COPD: the disease that too often goes undetected

What's Causing Pain In The Right Side Of My Chest?

Pain in the right upper chest can be caused by injury to the bones, tissues, and muscles. It could also be caused by underlying conditions and mental health issues.

Pain in the right side of your chest can happen for a number of reasons. Most chest discomfort, especially on your right side, is not related to your heart.

Your chest is home to other organs and tissues that may be inflamed or injured, causing you to feel pain. Any aches you feel are most likely due to:

Keep reading to learn what may be behind your symptoms and when you should speak to your doctor.

Chest pain on the left side is typically associated with a heart attack. If you feel any pain on your right side, it's less likely to be related to your heart.

According to 2019 research, you should seek immediate medical attention if you:

have unexplained and unexpected severe chest pain

feel pressure, squeezing, or fullness in your chest

have severe pain shooting through your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach

break out into a cold sweat

feel weak, dizzy, or nauseous

have difficulty breathing

Any of these symptoms could be caused by a serious or life threatening condition, so you should seek urgent care as soon as possible.

If you're experiencing pain on the right side of your chest, here are a few potential causes.

An anxiety disorder or extreme stress can bring on panic attacks, which can feel very similar to a heart attack, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Panic attacks can happen out of the blue or be triggered by a traumatic or stressful event in your life.

Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks can include:

Panic attacks can cause chest pain from hyperventilating (breathing rapidly or deeply) since it makes your chest wall muscles go into spasms. Pain resulting from anxiety or stress can occur on either side of the chest.

Because symptoms of a panic attack can mimic those of a heart attack, you should seek immediate medical care to rule out any heart-related issues. Deep breathing exercises can also help stop a panic attack.

Trauma or overuse can cause muscle strain, which is one of the most common causes of pain on either side of your chest.

Muscle strain can happen because of intense upper body activity during sports or overworking your muscles during other intense activities. Muscle pain may also happen gradually as a result of tension or anxiety.

In most cases, resting and taking over-the-counter pain relievers are enough to ease your symptoms.

Chest pain can also happen because of tears to the pectoralis muscle, according to 2021 research. Tears are usually caused by indirect trauma or a direct blow to the chest. Blunt trauma can also result in rib fractures or rib displacement.

Symptoms of a chest injury or rib displacement include:

chest pain that gets worse with coughing, sneezing, or laughing

shortness of breath

bruising

swelling

tenderness

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether your injury will be able to heal on its own or if treatment is necessary.

Heartburn refers to the burning sensation you feel in your chest after eating, bending over, working out, or even lying down at night. It's usually caused by acid reflux, which happens when your stomach acid comes back up to your esophagus.

In addition to chest pain, you may:

feel a burning sensation in your throat

have difficulty swallowing

feel like food is stuck in the middle of your throat or chest

have an unexplained acidic, salty, or sour taste in the back of your throat

Indigestion refers to an upset stomach. Although indigestion usually does not cause chest pain, it may happen alongside heartburn.

Symptoms of indigestion include:

nausea

early and uncomfortable fullness after eating

pain, discomfort, and burning in the upper abdomen

bloating

If you're experiencing acid reflux more than twice a week, you may have developed gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

In addition to chest pain, symptoms of GERD include:

heartburn

sore throat or hoarseness

a sour taste in your mouth

a lump-like sensation in your throat

dry cough

difficulty swallowing

Although you may be able to find relief with home remedies, you should talk with your doctor for a diagnosis. They may be able to prescribe medication to help treat or prevent symptoms.

Here's how to relieve your heartburn symptoms.

Chest pain is one of the main symptoms of costochondritis. This condition happens when your rib cage cartilage becomes inflamed. The pain can be severe or mild. Although the pain is typically felt on the left side of your chest, it may also occur on the right side.

Other symptoms include:

pain in your back and abdomen

pain that worsens when you cough or take a deep breath

pain that worsens with touching your chest wall

Chest pain caused by costochondritis may feel similar to a heart attack or other heart-related conditions, so you should seek emergency care. Your doctor can rule out any life threatening conditions.

Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) happens when there's a bile buildup in your gallbladder.

In most cases, cholecystitis is caused by gallstones blocking the tube that leads out of the organ. Your gallbladder may also become inflamed because of problems with your bile duct or tumors.

Cholecystitis does not cause chest pain, although it may feel like it. If your gallbladder is inflamed, you may feel intense pain in your upper right abdomen that can shoot up to your right shoulder or back.

Other symptoms include:

nausea

vomiting

fever

sweating

appetite loss

tenderness when touching your abdomen

right upper quadrant pain that worsens after a meal, especially when eating fatty foods

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor for a diagnosis.

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Shingles does not cause chest pain on the inside. However, it may feel like you're having problems with your heart or lungs depending on the location of the viral infection. Shingles can be quite painful on the outside, on the skin.

In addition to a rash, your symptoms may include:

pain

burning

tingling or numbness

sensitivity to touch

fluid-filled blisters that crack and crust over

itching

Although you may be able to find relief with home remedies, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis. They'll prescribe medication to help clear the infection.

