Do I Have Pleurisy?

Do you have a sharp, stabbing pain in your chest when you breathe (pleuritic pain)?

Does your pain is worsening when you take a deep breath, sneeze, cough, or move your upper body?

Does your pain lessens or stops when you hold your breath?

Do you breathe shallow in order to avoid the pain?

Do you have a shortness of breath (the feeling as if you cannot draw a complete breath)?

Do you have pain on one side of your chest?

Do you have pain that can radiate to your shoulders or back?

Have you recently had some kind of infection or noticed swollen and tender joints or rashes?

Have you been involved in any work, projects or hobbies over the years that might have exposed you to asbestos?

Do or did you smoke?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have pleurisy. Pleurisy or pleuritis is an inflammation of the pleura. The pleura consist of two thin layers of tissue that separate your lungs from your chest wall. These two layers of tissue are lubricated by fluids and they slide smoothly next to each other when you breathe. When the pleura become inflamed, they rub against each other causing you pain. Your symptoms need to be evaluated by your physician. If you experience chest pain during breathing your doctor will do some tests in order to rule out serious medical conditions.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura. The pleura are a two-layer membrane lining the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity. When you breathe the two layers of pleura slide next to each other, but in pleurisy they rub against each other, producing the pain when you inhale and exhale. This pain is called the pleuritic pain and usually stops when you hold your breath. Pleurisy is caused by a variety of underlying conditions. If diagnosed and treated on time, people recover from pleurisy.