Chest Pains

[dukes12]

For a few years now, I have gotten these pains in my chest, sometimes they are in the center, other times they are more to the left of right, but they are sudden shooting pains that stay for a few minutes and then go away typically after I exhale really hard a few times. Lately though they have been lasting longer and just today I got a pain underneath my right rib (like behind it) that sends shooting pains when I inhale or make any movements, so I just laid in bed and it went away after about 5 minutes. But then it came back when I would inhale really fast to cough or sneeze. These pains don't come often enough to develop a pattern but this week I got 2 of them.  

I just turned 20 and have had no history of allergies or ever had to be checked for heart problems and up until last year I danced every day and was in good shape. I'm just curious as to why I might get these pains or what they may be from and how to get rid of them.

Also, I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but when I run long distances, I always have a bloody taste in my mouth, but I never spit up blood or anything.

[National Jewish Health]

Pains like this in a young person are seldom an indication of significant disease.  They are usually caused by a pinched nerve, especially the intercostal nerves, which run along the ribs.  Nevertheless you should have a chest examination and a chest x-ray to rule out the unlikely more serious causes of the heart and lungs.