WhyCold Causes Chest Pain
Chest pain is a common symptom of a cold. It can also be a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia.
Regardless of the cause, knowing why cold causes chest pain can help you determine if you have an underlying health condition.
Here are some common causes of chest pain and symptoms. Cold air is bad for your lungs, which are designed to humidify and warm the air you breathe.
Cold air can cause your airways to become narrow, which irritates the area and makes it more difficult to breathe.
Symptoms of a chest cold that causes chest pain include coughing, sore throat, aches, fatigue, and runny nose.
In addition to a cough, chest colds can also cause yellow or green mucus. Fortunately, most colds improve once you drink plenty of fluids and rest.
Nevertheless, if you continue to feel these symptoms, you should visit a doctor.
Those with a common cold are likely to suffer from a chest cold. The infection itself usually occurs from a virus, but can also be caused by bacterial infections, physical agents, or even dust.
Chest pain can also indicate pneumonia, which is potentially life-threatening.
If chest pain persists, seek medical attention immediately. Call 911. If chest pain is accompanied by a fever, seek medical attention immediately.
The symptoms of a chest cold are often hard to differentiate from a common cold. Coughing up discolored mucus, a low-grade fever, and chest soreness are all signs of a chest cold.
However, chest colds generally improve within 7-10 days. Those with a chest cold should visit a doctor if the cough persists for more than three weeks.
If the cough persists for more than 3 weeks, you should get a check-up or visit a pulmonary specialist.
A cough accompanied by fever and sore throat is a sign of acute bronchitis. Other symptoms of acute bronchitis are chest tightness, coughing, and fatigue.
Shortness of breath is also common and can occur with any of the above symptoms. Bronchitis can also be the result of a virus or bacteria.
If you develop these symptoms, you should contact a doctor to seek treatment.
Usually, the chest pain and cough associated with bronchitis go away in seven to fourteen days.
A few people may experience a persistent cough for longer.
Antibiotics are not a suitable treatment for bronchitis. They treat bacterial infections and will not help a viral infection.
The best treatment for this condition is rest and using a humidifier. If you’re unable to cough due to the infection, you should avoid smoking, as this will only make the cough worse.
Symptoms of pneumonia
Symptoms of pneumonia when cold causes chest aches are not common for the healthy adult.
They may be mild to severe, depending on your age, health, immune system, and the germs that cause the infection.
Viral pneumonia is the most common form of pneumonia and usually affects children and the elderly.
Medications for viral pneumonia include rest and antibiotics for bacterial infections.
Over-the-counter medications can also help reduce your fever and discomfort.
Other types of pneumonia can occur if you are taking medication for other health conditions.
Those with HIV/AIDS, kidney or lung transplants or long-term steroids are at risk of pneumonia.
If this condition is not treated quickly, bacteria can enter other organs, leading to organ failure.
Severe pneumonia can make breathing difficult and even necessitate a breathing machine. If you have these symptoms, it’s time to visit your doctor.
A rib fracture can be a life-threatening injury, resulting in severe chest pain and trouble breathing.
In severe cases, the air in the lung becomes trapped under pressure, causing a condition called a tension pneumothorax.
Symptoms of a tension pneumothorax include difficulty breathing and a swollen, bubbly area of the chest.
If the rib fracture is severe, it may lead to internal bleeding and necessitates urgent surgery.
A broken rib may be a hairline fracture or a crack, and while it can cause chest pain, it can also be serious, puncturing the lung or spleen.
In extreme cases, a fractured rib can even damage the liver, kidney, or spleen. It is imperative to see a doctor if you suspect you have a broken rib.
There are other symptoms of a rib fracture, so it is important to seek medical care if you suspect you have a broken rib.
