Chest pain right: possible causes

Chest pain on the right – a characteristic symptom of diseases of internal organs. Its causes are quite varied and are not always associated with the presence of a particular disease. In the diagnosis it is important to consider not only the location of the pain, but also its duration, intensity and frequency of repetitions for a certain period of time.

Diseases that cause chest pain right

The most common causes of chest pain are diseases of the respiratory system.


Pneumonia – pneumonia occurring as a complication of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract or independently. Distinguish between unilateral and bilateral pneumonia. Acute inflammatory process in the lungs is accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature, pain in the chest, aggravated by strong inhalation and coughing. The pain is right in pneumonia clearly indicates the localization of the inflammation in the right lung.


Pleurisy – inflammation of the serous membrane of the lungs – the pleura. Share dry and exudative pleurisy. The first is accompanied by stitching pains in the chest, aggravated by sharp movements, sneezing, coughing, the second – a dull aching pain, dry cough, shortness of breath. Pleurisy most often affects one lung. With extensive inflammation of the pleura pain spread to the whole thorax, with focal inflammatory process localized on the right or left side.

Cancer of lungs more often than other pathologies cause a long different intensity of pain in the chest. These pains are usually intermittent, can be local and surrounding. Depending on the location of the original tumor pain in lung cancer is localized on one side of the chest, covers the entire breast area, gives in the abdomen, neck, spine, upper extremity.


Severe pain in the breast in cancer of the lungs indicate advanced development of the tumor and appearance of metastases in other organs.


Infections of the upper respiratory tract – influenza, respiratory catarrh, tonsillitis, bronchitis. Colds – the most common cause of this symptom. Especially inflammation of the bronchi accompanied by strong pain, covering the entire breast, either one of its sides. Pain with bronchitis has a tendency to worsen with a deep breath-exhale at the time of cough.


Intercostal neuralgia is a condition caused by entrapment or compression of the roots of the intercostal nerves. The disease is accompanied by a shooting and a stabbing pain in different areas of the breast. Sometimes this symptom is so strong that prevents breathing process, constrains the movement of the body.


Less often chest pain on the right side occurs in osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, hepatitis.

Other causes of chest pain on the right

Intense aching pain in the chest on the right often appears after active sports. In this case, this symptom arises from a strain or sprain of the pectoral muscles.


In rare cases this symptom is caused by emotional stress, being in a state of prolonged stress. Under severe stress the muscles of the chest are compressed, causing the appearance of the characteristic symptoms of pain, aggravated by pressure and physical stress on the body. The pain is stabbing, paroxysmal.


Recent trauma to the chest, accompanied by displacement or fractures of the ribs, contributes to a constant, worse when inhaling and the physical activity of the body pain. Injuries to the upper spine can also be the cause of different intensity pain occurring to the right or left in the chest, depending on the specific location of the damage.