Why do chest colds hurt

It can cause regurgitation and nausea, as well as coughing. Heartburn is a classic symptom of acid reflux. It can feel like burning in the chest. Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that travels to the lungs. It can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and a cough. A blood clot in your lungs can feel like a heart attack , and you may cough up bloody streaks of sputum. Early lung cancer may not cause symptoms. As the cancer grows, you may develop chest tightness or pain.

Shortness of breath can lead to a chronic cough that produces blood. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects different tissues and organs in your body.

This includes your joints, skin, and lungs. When lupus affects the pulmonary system, the lining on the outside of your lungs becomes inflamed. This inflammation causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and a chronic cough.

At your appointment, your doctor may conduct a physical examination and ask about accompanying symptoms. Be honest about how you feel. From here, your doctor may order imaging tests of your chest to look for signs of infection, inflammation, or tumors. Along with conventional therapy, home remedies can help relieve symptoms. If a nagging cough causes chest pain, treating the cough may ease chest discomfort.

A cough and chest pain can be a minor annoyance, or they can progress into serious complications. Untreated flu and bronchitis can advance to pneumonia. If left untreated, pneumonia can cause sepsis and organ failure.

Severe COPD and an asthma attack can also be life-threatening if it causes respiratory failure. The tests are usually done with special machines that you breathe into. How is acute bronchitis treated? Treatment is aimed at treating the symptoms, and may include: Avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke Cough medicine Humidifying the air Increased fluid intake Pain relievers and fever reducers, such as acetaminophen Tylenol Quitting smoking Avoid antihistamines because they dry up the secretions and can make the cough worse.

What are the complications of acute bronchitis? Can bronchitis be prevented? Anyone can get pneumococcal disease. However, children younger than age 2, adults ages 65 and older, people with certain medical conditions, and smokers are at the highest risk. When should I call my health care provider? Key points Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. There are several different types of bronchitis.

The two most common are acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. It may also be caused by a bacterial infection, or by physical or chemical agents that are breathed into the lungs. The most common symptoms for acute bronchitis include cough, chest soreness, runny nose, feeling tired and achy, headache, chills, slight fever, and sore throat.

Blood tests, breathing tests, and imaging tests may also be used. If it progresses to pneumonia, then antibiotics may be necessary. Treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms. Next steps Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider: Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen. Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your healthcare provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. According to a study , doctors have prescribed antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis in the past. However, doctors should not prescribe antibiotics for a chest cold, even when people expect to receive a prescription. This type of medication will not cure the illness.

Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can lead to short- and long-term side effects , including rashes and antibiotic resistant infections. A study suggests that antibiotic overuse may stem from our mistaken expectations about how long a cough should last.

However, this cough can last for 8 weeks , as it is the symptom that lingers the longest. Doctors typically perform a physical exam to diagnose a chest cold. If the person has a fever, the doctor may order an X-ray to check for pneumonia , an infection of the lungs that requires a different course of treatment.

Pneumonia mostly arises as a complication of a chest cold in older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and people with preexisting lung conditions. To prevent chest colds, people should wash their hands thoroughly. The CDC also recommend getting the flu vaccine.

The pneumococcal vaccine can help prevent pneumonia, a potential complication of a chest cold. However, doctors only recommend this to certain groups , such as people 65 or older and people with certain ongoing health issues. Learn the most effective handwashing technique here.

The CDC recommend that people with acute bronchitis, or a chest cold, see a doctor if they experience any of the following:. Sinus Infection. Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Seasonal Flu. Pink Eye. High Blood Pressure. Heart Health. Hand Foot and Mouth. Ear Infections. Cuts and Lacerations. Common Cold. Abdominal Pain. Physical Exam. Heart Attack. Ear Infection.