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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Left Chest Pain. Have A Habit Of Smoking. No Medication Or Tests Done. What Can It Be?

I am a 21 year old woman I have smoked since I was 17 regularly. Not excessively. Sometimes I get extremely sharp pains on my left side where your heart is. It is sometimes a few sharp pains in a row then it goes away. When it happens if I breath in it makes the pain sharper. It pretty much happens weekly. I'm worried it is something serious & not just gas etc.
posted on Sat, 18 May 2013
Twitter Sat, 18 May 2013 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 20 May 2013 Last reviewed on
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for your query,
Pain in the chest which is sharp , severe and exacerbates on deep inhalation, coughing or sneezing is typical of pleural inflammation i.e is pleuritis. But since it is on the left side anginal/cardiac pain needs to be ruled out. Acid reflux is one of the possibility but it doesn't cause pleuritic pain.
At this juncture I will advise you to go for an electrocardiography ( ECG) and one chest xray both AP and lateral view and meet pulmonologist of your area.
If it is pleuritis a course of antibiotics will be helpful.
Nevertheless smoking cessation ios always helpful in any respiratory disorder, particularly in women.....

Best wishes
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Have Left Chest Pain. Have A Habit Of Smoking. No Medication Or Tests Done. What Can It Be?

Hi, Thanks for your query, Pain in the chest which is sharp , severe and exacerbates on deep inhalation, coughing or sneezing is typical of pleural inflammation i.e is pleuritis. But since it is on the left side anginal/cardiac pain needs to be ruled out. Acid reflux is one of the possibility but it doesn t cause pleuritic pain. At this juncture I will advise you to go for an electrocardiography ( ECG) and one chest xray both AP and lateral view and meet pulmonologist of your area. If it is pleuritis a course of antibiotics will be helpful. Nevertheless smoking cessation ios always helpful in any respiratory disorder, particularly in women..... Best wishes