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Short answer How can I tell if it is a pulled muscle or something serious? Common questions about side pain when coughing Related questions SourcesMost side pain that appears only when you cough comes from strained chest wall muscles or irritated tissue lining the lungs, not from damage to the lung itself.
The muscles between your ribs contract with every cough, so a few days of coughing can leave one side sore, tight, and tender to press. Sharp, stabbing pain that spikes when you breathe in points more toward pleurisy, which is inflammation of the lining around the lungs and often follows a viral illness. Fever, chills, and a wet cough alongside the pain raise the chance of pneumonia and need a clinician. Pain low on your side or back with burning urination points toward the kidneys instead. Supporting the sore area with a pillow when you cough, staying upright, and treating the cough itself all reduce the strain.
How can I tell if it is a pulled muscle or something serious?
Common questions about side pain when coughing
why does my side hurt when i cough
Coughing contracts the muscles between your ribs over and over, and those muscles strain and ache, usually on one side. Pain that is sharp and stabbing each time you breathe in points more toward pleurisy, inflammation of the lining around the lungs, which often follows a viral infection. Pneumonia can cause the same pain along with fever, chills, and a productive cough. A simple muscle strain is tender when you press on it and eases over one to two weeks with rest and heat. Get checked the same day if you have trouble breathing, cough up blood, run a fever, feel faint, or have calf swelling.