Introduction:
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that cause chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. It is usually caused when different viruses, parasites, fungi, or bacteria enter the lungs; In this infection, the internal air sacs in the lungs fill up with fluid and pus that cause cough, chills, chest pain, or difficulty in breathing. A person who constantly suffers from a cold, cough, flu, or other bacterial infection can easily get infected by pneumonia. It mainly affects people suffering from other chronic conditions such as weak immune systems, heart and lungs disorder, and premature infants. Symptoms of pneumonia include stabbing chest pain, Nausea, stomach pain, ear pain, cough with phlegm, Vomiting, tiredness, and difficulty breathing. Older adults and young infants have a high risk of pneumonia.
Why does pneumonia cause chest pain?
Chest pain or tightness in the chest during coughing or breathing is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia. Patients usually have chest pain in pneumonic conditions because membranes are filled with fluid due to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. When a person breathes, coughs, or laughs, he feels heaviness and a stabbing sensation due to that fluid or pus in the chest. A brief description of viruses, fungi, and bacteria that cause chest pain is following:
- Bacteria can cause bacterial pneumonia; the most common is streptococcus pneumonia. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia.
- The viruses that cause viral pneumonia are influenza type A and B and the respiratory syncytial virus. Antiviral medications are bests to treat viral pneumonia.
- The fungus that causes fungal pneumonia is coccidiosis fungus. Antifungal medications are helpful for the treatment of fungal pneumonia.
In the initial stages, the chest pain may be mild but may become severe over time. You need hospitalization if your chest pain turns worse and creates serious illness.
Home remedies and lifestyle changes to treat pneumonia chest pain:
The following tips and tricks help to get relief from chest pain:
- Take a lot of rest
- Avoid heavy exercises or physical activities because heavy physical activities create shortness of breath that ultimately leads to chest pain.
- Drink hot lemon and honey drink to get relief from the mucus which causes chest pain
- Drink plenty of water to reduce the mucus and to get relief from cough
- Use an extra pillow while sleeping, and raise your head upward; it helps you to breathe easily and clears your chest from mucus.
- Take medication on time as your doctor prescribes to get immediate relief from pneumonia chest pain.
- Practice a good hygiene
Preventions for pneumonia chest pain:
If the patient is suffering from pneumonia and chest pain, he should prevent the following things:
- Avoid smoking; it worsens your condition in pneumonia and causes difficulty in breathing.
- Do not take medication without a doctor’s advice.
- Do not give steam to children from a bowl of hot water without a doctor’s consultation because it may create shortness of breath, ultimately leading to death.
- Reduce the use of alcohol
- Avoid exposure to lung irritants and toxic fumes.
References:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151632
- https://www.healthline.com/health/pneumonia
- https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/what-are-the-symptoms-of-pneumonia#:~:text=Does%20pneumonia%20cause%20chest%20pain,with%20coughing%2C%20breathing%20or%20laughing.
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204