What causes right chest pain during exercise, and what should be done about it?

Pain in the right chest during exercise may be related to factors such as physical exertion, pleurisy, or myocarditis. Patients can manage symptoms through appropriate adjustments and oral medications. Specific causes are analyzed as follows:

1. Physical Exertion

If a person exercises for too long or engages in overly intense activity, the body's oxygen consumption increases sharply. This may lead to oxygen deficiency in organs and tissues, causing pain in the right chest, shortness of breath, and similar symptoms. However, this is a normal physiological response, and symptoms typically improve gradually with adequate rest.

2. Pleurisy

Pleurisy refers to inflammatory changes within the pleural cavity. If the right-side pleura is inflamed, it can cause chest pain, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. During exercise, stretching of the pleura may worsen the pain. Treatment may include antibiotics such as Penicillin V Potassium Tablets or Roxithromycin Tablets, as prescribed by a doctor.

3. Myocarditis

Inflammatory changes in the heart muscle can impair the heart's pumping function, leading to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. This may result in chest pain, tightness, and shortness of breath. Exercise can exacerbate the pain, sometimes causing radiating pain in the right chest area. Patients may take medications such as Amiodarone Hydrochloride Tablets or Enalapril Maleate Tablets under medical supervision.

Besides the common causes listed above, right chest pain during exercise may also be associated with rib fractures, pericarditis, congenital heart disease, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, or acute myocardial infarction. If symptoms persist or fail to improve, patients should seek hospital evaluation for proper diagnosis and treatment.