Can myositis cause chest pain?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 09, 2026
Symptoms of lung problems in people with myositis include: chest pain, cough, and shortness of breath with exertion.
Can myositis affect the heart?
The clinical cardiac manifestations most frequently reported in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, myositis, are congestive heart failure, conduction abnormalities, that may lead to complete heart block and coronary artery disease.
Can myositis affect the lungs?
Dr. Danoff: Inclusion body myositis (IBM) can be associated with lung issues, but generally not interstitial lung disease. More commonly, the lung is affected as a result of the muscles that support breathing becoming weak.
How does myositis affect breathing?
Myositis can cause inflammation and weakness in the breathing muscles as well as the skeletal muscles, which makes breathing difficult or less effective. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can make the patient choke on food or fluids causing them to be aspirated (inhaled) into the lungs.
What does a myositis flare up feel like?
Myositis is the name for a group of rare conditions. The main symptoms are weak, painful or aching muscles. This usually gets worse, slowly over time. You may also trip or fall a lot, and be very tired after walking or standing.
38 related questions foundWhat are the first signs of myositis?
Early symptoms in patients with myositis include:
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position.
- Difficulty climbing stairs.
- Difficulty lifting the arms.
- Fatigue after standing or walking a long time.
- Trouble swallowing or breathing.
- Muscle pain that does not subside within a few weeks.
What triggers myositis?
Viral infections are the most common infections causing myositis. Rarely, bacteria, fungi, or other organisms can cause myositis as well. Viruses or bacteria may invade muscle tissue directly, or release substances that damage muscle fibers.
Does myositis cause shortness of breath?
Six minute walk test: people with myositis may develop respiratory muscle weakness, which may lead to shortness of breath.
Does polymyositis cause chest pain?
In addition to the larger muscles of your arms and legs, polymyositis can weaken muscles in your throat and chest, creating the potential for complications involving your lungs.
What are the symptoms of weak lungs?
Common signs are:
- Trouble breathing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Feeling like you're not getting enough air.
- Decreased ability to exercise.
- A cough that won't go away.
- Coughing up blood or mucus.
- Pain or discomfort when breathing in or out.
Does polymyositis affect heart?
Polymyositis may cause the muscular walls of your heart to become inflamed (myocarditis). In a small number of people who have polymyositis, congestive heart failure and heart arrhythmias may develop.
What is the life expectancy of polymyositis?
Survival rates for PM were 87% (95% CI = 69 to 95) at 5 years and 69% (95% CI = 49 to 83) at 10 years, and for DM the rates were 70% (95% CI = 53 to 82) at 5 years and 57% (95% CI = 34 to 74) at 10 years (Figure 1). Kaplan-Meier estimates for survival in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) patients.
What is myositis ILD?
In patients with myositis, the lung is commonly involved, and the presence of anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibodies marks the presence or predicts the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Will myositis go away?
Like other rheumatic diseases, myositis is unlikely to go away on its own. But with proper treatment and management these chronic diseases can be brought under control. At present there is no cure for myositis. A person with myositis will need to manage the condition and to adjust to the changes it brings.
Does myositis shorten life?
Although there is no effective treatment, having inclusion body myositis does not directly affect your life expectancy. However, it may shorten your life span indirectly through the dangerous consequences of losing your muscle strength.
What is the difference between myositis and polymyalgia rheumatica?
Polymyositis vs.
Polymyositis is an inflammatory, destructive, autoimmune muscle disease, usually with weakness but unusually with pain. Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disease of muscle that always causes symmetrically painful muscles.
What is the difference between myositis and polymyositis?
Myositis means inflammation of the muscles that you use to move your body. An injury, infection, or autoimmune disease can cause it. Two specific kinds are polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Polymyositis causes muscle weakness, usually in the muscles closest to the trunk of your body.
How quickly does myositis progress?
Patients diagnosed with IBM progress to disability usually over a period of years. The older the age of onset is, the faster the loss of strength and mobility. By 15 years, most patients require assistance with basic daily routines, and some become wheelchair- bound or bedridden.
What's the difference between myopathy and myositis?
Myopathies cause problems with the muscles you use for voluntary movements such as walking or trying to grab something. Patients often have muscle stiffness or weakness. Myositis: This is a type of myopathy that causes inflammation of your muscles, leading to weakness, swelling and pain.
How is polymyositis diagnosed?
How is polymyositis diagnosed?
- Blood tests. These are done to look for signs of muscle inflammation. ...
- Electromyelogram (EMG). This may be done to find abnormal electrical activity in affected muscles.
- MRI. This test uses large magnets and a computer to look for inflammation in the body.
- Muscle biopsy.
Can lung problems cause muscle pain?
Pulmonary fibrosis starts by affecting the lungs, making the common symptoms of the disease respiratory. But, as the disease progresses and the lungs become more damaged, lungs become unable to correctly transport oxygen into the organs and tissues of the body leading to aching muscles and joints.
Which situation will happen when you have emphysema?
When emphysema develops, the alveoli and lung tissue are destroyed. With this damage, the alveoli cannot support the bronchial tubes. The tubes collapse and cause an “obstruction” (a blockage), which traps air inside the lungs. Too much air trapped in the lungs can give some patients a barrel-chested appearance.
Is there a blood test for myositis?
After a careful history and physical exam to document the pattern of weakness in muscles, a doctor who suspects myositis likely will order a blood test to check the level of creatine kinase (CK), an enzyme that leaks out of muscle fibers when the fibers are being damaged. In PM, the CK level is usually very high.
What type of doctor should I see for myositis?
Many new patients have difficulty finding health care practitioners who know about myositis. Patients with dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or necrotizing myopathy are usually treated by rheumatologists. Those with dermatomyositis may also work with a dermatologist. Those with IBM are often treated by neurologists.
Who gets myositis?
Anyone can get myositis, but it usually affects women more than men. Adults between the ages of 30 and 60, and children between the ages of 5 and 15 are more likely to get myositis.