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What Are Symptoms Of Pleurisy?

Do you have chest pain? Pleurisy has something to do with it. When you feel like you are stabbed when breathing, then that must be pleurisy. It is mainly caused by the inflammation of the pleura which refers to the linings that appear in the lungs.

How does it happen?

Medical experts tell that pleura is composed of two layers named as the visceral pleura and parietal pleura. The visceral pleura is responsible for the lungs and the parietal pleura is responsible for the chest. To regulate their normal conditions, the pleural fluid is present to lubricate them.

The differences

In most cases, pleurisy happens when the two layers of pleura creates friction when rubbing each other. However, pleura can also be experienced when the space between those layers accumulate a lot of fluid. Such pleural condition is known as pleural effusion.

The causes

It is important to determine the causes of pleurisy so that the doctors can easily give you the right medication for your condition. Among the leading causes for pleurisy are:

1. Bacterial infections. There are plenty of diseases that strike the respiratory system. Infectious disease like tuberculosis is one of the leading factors in the acquisition of pleurisy.

2. Toxic chemicals. When you inhale toxic chemical like asbestos, you would surely gain respiratory diseases including pleurisy.

3. Heart diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may also contribute to the shortness of breath you would experience.

4. Cancers. Breast cancer and lung cancer may lead to pleura when they start to spread all over the body.

5. The tumors. Pleura can have tumors like mesothelioma and sarcoma which causes it to malfunction.

6. Heart failure. This is the result of too much consumption of alcoholic drinks and cigarrettes.

7. Blood clot. The blood clot in the vessels of your lungs may cause you complications in the chest.

8. Accidents. You may have trauma out of accidents that lead you into having rib fractures.

9. Medications leading to lupus

10. Abdominal complications

The symptoms of pleurisy

You would never tell how painful it is when having pleurisy but you would best notice it when you manifest the following conditions:

1. Difficulty to breathe. Having a pain somewhere in the chest would make you breathe slowly in order not to feel it.

2. Chest pain. This is experienced when breathing.

3. Stabbing. The pain inside is like somebody has stabbed you.

Are there differences?

You need to consult your doctor when you feel pain in the chest because there are a lot of ailments that could be associated to it. Sometimes, the chest pain is caused by pericarditis or the inflammation of the heart if not heart attack.

Are there treatments available?

As you allow your doctor to have a general check up of your condition. You are already giving him the authority to grant you prescriptions according to the need of the your body. Basically, you will be given any of the following treatments according to the severity of the ailment:

1. Thoracentesis. This involves the fluid removal in the chest.

2. Antibiotics

3. Thoracotomy

4. Pleurodesis for pleural effusion

By: Dustin Bynumer

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