Signs, symptoms & indicators of Pleurisy
Chest pain when breathing out or chest pain when breathing in or chest pain when breathing
The hallmark of pleurisy is severe chest pain that starts suddenly. Often strong or stabbing when taking a deep breath or coughing, the pain usually subsides or disappears between breaths, and it is usually felt on one side of the stomach area or lower chest. There may also be fever, pain when moving, or fast, shallow breathing. The patient will typically be able to point to the exact location of the pain. In some people, the pain spreads to the neck, shoulder, or abdomen.
Key
| Strong or generally accepted link |
Glossary
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.