E, Gustafsson F. Chest pain and coronary artery disease in cardiac amyloidosis: Prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical implications. Am Heart J. 2025 Feb;280:52-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2024.11.004. Epub 2024 Nov 15. PMID: 39549982.

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