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EspañolWhat causes dry cough and chest pain? Related conditions and treatments
Overview: What does dry cough and chest pain feel like?
A dry cough is any cough that doesn’t bring up mucus or phlegm, which is why it’s also called an “unproductive cough.” The cough can last a few days (an acute cough) or persist for three to eight weeks or longer (a chronic cough). Chest pain is more subjective. It can just mean chest discomfort. It can be a dull ache, a sharp pain, a stabbing pain, or a burning sensation. It can also feel like pressure or squeezing in the chest. The pain can last a few minutes or persist for days or longer.
RELATED: What causes a dry cough? Related conditions and treatments
Key takeaways:
Dry cough and chest pain are common symptoms that may be caused by viral infections, asthma, GERD, bronchitis, lung disease, collapsed lung, or lung cancer.
Typically, dry cough and related chest pain do not require immediate medical attention unless accompanied by serious symptoms such as severe coughing, severe pain, difficulty breathing, or coughing up blood.
Dry cough and related chest pain generally do not require treatment, depending on the underlying cause. Dry cough and chest pain typically resolve without treatment within a day or a few days in many cases, but sometimes, these symptoms can last for weeks or a lifetime.
Treatments for dry cough and chest pain vary by cause. Learn more about treatments for asthma and GERD here.
Dry cough and chest pain can be managed with home remedies for the cough and home remedies or medical treatment for the underlying cause.
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What causes dry cough and chest pain?
A dry cough and chest pain may be signs of a minor problem that will eventually pass or a serious medical condition a healthcare provider should treat. The cough itself is the first and most obvious cause of dry coughs and chest pain.
Dry cough
Chest pain on top of a dry cough may be due to the dry cough itself. Prolonged or forceful coughing can strain and injure the muscles and connective tissues in the chest, causing dull or stabbing pain when coughing or breathing. If the cough is bad enough, one or more ribs might fracture, causing intense pain and pain when breathing, coughing, or moving. Any of the most common causes of dry cough may cause chest injuries and pain, including:
Dry air
Cold air
Irritants
Smoking
Lingering effects of viral infections like the common cold or flu
Viral infections
Some viral infections can cause both a dry cough and chest tightness, such as COVID-19. There will typically be other symptoms like swollen sinuses, sore throat, runny nose, or difficulty breathing.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis, a viral (or sometimes bacterial) respiratory infection, can also cause a dry cough (at first) and chest pain. The pain is usually a sharp, stabbing pain that worsens when breathing deeply.
Lung disease
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) may have chest pain due to a variety of reasons. COPD chest pain can vary but is often reported as intense or aching. People with COPD can experience chronic chest and back pain. Coughing is usually productive, but some people with COPD will have a dry cough.
A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening blood clot in an artery of the lungs (that usually comes from the veins in the legs) that causes sudden, stabbing pain that worsens when breathing in. A dry cough is also a common symptom, but a productive cough is also possible, including coughing up blood.
Asthma
Both coughing and chest tightness are common symptoms of an asthma attack. There will be other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and wheezing.
GERD
Both a dry cough and chest pain are commonly experienced in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The chest pain usually feels like a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Other symptoms include heartburn and regurgitation.
Collapsed lung
Though it sounds frightening, a collapsed lung (or pneumothorax) occurs whenever air leaks into the space outside the lungs. Mild cases may produce no symptoms. In the most severe cases, a collapsed lung could be a life-threatening medical emergency. When there are symptoms, the most common symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breath. A dry cough is possible but not as common. Chest pain due to a collapsed lung is sudden, sharp, and severe. The pain may spread to the shoulder as well.
Lung cancer
A persistent cough is one of the most common symptoms of lung cancer. Chest pain due to lung cancer worsens when taking a deep breath, coughing, or laughing. The pain can range from mild discomfort to intense pain. Depending on its location, a lung cancer tumor can cause sharp pain in the shoulder.
RELATED: 24 causes of chest pain in adults—and how to treat it
Should I be worried about dry cough and chest pain?
The seriousness of dry cough and related chest pain depends on various factors, such as how sick one feels, how long the cough has lasted, how severe the pain is, and the presence or severity of other symptoms.
A dry cough may be nothing to worry about unless it lasts longer than three to eight weeks or is severe. Chronic coughing may be a sign of a serious medical condition. Less than 2% of people with a chronic cough are eventually diagnosed with lung cancer.
Chest pain is not always something to worry about. If the pain doesn’t go away, gets worse, or feels worse when taking a breath, see a doctor. Get immediate emergency treatment if chest pain is sharp, sudden, or severe and accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness, or pain in the shoulder, back, or neck. These may be symptoms of a heart attack. If coughing up blood or breathing difficulties occur, seek emergency medical care.
How is the cause of dry cough and chest pain diagnosed?
