Smoking causes a host of ills, including lung conditions. It accounts for about 87 percent of the 157,300 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society, and can also lead to emphysema. The habit's relationship with pleurisy is not so clear-cut. Still, quitting smoking is a good idea if you are trying to avoid or get rid of pleurisy.
Definition
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the membrane lining the chest cavity and, specifically, the lungs. The condition can cause sharp pains when you breathe or cough. Other potential symptoms include pain in the shoulder and a buildup of fluid in the chest, which can lead to bluish skin color, coughing, rapid breathing and shortness of breath. When examining a patient who may have pleurisy, a health care professional may listen, with a stethoscope or an ear to the chest, for the condition's characteristic "friction rub." The normally smooth lining of the lung becomes rough and produces a grating sound with each breath. Tests such as X-ray and ultrasound may also be useful.
Causes
Pleurisy often stems from lung inflammation caused by pneumonia, tuberculosis or other types of infection, according to MedlinePlus. Smoking does not directly cause pleurisy. But it can indirectly play a role by increasing the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia, according to KidsHealth.org. And a "smoker's cough" can increase the discomfort of pleurisy. In a few cases, lung cancer is at the root of pleurisy. Other conditions with which pleurisy frequently occurs include chest trauma, rheumatic diseases, asbestos-related disease, a blood clot and certain traumas.
Recommendations
Avoiding tobacco smoke is key to recovering from pleurisy, according to Drugs.com, because the smoke can irritate the lungs and delay your return to health. This means not only kicking your own smoking habit, but also staying away from secondhand smoke. Your course of treatment depends on the cause of your pleurisy. Antibiotics can clear up the problem if it's a bacterial infection, and viral infections tend to get better on their own over time, according to MedlinePlus. In the meantime, painkillers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can provide relief.
Complications
Pleurisy can develop into more serious problems, especially if left untreated. Sometimes fluid accumulates in a condition called pleural effusion and, in severe cases, this can put pressure on the lungs and make it difficult for you to breathe, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The fluid can also become infected, with fever, chills and a dry cough resulting. Such symptoms can also suggest an underlying condition that merits treatment.
