It hurts to breathe in deep because breathing deeply causes expansion of the chest and lungs, which can irritate or stress inflamed, injured, or affected tissues in the chest area. Several potential causes include inflammation or infection of the lungs or pleura (lining around the lungs), muscle or cartilage inflammation such as costochondritis, chest trauma like broken ribs, or heart-related issues such as pericarditis. Conditions like pneumonia, pleurisy, pulmonary embolism, or even muscle strain can also cause sharp or aching pain upon deep breaths because those conditions involve structures that move or stretch when inhaling deeply, leading to pain signals.
Common Causes Explained:
- Pleurisy : Inflammation of the pleura, which causes sharp or burning pain worsened by deep breaths, coughing, or sudden movements.
- Costochondritis : Inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone, causing sharp pain with deep breathing or coughing.
- Chest Trauma : Broken ribs or muscle strain in the chest wall can cause pain when the chest expands.
- Lung Infections : Pneumonia or other infections inflame lung tissue and pleura, leading to pain.
- Heart Conditions : Pericarditis (inflammation of the heart's protective lining) can cause chest pain that worsens on deep breaths.
If this pain is persistent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, or radiating pain, medical evaluation is necessary to diagnose and treat the underlying cause properly.