Pleurisy happens when the membrane lining the inner side of your chest cavity and the lining over the lungs, known as the pleura, becomes inflamed. When this inflammation occurs, these linings get rough and rub against each other, causing pain.

This can cause pain on either side of your chest when you breathe in and out. It can also cause pain in your shoulders and back.

Symptoms include:

chest pain that gets worse with coughing, sneezing, or laughing

shortness of breath if you're trying to minimize breathing in and out

fever or cough if the cause of the pleurisy is a lung infection

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs. Pneumonia will make you cough, sometimes with phlegm, which can cause pain on either side of your chest. You may also feel chest pain when you breathe.

Other symptoms of pneumonia include:

difficulty breathing

fever

sweating

shaking

chills

nausea

vomiting

diarrhea

Although home remedies can relieve your symptoms, it's important that you see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. If the infection itself is left untreated, pneumonia can become fatal.

Sudden onset of shortness of breath is the main symptom of pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung. However, it could also cause sudden pain, though not all the time. This can happen on either the right or left side of your chest and is usually the result of injury.

It may also result from lung disease, ruptured air blisters, or ventilator use.

Other symptoms include:

shortness of breath

tightness in the chest

rapid heart rate

cough

fatigue

If you suspect that you have a collapsed lung, seek emergency medical care.

The two types of cardiac inflammation that can cause chest pain are myocarditis and pericarditis. Myocarditis happens when your heart muscle becomes inflamed. Pericarditis refers to inflammation in the two layers of sac-like tissue (pericardium) that surrounds your heart.

Both conditions are typically caused by a type of infection and can lead to mild to severe chest pain.

Myocarditis and pericarditis share many of the same symptoms. These include:

fever

weakness

difficulty breathing

coughing

heart palpitations

fatigue

swelling of your legs, ankles, feet, or stomach

With pericarditis, the discomfort in your chest can be so intense that it feels like you're having a heart attack. If you're experiencing severe chest pain, seek emergency care to rule out any life threatening causes.

Pulmonary hypertension refers to high blood pressure in the heart-to-lung system. This can cause your heart to work harder, leading you to feel pain throughout your chest.

Other symptoms include:

shortness of breath during regular activity

feeling light-headed, especially during physical activity

fatigue

racing heartbeat

pain in the upper right side of the abdomen

decreased appetite

fainting

swelling in the ankles or legs

bluish lips or skin

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis. They can prescribe medication or other therapies to help relieve your symptoms and prevent future complications.

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels from a vein in your leg to your lungs, according to 2021 research. This sudden arterial block prevents blood from flowing to your lung tissue, causing chest pain.

The pain may also spread throughout your arm, jaw, shoulder, and neck.

Pulmonary embolism can be fatal if left untreated, so seek emergency medical care if you're experiencing these symptoms.

A fractured rib can cause intense chest pain and difficulty breathing. Broken ribs are typically caused by an injury to the chest or severe coughing.

Symptoms of a broken rib include:

significant chest pain, especially when breathing

swelling around the broken ribs

occasional bruising on the surrounding skin

hearing or feeling a crack

If you're worried about the pain in the right side of your chest and it's lasted more than a few days, you should see your doctor. The aches and discomfort may be caused by something mild, like acid reflux, but there's a chance they're from something more serious.

Once you know what's going on, you and your doctor can develop a plan to treat your chest pain and its underlying cause. If your chest pain persists after treatment, you should contact your doctor and discuss additional treatment options.

What does right-sided chest pain mean?

Right-sided chest pain could be caused by a variety of medical conditions. You might be experiencing this pain because of:

an anxiety attack

a collapsed lung

costochondritis

gallbladder problems

gastroesophageal reflux

a heart attack

lung cancer

musculoskeletal strain or injury

pericarditis

pleuritis

pneumonia

a pulmonary embolism

a rib fracture

shingles

Is right-sided chest pain serious?

Right-sided chest pain may or may not be serious. Sometimes, this pain can signal a heart attack or collapsed lung. Other times, there might be a simple answer, such as gastroesophageal reflux or a muscle strain.

Severe chest pain that comes along with other symptoms should be taken more seriously.

Should I go to the ER for right-sided chest pain?

If you are at risk for a heart attack (you're older than 55, you smoke, you have high blood pressure), you should go to the ER. You should also go to the ER if you have additional symptoms along with your chest pain, like shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.

Other cases of chest pain may not need an ER visit. When in doubt, it's always best to seek medical attention.

What's located on the right side of your chest?

Your lungs are located on both sides of your chest. A minor portion of your heart is on the right side.

How do you relieve chest pain on the right side?

Pain relief will depend on the cause of your pain. If you're experiencing a simple muscle strain, ice on the affected area can help. But if something more serious is going on, your doctor will help guide you to find the best treatment.

Right side chest pain while breathing?

If you feel right-sided chest pain while breathing, you may be experiencing pleurisy. According to the National Health Service, pleurisy is a condition that occurs when the tissue between the lungs and ribcage becomes inflamed. The primary symptom is sharp chest pain when you breathe.

