Question

What is the cause of sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement?

1) Inflammation or irritation of the pleura
2) Muscle strain
3) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
4) Heart attack

Answer 1

Sharp, stabbing chest pain worsened by breathing or movement can be due to pleuritis, muscle strain, GERD, or more serious heart conditions such as heart attack or angina.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that worsens by a deep breath or other chest wall movements could be caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura. This is the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. When inflamed, a condition known as pleuritis or pleurisy, it can cause sharp chest pain which gets worse with breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Other causes for such chest pain can include muscle strain from overuse or injury, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which involves stomach acid causing irritation and pain in the esophagus, and potentially a heart attack or angina, which are serious conditions that occur when there is not enough blood flow to the heart, causing oxygen deprivation to heart muscle cells.