Dry cough and chest pain can point to many causes, so a healthcare professional will start with a medical history and physical examination. The clinician may refer the patient to a specialist. If the problem is a collapsed lung or another serious condition, one may be sent to an emergency room.
Clinicians may need to perform other tests to zero in on the final diagnosis. The tests chosen will depend on the possible underlying condition. These include:
Blood tests
Chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound
A sputum test if a lung infection or COPD is suspected
Lung function tests if asthma or COPD is suspected
Various breathing/lung and allergy tests if asthma is suspected
An upper endoscopy to examine the esophagus to determine if GERD is the most likely cause
A 24-hour test to measure pH levels in the esophagus
A test to measure the strength of esophageal muscles
An electrocardiogram, angiogram, and/or ventilation-perfusion scan if a pulmonary embolism might be the cause
An echocardiogram of the heart to detect heart failure if COPD is the cause
A PET scan of the lungs if lung cancer is the issue
Surgical removal of lung tissue or tissue samples of lymph nodes for biopsy
Is dry cough and chest pain contagious?
Of the various causes of a dry cough and chest pain, only respiratory tract infections are contagious. People who suspect a respiratory tract infection should take all the necessary precautions to avoid spreading it.
How long do dry coughs and chest pain last?
As symptoms, dry cough, and chest pain will last as long as there’s an underlying condition causing those symptoms. Most of the time, these underlying conditions will resolve in a few days or weeks. Even a mild case of a collapsed lung may resolve without treatment because the body absorbs the air from the collapsed lung. Some, like asthma or GERD, may be recurrent, but people can take measures to control these medical conditions, such as taking daily preventive medication.
Other conditions, like lung cancer or collapsed lung, may be chronic problems until they’re diagnosed or treated. COPD is a lifelong condition, so coughing, chest pain and other symptoms may wax or wane but never go away—although certain measures can help control symptoms, like taking medications, getting vaccines, and avoiding smoking.
How to stop dry cough and chest pain
Dry cough and chest pain treatments will depend on the underlying condition causing the symptoms:
If chest pain is due to the cough, the symptoms can be alleviated with home remedies, over-the-counter cough medicines, or prescription cough suppressants
Chest pain due to a viral or bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics (for bacterial infections), antiviral medications, or symptom relief care
Asthma treatment options usually involve avoiding allergens along with rescue inhalers (bronchodilators) to treat attacks and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids to prevent asthma flare-ups
GERD is usually treated with stomach acid-reducing medications, including proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers
COPD is treated by lifestyle changes, bronchodilators, or steroid inhalers to improve breathing
Pulmonary embolism is treated with anticoagulants, blood clot-dissolving drugs, and possibly surgery
A collapsed lung is treated according to its severity—treatment may consist of waiting for it to be corrected, needle decompression, chest tubes, or surgery.
Lung cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other types of anticancer drugs
Living with a dry cough and chest pain
In addition to any prescribed medications, a persistent dry cough can also be managed by:
Drinking plenty of fluids
Using a humidifier
Using an air purifier
Drinking warm drinks
Sucking on hard candy, cough drops, or throat lozenges
Avoiding cigarette smoke and other irritants
Chest pain is a different matter. It will depend on what’s causing the chest pain, so home remedies will vary:
People with asthma should avoid allergens and use an air purifier when indoors
People with GERD should adopt a GERD-friendly diet, avoid trigger foods, avoid eating close to bedtime, eat slowly, and elevate the head when sleeping
People with COPD can help manage symptoms by practicing breathing exercises, using an air purifier, exercising regularly, eating a healthy and balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and working to reduce and manage stress
Most importantly, take chest pain seriously
Remember: one possible cause of dry cough and chest pain is that there’s one cause and a different cause for the chest pain, which might be serious. One serious warning sign of a heart attack is chest pain that radiates out to the arm(s), shoulders, back, neck, or jaw, especially if the chest pain is located behind or to the left of the breastbone. Severe pain, or pain when breathing in, is also a warning sign of serious heart or lung problems. Other symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, vomiting up blood, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue are more red flags. When these warning signs occur, see a doctor sooner rather than later. If there’s any reason to fear that a heart attack is occurring, call 911 and go to an emergency room.
What’s next? Additional resources for people with dry cough and chest pain
Test and diagnostics
Cough: diagnosis and management, American Family Physician
Diagnosing the cause of chest pain, American Family Physician
Pulmonary embolism, Yale Medicine
What causes a dry cough? Related conditions and treatments, SingleCare
Treatments
Asthma treatments and medications, SingleCare
COPD treatments and medications, SingleCare
Dry cough treatments and medications, SingleCare
Lung cancer treatments and medications, SingleCare
GERD treatments and medications, SingleCare
Scientific studies and clinical trials
More information on related health conditions
Allergy treatments and medications, SingleCare
Common cold treatments and medications, SingleCare
COPD treatments and medications, SingleCare
Influenza treatments and medications, SingleCare