What is pleurisy?
Pleurisy is a condition in which the thin tissues that line the lungs and chest wall called pleura becomes inflamed. Usually, when you breathe, these tissues rub together, there is no problem because they generate no friction. The problem arises when they are inflamed, irritated, and swollen, causing intense pain while breathing.
There are two layers of pleural; one covers the outer portion of the lungs, while the other one covers the inner chest wall. Between them is a pleural space that is filled with fluid to maintain friction. These layers act as a smooth covering, allowing the lungs to inflate and contract during breathing. However, in response to the inflammation, the two layers rub like pieces of paper, producing pain.
Pleurisy can be due to bacterial infections that result in inflammation or infection in the tissues. Fortunately, we do have treatments to address and prevent bacterial infections that lead to pleurisy.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of pleurisy may look like:
- Chest pain due to inhalation and exhalation process which worsens when coughing or Sneezing
- Breathlessness
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Pain that moves to the upper body and radiates back to shoulder or back
- Pain in the joint
- Muscle aches
Pleurisy is followed by pleural effusion, atelectasis, or empyema.
Pleural effusion: Pleural effusion is the fluid buildup in the space between the two pleura. When there is a significant amount of fluid, the pain is less because the two layers are not able to come in contact with each other, and there is less friction.
Atelectasis: Too much fluid in the pleural space creates more pressure and result in compression to the point that breathing collapses. You may find breathing hard and tough, causing persistent cough.
Empyema. As with too much fluid, the infection may result in pus buildup. This is referred to as empyema. Fever and chills are quite common in empyema due to bacterial infection.
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor right away if you experience intense chest pain during breathing. The reason could be a problem in the organs essential for life, for which you might need to consult your doctor.
Causes
The most common cause of pleurisy is viral or bacterial infections. The virus triggers the infection in the lungs, which in turn leads to inflammation in the tissues.
Other causes of pleurisy include:
- bacterial pneumonia
- fungal or parasitic infections
- bronchitis
- tuberculosis
- chest wounds
- blood clots in the arteries of the lung also called pulmonary emboli
- trauma to the chest wall
- immune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
- sickle cell anemia
- lung cancer
- lymphoma
- mesothelioma, which is cancer caused by asbestos exposure
- tumors of chest or lung
- fractures in the rib
- complications from the previous injury in the heart
Diagnosis
The diagnostic tests begin with determining your medical history and examining the signs of pleurisy.
Other tests your doctor may recommend, include:
Blood tests. The test helps doctors know if they have an infection. There are different types of blood tests to diagnose an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus, in which pleurisy appears to be the initial sign.
Chest X-ray. Using X-rays, the doctor might look for inflation in the lungs or fluid between the lungs and ribs.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan lets the doctor see different images of the lungs from varied angles. The cross-sectional images will help know the condition and determine the cause of pain, such as a blood clot.
Ultrasound. Using ultrasound (sound waves), the doctor gets clear images of organs and tissues within the body.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). ECG or EKG is done in a rare case when the doctor wants to rule out the cause of chest pain, and it does not happen to be a lung infection.
Biopsy. A pleural biopsy can detect the cause of pleurisy.
Thoracoscopy. Thoracoscopy is a procedure in which your doctor makes a small incision in your chest wall and then projects a tiny camera into the pleural space. Using the camera, the tissue is collected for examination by the doctor.
Ayurvedic treatment for pleurisy
In Ayurveda, this condition is known as Parshwashool. Ayurvedic scholars have called the disease to be an outcome of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha imbalance. Irritated Vayu level may traverse from the body into the lungs. This allows Kapha to accumulate in the core areas. As Pitta is balmy in nature, it dissolves Kapha and makes it fluid. In response to this, fluid may build up in the lungs, which causes pain during breathing.
There are potent herbs in nature helping humankind to experience better health and avoid these conditions.
Along with medicinal herbs, lifestyle recommendations, including your diet and exercise regimen, also help recovery hard.
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