10 Pleurisy Symptoms
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Symptom #3: Breathing Difficulties
In addition to coughing, pleurisy may cause breathing difficulties due to inflammation directly outside of the lungs. The inflammation of the pleura may also cause fluid to collect in the chest cavity, making it difficult for the lungs to expand when breathing in. Incidentally, in some cases, this fluid may cause a reduction of friction pain because the two pleura surfaces no longer rub against each other.
The consequence is that the patient will have a feeling of shortness of breath as less air, and oxygen in particular gets into the lungs. Besides, to minimize the pain that worsens when breathing in, the patient will automatically take shallow breaths.
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