3. Pleurisy
The pleura is a membrane lining the inner chest cavity that surrounds the lungs. Patients with pleurisy develop an inflammation of this lining which leads to the sensation of tightness in the chest, amplified by sharp pains across the ribcage. People suffering from pleurisy often complain of shortness of breath as the lungs have less capacity to inflate with incoming air while breathing.
A variety of conditions cause pleurisy to develop, and patients may notice the first signs occur due to a persistent cough as the lungs battle to cope with the inflammation of the membrane. The pain from pleurisy also may affect the shoulders and the upper back as well.
In some severe cases of pleurisy, fluid may buildup in the layers between the tissue, resulting in a condition known as pleural effusion. When this situation occurs, the pain reduces or dissipates entirely, due to the two layers of pleura no longer being in contact with each other.