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Also, some of the conditions that can cause pleurisy are chronic-you have them for a long time-so you may continue to be susceptible to inflammation of the pleura.ĭoctors use a medical history and several tests to evaluate for pleurisy. You do not become immune to pleurisy by having it and recovering.
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Other signs and symptoms of pleurisy can include: If you experience sharp chest pain, it is important to seek immediate medical attention to rule out these life-threatening conditions. Pain similar to pleuritic pain can also be a symptom of emergency medical conditions such as a heart attack or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). Sometimes the pain can spread to the shoulder or back. This pain often worsens when you cough or breathe in deeply. Most people with pleurisy experience sharp or stabbing chest pain, also known as pleuritic pain.
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When the membranes become inflamed, they rub painfully against each other instead. Fluid lubricates the layers of the pleura so they slide smoothly alongside each other when you breathe. The pleural space is a thin area between the chest lining and the membrane that lines the lungs. Pleurisy is an inflammation (swelling or irritation) of these two layers of tissue. The pleura is the thin membrane that lines the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity.
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Normal pleura in lung compared to inflamed pleura in lung (pleurisy) What is pleurisy?
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