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 Lung & Respiratory Disorders
 Recently quit smoking, sharp pain in left side of chest
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| Author | Topic: Recently quit smoking, sharp pain in left side of chest | Page views: 4134 |
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rxfudd Newbie  Posts: 2 |
posted 06-25-2002 11:38 AM
  
I am a 23 year old male who had been a 1.5 pack a day smoker for about 8 years. I just quit smoking about 6 weeks ago and since then, I've been noticing a sharp pain in the left side of my chest. It only occurs when I inhale, and if I exhale, wait a second or so, and then inhale again, it is gone. Furthermore, I only experience this every once in a while. I have no trouble breathing and no obvious health problems. Any idea what this could possibly be? I have scheduled an appointment with my physician in July, but I'm hoping I might get some insight on this beforehand. Thanks very much. IP: Logged |
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SamQKitty Senior Veteran  Posts: 715 |
posted 06-25-2002 06:41 PM
It sounds like a muscle-related thing...like what used to be called a "stitch" in your side. If it always goes away, doesn't cause any other problems (such as shortness of breath, clammy feeling, pain radiating down the arm that doesn't go away either), it's probably nothing to worry about. Congratulations on quitting smoking! It's the single best thing you can do for your health. [This message has been edited by SamQKitty (edited 06-25-2002).] IP: Logged |
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wrin Senior Veteran Posts: 2097 |
posted 06-29-2002 05:03 PM
Try to pay attention to any other changes since quitting smoking -- it could be a muscular thing but mention to your doctor any changes in the frequency of coughing or color and consistency of sputum. MOST ESPECIALLY take note of blood in your sputum. IP: Logged |
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rxfudd Newbie Posts: 2 |
posted 06-29-2002 10:38 PM
Thanks for the responses SamQKitty and wrin. wrin, I'll make sure I mention that to my doctor, but out of curiousity, what would blood in the sputum imply? I haven't experienced this at all, I'm just curious. I've been noticing a marked decrease in coughing frequency. In fact, it's almost entirely gone. It's strange, but I haven't even been coughing up sputum as much as I thought I would. I definitely feel different in that I can breathe much better and no longer cough, but hardly any sputum. Thanks for the encouragement on quitting smoking, SQK. I start medical school in September and figured that it would be in the poorest form to begin studying medicine with a cigarette in my mouth. Besides, not only can I not afford it, I was starting to really notice how poor my health was as a result of it. It's so nice to walk past someone who is smoking and actually be terribly annoyed by it rather than want to join in. Thanks again for the replies! [This message has been edited by rxfudd (edited 06-29-2002).] IP: Logged |
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wrin Senior Veteran Posts: 2097 |
posted 06-30-2002 03:21 AM
well blood in the sputum could be any number of things, some of them good, some of them bad, some of them horrific. Some things are just a violent cough bursting a blood vessel, this reason is slightly more common among people with lung inflammation, lung cancer, tuberculosis, all kinds of things. It's something that if it happens more than once (because once could be a violent cough) or is accompanied by any other changes in breathing or a chest pain, it should be taken to a doctor ASAP. IP: Logged |
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