A pain in the right side of your chest could be an indication of an inflamed or irritated lung or chest lining, also referred to as pleuritis. You may experience a sharp pain when you try to cough, sneeze, or even breathe when you are suffering from pleuritis. Trauma to the chest, heartburn, muscle strain, or medical conditions like [simple_tooltip text=costochondritis tooltip=Inflammation of the costal cartilage linking the sternum to the ribs that causes sharp pain in the upper chest. ], [simple_tooltip text=pancreatitis tooltip=Pancreatic inflammation marked by abdominal pain and is usually caused by excessive alcohol consumption or gallbladder stones. ], and shingles can also cause pain in the right side of your chest.