Right Side Chest Pain: Common Causes and When to See a Doctor

Here is a list of the most common causes of right side chest pain, ranging from mild to severe:

1. Muscle Strain or Chest Wall Injury

This is one of the most frequent and safest causes.

How it occurs:

• Lifting heavy loads
• Intensive exercise or gym training
• Sudden twists or bends
• Small accidents or falls

Symptoms:

• Pain that worsens with movement
• Tenderness upon touching the area
• Pain that is sore, achy, or sharp

Treatment:

• Rest
• Cold or warm compress
• Over-the-counter pain medication

In case the pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, it's advisable to get it checked.

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2. Lung-Related Conditions

Because your lungs take up much of your chest space, problems in your right lung can easily lead to pain on the right side.

Pneumonia

An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.

• Chest pain during breathing or coughing
• Fever, chills, tiredness
• Shortness of breath

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura—the thin lining around your lungs.

• Sharp chest pain when breathing deeply, coughing, or sneezing
• Can be caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or injury

Pulmonary Embolism

A blood clot that travels to the lungs—a medical emergency.

• Sudden sharp chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness or fainting

Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)

Occurs when air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall.

• Sudden, severe chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• A feeling of tightness

If you’re experiencing breathing difficulty along with chest pain, visit Iris Hospital Kolkata immediately.

3. Gastrointestinal Causes

Pain from the digestive system often radiates to the right chest, especially in the upper quadrant.

Acid Reflux (GERD)

Stomach acid traveling back up the food pipe can cause burning pain on the chest.
Symptoms:

• Burning chest pain after eating
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Pain worsens when lying down

Gallbladder Disease (Gallstones)

Situated below the liver, the gallbladder causes right chest and upper abdomen pain.

Symptoms:

• Severe or blunt pain following fatty food
• Nausea and vomiting
• Back or right shoulder pain radiating
• Liver or Pancreas Issues
• Infection or inflammation in these organs is also responsible for right-sided upper chest or abdominal pain.

4. Rib or Chest Bone Issues

There are occasions when the bones and cartilage themselves are responsible.

Costochondritis

Inflammation at the meeting of the ribs with the breastbone.

Symptoms:

• Sharp or sharp pain in the chest wall
• Tenderness when pressing the area
• Usually gets worse with deep breathing

Rib Fracture or Bruise

Minor injuries can lead to enormous pain, particularly with breathing, coughing, or laughing.

5. Anxiety or Panic Attacks

Surprisingly, your mind can also cause chest pain. Anxiety causes actual physical symptoms.

Symptoms:

• Sharp chest pain or tightness
• Rapid breathing or breathlessness
• Sweating and dizziness
• Sense of fear or sense of impending doom

If causes from the heart or lungs are eliminated, anxiety could be the underlying cause. Our physicians at Iris Hospital treat body and mind equally.

6. Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Viral infection that may lead to stabbing or burning pain on one side of the chest.

Symptoms:

• Pain, itching, or tingling prior to the rash
• Pain increases over days
• Band-like rash appears

Older people or those with compromised immunity are at greater risk.

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Chest pain is not always an emergency, but certain symptoms should never be neglected.

Immediately call a doctor or head to the Emergency  if you have:

• Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath
• Pain radiating into arm, jaw, neck, or back
• Sudden, severe or stinging chest pain
• High fever, chills, or cough with pain in chest
• Dizziness, fainting, or nausea
• Increased or irregular heartbeat
• Pain in the chest following injury or accident

In case you are not sure, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Go to a reliable pulmonology hospital in Kolkata such as Iris Hospital for early intervention.

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We have a step-by-step process to determine the cause at Iris Hospital, Kolkata.

Diagnosis May Include:

• Physical examination and history
• Chest X-ray or CT scan of the lungs and bones
• ECG or ECHO to eliminate heart issues
• Blood investigations to identify infection or inflammation
• Ultrasound or endoscopy for gallbladder or stomach problems
• Pulmonary function tests to assess lung capacity

After the cause is identified, we design a personalized treatment regimen for you.

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Treatment is completely based on the underlying cause.

We do not only work to treat the pain, but to remove the cause and avoid recurrence.
 

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Iris Hospital is one of the most reliable healthcare facilities in Kolkata for chest pain assessment and lung care.

Highlights:

• Pulmonologists and internal medicine specialists of expert calibre
• 24x7 emergency & ICU backup
• Advanced diagnostic equipment (CT, X-ray, ECG, PFT, etc.)
• Multispecialty approach to eliminate all potential causes
• Compassionate care at reasonable costs

If your chest pain is mild or severe, acute or chronic—our doctors are here to help.
 

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Pain on the right side of the chest can result from numerous causes—some are minor and some are serious. The key is not to panic, but also not to neglect it.

If you are uncertain about your symptoms or concerned about any pain in your chest, come to Iris Hospital Kolkata—your reliable pulmonology hospital in Kolkata. Our experienced team is here to assist you in breathing freely and leading a life without pain.

Need to talk to a chest or lung specialist?

Book an appointment today at Iris Hospital, Kolkata.