Hello.I woke up this morning with a sharp stabbing pain in the right side of my chest.I spent new years without drinking alcohol but i went with a friend to a tall building to watch the firework and there was a lot of smoke. can it be smoke inhalation?  Greetings and a happy 2012
Thank you for your query. Yes it is possible. Smoke is highly irritant and toxic, especially those from fireworks. Inhaling these fumes can cause particles to deposit in your lungs and pleura (membranes that cover the lung) and a reactive inflammatory response can result in pain. Typically, this gets worse when you try to take a deep breath. (pleuritic). It is important to have it checked out promptly to assess the extent of damage. In certain cases, your airways may also get inflamed and will compromise your breathing (life-threatening). Other causes include a local infection of the lung, or a muscle pull. If this continues for more than a few hours or worsens, and you experience and breathing difficulty or air hunger (you cant seem to breathe enough), dizziness, swelling of your eyes, tongue, mouth, face, visit the ER right away and do not Chat Doctor. Hope this helps. Please contact us if you have further questions. Wish you good health