Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why does pneumonia sometimes cause chest pain during deep breaths?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
respiratory disease
The bronchioles of the lungs are the site where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide during the process of respiration. Inflammation, infection, or obstruction of the bronchioles is often associated with acute or chronic respiratory disease, including bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and lung abscesses.
Pneumonia can cause chest pain during deep breaths because it is frequently accompanied by pleurisy, an inflammation of the pleura. The pleura consists of two thin membranes: one lining the thoracic cavity and the other covering the lungs.123
In a healthy state, these membranes are lubricated and slide past each other smoothly during respiration. However, when the pleura becomes inflamed due to an underlying infection like pneumonia, the surfaces become irritated. Because the pleura is well supplied with nerves, this inflammation results in significant pain, particularly when the lungs expand during deep breaths or coughing, which causes the inflamed surfaces to rub against one another.421