Chest pains acute and irregular

[Ben1986]

Hello, I am 21 years old and reasonably healthy. I have recently experience sharp pains (like a severe stitch) in the left side of my chest. The pain is irregular and usually occurs when I am not exercising, and only hurts when I breathe in reasonably deeply. It feels like an internal pain rather than muscular. I did experience similar pain when I was about 16, and then it returned every now and again since, I am not sure whether it is connected with exercise - I have not experience pain for 5 months but have started going to the gym again in the last week. I am slightly concerned so any suggestions would be much appreciated...

[kenkeith]

Almost always deep breathing pain is not associated with the heart.  It can be a respiratory problem such as pneumothorax, could be a an pulmonary embolism (blood clot), or a strain or inflammation of the muscles and tendons between the ribs.