Right side chest pain and vomiting?

Right-sided chest pain and vomiting are often caused by acid reflux, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. However, when combined with difficulty breathing, pain that radiates into your arm, and sweating, these could be symptoms of a heart attack.

There are multiple culprits that could be behind right-sided chest pain. Pay attention to any accompanying symptoms you may be experiencing. These symptoms can help you get a better idea of what's going on.

When in doubt, always seek treatment from a medical professional who can help diagnose and treat your pain.

Read this article in Spanish

Quiz On Pleurisy (Advanced)

Pleurisy (Also called Pleuritis) is an inflammation of the pleura, a moist double layered membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the rib cage. The inflamed pleural layers rub against each other when lungs are expanded to breath air. This makes the breathing extremely painful; the chest pain is also known as pleuritic chest pain. Pleurisy is also associated sometimes with other condition known as pleural effusion, where excess fluid is filled up in the area between the membrane's layers.

Valley Fever Symptoms And How To Treat The Fungal Infection Circulating In California

Valley fever cases are on the rise in California.

The fungal infection can cause severe disease.

Experts share the signs and symptoms of Valley fever.

The California Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of Valley fever in people who attended a music festival at Buena Vista Lake in early summer, leading many to wonder about Valley fever symptoms.

The condition is an infectious disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of the U.S. And other parts of the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The fungus can infect the lungs and cause a range of respiratory issues. In rare cases, it can spread to other parts of the body and lead to severe disease.

Five people who attended the "Lightning in a Bottle" music festival were diagnosed with the condition and three were hospitalized, according to a press release from state health officials.

In 2022, there were 17,612 cases of Valley fever reported to the CDC, mostly from Arizona and California. California health officials note that the illness seems to be on the rise, with cases tripling between 2014-2018 and from 2018-2022.

Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York; infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

But what are the major symptoms of Valley fever and what should you do if you suspect that you have it? Here's the deal.

Valley fever symptoms

Many people who are exposed to the Coccidioides fungus do not get Valley fever, according to the CDC. However, those who do may have these symptoms:

Fatigue

Cough

Fever and headache

Shortness of breath

Night sweats

Muscle aches or joint pain

Rash on upper body or legs

Symptoms usually appear between a week and three weeks after you breathe in the spores, and can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, per the CDC. "It is a common cause of pneumonia," says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Up to 10% of people with Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems with their lungs, according to the CDC. Some may experience complications in other parts of their body, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, or bones and joints.

How do you get Valley fever?

People get Valley fever by breathing in spores that live in the soil and dust, per the CDC. Activities that disturb the dirt and soil, like windstorms and construction, increase the risk, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York.

In rare cases, people can get Valley fever through an organ transplant from an infected person, by inhaling spores from an infected wound, or by contact with contaminated objects like rocks or shoes, according to the CDC.

Worth noting: Valley fever does not spread from person to person.

How is Valley fever diagnosed?

The symptoms of Valley fever "can be similar to many other respiratory-type viruses like the flu or COVID," Dr. Russo says. But people with Valley fever symptoms tend to have chest pain and shortness of breath, which is more common with severe versions of the flu and COVID-19, he points out.

If you go to the doctor with Valley fever symptoms, it's likely that they'll test you for more common respiratory viruses first, Dr. Russo says. But, if you live in an area where Valley fever is more common, a doctor may also order a blood test to look for antibodies to the infection, he says. (If you have a characteristic skin rash, your doctor may order the test sooner, Dr. Russo points out.)

But Dr. Adalja says that the "initial infection is not usually detected." Instead, it's only when someone becomes more severely ill that they get a proper diagnosis.

Valley fever treatment

Not everyone is treated for Valley fever—most infections go away on their own without treatment, Dr. Russo says. However, some people are treated early on. "Treatment is reserved for those individuals who are immunocompromised," Dr. Adalja says. If someone has disseminated disease—meaning, it's spread throughout their body—they would also be treated, he says.

Treatment usually includes three to six months of an oral antifungal medication like fluconazole, Dr. Russo says.

How to prevent Valley fever

It can be tricky, especially given that there is no vaccine for Valley fever. "If one lives in the endemic areas, it is very difficult to avoid infection as the fungal spores are literally blowing in the wind," Dr. Adalja says. However, he notes that there tends to be a higher-than-usual risk after earthquakes since the spores are stirred up. Wildfires may also kick up spores, Dr. Russo says.

"If you're able, you want to avoid the environments that are dry and dusty where you can inhale the spores, particularly if you fall into a high-risk group," Dr. Russo says.

The CDC also recommends staying inside during dust storms and closing your windows, using air filtration measures inside (like the best air purifiers), cleaning skin injuries well with soap and water, and wearing a mask (like a KN95 or N95) in areas with a lot of dust, like construction sites.

Dr. Russo stresses that Valley fever isn't a big concern for many Americans. But if you live in California, Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico, he says it's a good idea to at least have the condition on your radar.

Related Stories

---