Sharp pain when breathing in: Chest, ribs, causes, and more - Medical News Today
Sharp pain when breathing in: Chest, ribs, causes, and more - Medical News Today |
- Sharp pain when breathing in: Chest, ribs, causes, and more - Medical News Today
- How Long Does a Flu Test Take? - Healthline
- Allergy headache: Causes, symptoms, and treatments - Medical News Today
| Sharp pain when breathing in: Chest, ribs, causes, and more - Medical News Today Posted: 21 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST  Sharp pain when breathing in can occur for several reasons. The symptom can range in severity, with some people noticing mild discomfort and others experiencing severe pain. In most cases, pain around the chest and ribs is not a sign of serious illness, and it will resolve on its own or with minimal treatment. However, it can occasionally be an emergency, requiring urgent medical intervention. In this article, we discuss seven possible causes of sharp pain when breathing in and explain when to seek medical attention. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes inflammation of the air sacs, which fill up with fluid or pus. Pneumonia occurs as a result of bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. The severity of the condition depends on a person's age and overall health. People with pneumonia often experience chest pain when breathing in. The other symptoms, which may range from mild to severe, include:
Both the type of pneumonia and the severity of the condition will determine the treatment options.
A doctor may also recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications to reduce the symptoms of pneumonia. Pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, occurs when air enters the pleural cavity, which is a space between the lungs and chest wall. The air accumulation can increase pressure in the pleural cavity, making part of a lung or even an entire lung collapse. Pneumothorax can occur as a result of a chest injury or an underlying lung disease, such as tuberculosis. People with pneumothorax may experience sharp pain in the chest that worsens during breathing or coughing. The degree of collapse determines the signs and symptoms of pneumothorax. These may include:
Treatment for pneumothorax involves inserting a chest tube or needle to remove excess air from the pleural cavity. For mild cases, the condition may heal without this procedure being necessary. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, a tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the outside surface of the lungs. Pleurisy often results from viral or bacterial infection, with viral pleurisy being among the most common causes. People with pleurisy tend to experience sharp pain, particularly in the chest, when inhaling. Symptoms of pleurisy include:
The treatment for pleurisy will depend on the cause of the underlying condition. For instance, if the condition is due to a bacterial infection, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics to manage the symptoms. For the pain and inflammation that pleurisy causes, a doctor will recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage, a tissue that connects the breastbone and ribs. The chest pain that costochondritis causes can range from mild to severe. People with costochondritis often experience chest pain, which may radiate to the back. The exact cause of costochondritis is unclear. However, the condition may result from a chest injury, strenuous exercise, severe coughing, or a joint infection. Costochondritis typically heals on its own. However, a doctor may prescribe NSAIDs to relieve pain. Physical therapy, including stretching exercises and nerve stimulation, may also be helpful, as may heat treatment. If other measures do not work, a doctor might recommend injecting corticosteroids or numbing medication directly into the affected area. A traumatic injury to the chest may result from a sports-related incident, a surgical procedure, or an accident, such as a fall from a height. Approximately two-thirds of people who experience physical trauma have chest trauma, with the severity ranging from a rib fracture to injury of the heart. Chest trauma can lead to sharp pain when breathing in. Other symptoms of chest trauma may include:
Doctors will determine the best treatment for chest trauma based on the cause and severity. For instance, if a person is gasping for air, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will likely be the first approach. People with chest trauma should seek immediate medical attention. Severe stress and anxiety may cause anxiety attacks, a possible symptom of which is sharp pain when breathing in. An anxiety attack can produce a stabbing, needle-like sensation in the middle of the chest. The dread of an upcoming event or a fear that something could happen typically triggers the condition. People may experience the following symptoms during an anxiety attack:
Treatment options for anxiety-related disorders include: Anyone considering seeking professional help should ensure that they select a well-trained and qualified professional. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart. The cause of pericarditis remains unclear, but viral infections are a common cause. Other factors may also cause pericarditis, including: People with pericarditis experience sharp pain when breathing in or a dull ache that may feel better when sitting upright or leaning forward. The pain may also radiate to the left shoulder and neck. Other symptoms of pericarditis can include:
The best treatment for pericarditis depends on the cause and severity of the condition. If the condition is mild, it usually gets better on its own. For more severe cases, a doctor may prescribe OTC pain relievers and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Sharp pain when breathing in can sometimes be a sign of a life threatening condition, such as a heart attack. A person should speak with a doctor about any unexplained sharp pain when breathing in, particularly if it occurs alongside the following symptoms:
Experiencing sharp pain when breathing in can be worrying. Although the condition may not be a cause for alarm — at least in most cases — it can sometimes be a sign of a severe illness. The condition may arise due to various causes, including chest trauma and other medical conditions, such as pneumonia. Anyone experiencing sharp pain when breathing in should speak with a doctor, who will likely want to carry out an evaluation to diagnose the cause. Once they have confirmed this, the doctor will be able to put a treatment plan in place. |
