11 Causes of Chest Pain

7. Pleurisy (Pleuritis)

Pleurisy is a type of chest pain that originates from the pleura, a thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds the lungs and keeps them from rubbing against the chest cavity when inhaling. When the pleura is inflamed or infected, breathing becomes painful. The layers of pleura may rub against each other or the chest cavity, causing stabbing chest pain. A virus or bacteria may cause pleurisy. If the cause is bacterial, doctors may prescribe antibiotics. Viral pleurisy often goes away on its own.