Pain in my chest when running, what is it?

[miss usa]

During intense exercise, I usually experience a severe sharp pain in the lower outter part of my chest, what is this? I've heared a couple people say stitches but that doesn't make sense to me. I don't have any stitches in my chest.

[Sportsmedjosh]

I think they were reffering to "stitch in the side," its intresting that you bring this up because right now their really is not an agreed upon explimation about this, more intresting is that it we haven't been able to replicate it in a controlled setting either. After talking to people who have had episodes of this we think it has to do with adjustments to new metabolic demands and occurs more frequently in untrained individuals. I would speculate it occurs from insufficient blood floor (ischmia) to either the diagphragm or the intercostal muscles.

[miss usa]

Thanks, I also notice i never get these when i have my second wind, which i'm not even sure how a second wind works.

[Sportsmedjosh]

second wins is a change over from dyspnea (labored breathing, SOB,) to eupnea (normal breathing) as your progress though through exercise. More than likely reflects a change in skeletal muscle efficiency through respiratory adjustments to a new workload. It's also possible that the second wind may also be related tot he adjustment in muscle temp and adjustments in sweat output associated with the new energy expenditure.

[cabezon]

You might try changing up your breathing patterns. exhale when your other foot strikes the ground, or forcefully exhale with a long inhale. try breathing through your mouth. Or try breathing slow and deep into your belly rather than expanding your ribs. Changing the pattern usually gets rid of the pain.

[Sportsmedjosh]

Def, try it and let us know how it works for you.