A sharp pain in the chest every time you breathe in may be pleurisy. The UK National Health Service (NHS) describes pleurisy as inflammation of the lining around the lungs. The main symptom is sharp chest pain when breathing in; it usually gets better within a few days, but it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, such as pneumonia. Sudden chest pain lasting 15 minutes or more could be a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism — call 999 (119 in Korea, our note). Below is the NHS “Pleurisy” page set out as written; the Korean care notes are ours.
1. Sharp chest pain when breathing in — worse with coughing, sneezing or moving; it can spread to the shoulders and back.
2. Usually gets better on its own in a few days — if a bacterial infection such as pneumonia is the cause, finish the antibiotics.
3. Sudden chest pain lasting 15 minutes or more, or spreading to the arms, back, neck or jaw: call 999.
Symptoms — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Sharp chest pain when breathing in | The key symptom |
| Worse with | Coughing, sneezing or moving | — |
| Spreads to | The shoulders and back | — |
| How long | Usually better within a few days | No exact number of days on the page |
Get advice soon — NHS
The NHS says to get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have pleurisy. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact 111 if:
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain comes and goes, or only when breathing or coughing | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| Chest pain not better after a few days | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| A few small spots or streaks of blood when coughing, in phlegm or on a handkerchief | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| Regular shortness of breath | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
Call 999 or go to A&E — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden chest pain lasting 15 minutes or more | 999 or A&E | 119 in Korea (ours) |
| Sudden chest pain spreading to the arms, back, neck or jaw | 999 or A&E | See heart attack warning signs |
| Difficulty breathing | 999 or A&E | — |
| Coughing up more than a few spots or streaks of blood | 999 or A&E | — |
| Coughing up blood with breathlessness, a very fast heartbeat, or pain in the chest or upper back | 999 or A&E | — |
The NHS says these could be a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs). Don’t drive yourself to A&E — ask someone to take you or call 999 — and bring any medicines you take. Other heart attack signs are in heart attack warning signs.
Diagnosis — NHS
A GP will examine you and listen to your chest. You may have blood tests, a chest X-ray, an ultrasound or a CT scan, and a GP may refer you to a specialist if the cause isn’t clear, says the NHS.
Treatment and self-care — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| On its own | Usually better within a few days without GP treatment | — |
| Antibiotics | May be needed if a bacterial infection such as pneumonia is the cause — finish the course even if you feel better | Pneumonia is a separate page |
| Painkillers | Paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease chest pain | — |
| Smoking | Avoid smoking and vaping, which irritate the lungs and make the pain worse | — |
| Hospital | May be needed if symptoms are severe or the cause is more serious, such as a pulmonary embolism or tuberculosis | — |
Pneumonia symptoms and recovery are in pneumonia; a lasting cough in cough.
Checklist
- ☐ Sharp chest pain on breathing in: get advice soon
- ☐ Not better in a few days, spots of blood, regular breathlessness: urgent
- ☐ Sudden chest pain 15 minutes or more, spreading to arm or jaw, struggling to breathe: 999 (119 in Korea)
- ☐ Finish antibiotics even when better
- ☐ No smoking or vaping
Questions that remain
How is pleurisy linked to pneumonia?
The NHS says pleurisy can be a sign of something more serious such as pneumonia, and antibiotics may be needed if a bacterial infection is the cause.
Is any chest pain pleurisy?
Chest pain can be a heart problem. The NHS says sudden chest pain lasting 15 minutes or more could be a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism, and to call 999.
What causes it?
The page has no causes section; it names pneumonia, bacterial infection, pulmonary embolism and tuberculosis as underlying conditions.
Sources
- NHS — Pleurisy — source (page shows: reviewed 16 September 2026, next review due 16 September 2029; checked 26 October 2026). Symptoms, GP, 111 and 999 criteria, diagnosis, treatment, smoking.
- Not read. Detailed causes; Korean guidance on pleural disease.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where to check further
- Internal or respiratory medicine — chest pain when breathing, or no better after a few days.
Written on 26 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