| How Long Does a Flu Test Take? - Healthline Posted: 22 Dec 2020 07:53 AM PST  Thanks to antiviral medications that can shorten the flu's duration, getting a positive flu result may help you get treatments more effectively. Fortunately, a number of tests are available for the flu, many of which can provide rapid results. The next time you have symptoms such as a fever, fatigue, body aches, and sore throat, here's a rundown of how fast you can expect to find out if your symptoms mean you have the flu. Getting a flu test isn't usually a time-consuming experience. Your healthcare professional may use one of several approaches to collect a specimen. These include:
Each of these testing methods usually takes no more than 1 minute to perform. It's waiting for your results that can prove longer. Innovations in flu testing mean that you may be able to obtain results as fast as 10 to 15 minutes. Doctors call these "rapid" tests. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rapid flu tests are more accurate in detecting the flu in children compared with adults. With these and other flu tests, it's still possible to get a false negative. A doctor should take your symptoms into account as well as if you've been around anyone who was recently diagnosed with the flu. A variety of influenza virus test types exist. Some test for the presence of the flu virus, while others test your body's response to the virus. Examples, with their result times, include the following:
If you see a doctor because you think you may have the flu, you can ask them what testing type they use. Generally speaking, if your flu test is positive, you have the flu. If your flu test is negative, it's possible the test doesn't recognize the flu strain type that you have. The person performing your flu test also may not have collected enough material to accurately detect the flu. According to the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, rapid antigen tests are about 50 to 70 percent accurate, although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required more recent tests to make changes to improve their results. Molecular tests are anywhere from 66 to 100 percent accurate. The results and accuracy depend upon what test type you use. Testing specimens are most likely to be accurate when they're measured within 48 to 72 hours of the onset of your flu symptoms. Less is known about flu tests' abilities to detect the flu in asymptomatic patients because most people seek the tests when they aren't feeling well. Flu tests are available at most doctors' offices, urgent care settings, and hospitals. Rapid flu tests are usually less costly than laboratory-based tests. According to Becker's Hospital Review, rapid tests cost about $5 to $10, while a laboratory test can cost $200 or more. You may wish to contact a facility where you're seeking testing to ensure they have flu tests available, especially if you're in flu season, which usually takes place in the late fall to winter. Flu tests can provide rapid results that are becoming increasingly more accurate. Doctors may select tests based on availability and accuracy. It's important to remember that you're more likely to have a false negative test than a false positive one. As a result, a doctor may treat your symptoms as if you have the flu, even when your test is negative. |
| Allergy headache: Causes, symptoms, and treatments - Medical News Today Posted: 22 Dec 2020 07:41 AM PST  Hay fever and sinus pressure may cause headaches. However, this pain is not a typical allergy symptom. Two types of headaches are associated with allergies: sinus headaches and migraine headaches. Overall, it is important to consult a doctor if headaches are persistent, worsening, or if they accompany other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light or noise. In this article, we explore what people may mean by an "allergy headache," as well as the link between this type of pain and an allergic reaction. Some people use the term "allergy headache," though there is no clear, widely accepted definition. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, can cause a headache, possibly due to swelling in the sinus passages. However, headaches are not a typical symptom of hay fever. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages, and it often results from an environmental allergy. In this case, the issue is called allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. Hay fever can cause several symptoms, but a headache is not typical, researchers of a 2016 investigation observe. Allergic rhinitis can lead to rhinosinusitis, which is inflammation of the nasal cavity and sinuses, and this can occasionally lead to headaches. However, headaches commonly attributed to sinusitis may more often stem from migraine. Both health issues can also cause a runny nose, nasal congestion, and watery eyes. Also, both may worsen due to changes in the weather and exposure to allergens. These similarities can lead to confusion. Sinus headaches occur when the sinuses are swollen, obstructing the nasal passages and leading to a buildup of pressure. The result can be pain at the top of the head or behind the cheeks. However, sinus headaches are fairly rare and usually only result from severe inflammation, as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology observe. Meanwhile, an older study, from 2004, found that 88% of people who believed that they were having a sinus headache were actually having a migraine headache. It can be difficult to distinguish between a headache caused by migraine and one caused by sinus inflammation and pressure. A person having a sinus headache may feel pain at the top of the head or behind the cheeks. If hay fever is responsible for a headache, the person may also experience:
Symptoms of rhinosinusitis include:
Doctors use the following criteria to diagnose rhinosinusitis-induced headaches:
A person with migraine, meanwhile, may have a throbbing headache, typically on one side, that may occur with nausea and sensitivity to light, sound, or both. Migraine can also cause a runny nose and watery eyes. If a headache results from an allergy, hay fever may be the cause. The typical trigger is pollen, and others include:
Migraine triggers may include:
It is important to avoid anything that triggers a headache or an allergic reaction. If the two seem to be linked, the following treatments may help:
Also, the following care strategies may help:
Consult a doctor about any allergic reactions, especially if they are affecting daily activities or otherwise limiting the quality of life. Allergies do not appear to be a common cause of headaches. It is important to consult a doctor about this type of pain, especially if:
It can be difficult to distinguish whether nasal inflammation and pressure or migraine is causing a headache. If headaches recur or persist, it is important to seek medical care. Once a doctor identifies the cause, avoiding triggers and taking medication can help resolve the issue. |
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