Four Potential Reasons for Pain Stabbing While Breathing
Calf cramps are a common issue that can disrupt sleep, but did you know they could be a sign of something more serious? While this article focuses on calf cramps, we'll also touch on another important topic: pleuritic chest pain.
Pleuritic chest pain is a type of sharp, worsening pain that occurs with deep inspiration or coughing. It can be a symptom of various conditions that irritate or inflame the pleura, the thin membrane lining the lungs and chest wall.
Common causes of pleuritic chest pain include:
- Pericarditis, an inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
- Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lung arteries.
- Myocardial infarction, or heart attack.
- Pneumothorax, a collapsed lung.
- Pleural effusion, the accumulation of fluid in the pleura.
- Pleuritis, inflammation of the pleura due to infections, autoimmune diseases, trauma, or cancers.
- Empyema, a collection of pus in the pleural space due to infection.
Other causes of pleural irritation include rib fractures, pneumonia, asbestos exposure leading to pleural thickening, pancreatitis, or systemic inflammatory diseases.
If you experience pleuritic chest pain, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 if you suspect serious medical symptoms. For a comprehensive list of signs for emergency medical attention, visit the National Library of Medicine's website.
While this article does not delve into the connection between calf cramps and the conditions mentioned above, it's worth noting that some resources suggest that dehydration could potentially lead to both calf cramps and certain health conditions affecting the lungs and heart.
For instance, an Apple and Egg Diet, which involves drinking one cup of water every morning, has been proposed as a means to prevent dehydration and potentially reduce the risk of calf cramps. However, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or exercise regimen.
Lastly, for those curious about other health-related topics, there's an interesting article titled "Itchy Butt? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You." Happy reading!
[1] Pulmonary Embolism. (n.d.). Retrieved from Family Practice Notebook: https://www.fpnotebook.com/topics/pulmonary-embolism/ [2] Pleuritic Chest Pain: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis. (2015, June 1). Retrieved from American Family Physician: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0601/p679.html [3] Pericarditis. (2021, February 16). Retrieved from Oxford Medical Education: https://www.oxfordmedicaleducation.com/view/10.1093/med-q/bzab098 [4] Pneumothorax. (2020, November 1). Retrieved from Merck Manual Professional Version: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/pleural-space-disorders/pneumothorax [5] COVID-19 Lung Damage. (n.d.). Retrieved from Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-lung-damage [6] Chest Pain, Acute. (n.d.). Retrieved from FamilyDoctor.org: https://familydoctor.org/condition/chest-pain-acute/ [7] Itchy Butt? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You. (n.d.). (n.d.). Retrieved from FamilyDoctor.org: https://familydoctor.org/article/itchy-butt-heres-whats-your-body-trying-to-tell-you/ [8] Signs for Emergency Medical Attention. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000044.htm
- Medical-conditions like pleuritic chest pain, which is a symptom of various conditions that can irritate or inflame the lining of the lungs and chest wall, such as pulmonary embolism, pericarditis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pleuritis, and empyema, require immediate attention and it's crucial to seek medical help.
- In some resources, dehydration, a potential cause of calf cramps, has been linked to respiratory and cardiac health issues, underscoring the importance of maintaining proper hydration for overall health-and-wellness.
