Why sternum pain

Solutions Chevron Icon. Care Navigation. Sections Icon. When to seek medical care. By Body Part. Buoy Chat Icon. See smoking treatments. Verified By Experts Icon. Verified by experts 7 min read. No Ads. Pain in the chest can be vague and hard to pinpoint. Learn the causes. Anne Jacobsen, MD. Last updated October 12, Heart Icon. Speech Bubble Icon. Share Icon. Facebook Icon. LinkedIn Icon. Pinterest Icon. Pocket Icon. Share Link Icon. Copied to clipboard. Table of Contents.

Causes of sternum pain 1. Costochondritis Symptoms Pain in the sternum, usually sharp Worsening pain with deep breathing or movement Pushing or pressure on the sternum is painful. Muscle strain Symptoms Sharp or achy pain in the sternum Worsening pain with movement Muscle spasm Bruising or tenderness of a chest wall muscle A strained or pulled muscle in the chest wall can cause chest bone pain.

Heartburn and acid reflux Symptoms Burning pain in the chest, abdomen, or throat after eating Pain in the sternum Bad breath or bad taste in your mouth Heartburn is a brief burning pain in your throat, chest, or abdomen that is caused by stomach acid. Pleurisy Symptoms Sharp sternum pain Worsening pain with breathing and coughing Pain may go away when you hold your breath Cough and fever The lungs and the inside of the chest are covered with a thin protective tissue called the pleura.

Heart attack Symptoms Pain or pressure under the sternum Pain radiating to the arm or jaw Shortness of breath Nausea Sweating Some people having a heart attack experience chest pain in or under the sternum. Sternum fracture Symptoms Pain in the sternum Worsening pain when breathing, coughing, or moving Swelling and tenderness of the sternum Sternum fracture is a break in the sternum bone.

Pro Tip. When to call the doctor Pain in the sternum from a minor injury Pain is not controlled with rest, ice, and over-the-counter medications. Should I go to the ER for sternum pain? Treatments At-home care If you had a minor injury or if your doctor has ruled out serious causes of your pain, try the following: Rest Ice Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain medications Pro Tip. Share your story. Submit story. Request sent successfully. An error occurred, please try again later.

Jacobsen is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and writer for Buoy Health. She received her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Macalester College and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine She practices community Emergency Medic Read full bio.

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Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Patient Education. Chest Wall Pain: Costochondritis The chest pain that you have had today is caused by costochondritis.

Home care Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home: If you feel that emotional stress is a cause of your condition, try to figure out the sources of that stress.

Take any prescribed medicines as directed. Follow-up care Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. When to seek medical advice Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur: A change in the type of pain. Shortness of breath or pain gets worse when you breathe Weakness, dizziness, or fainting Cough with dark-colored sputum phlegm or blood Abdominal pain Dark red or black stools Fever of Yes No.

Tell us more. Last question: How confident are you filling out medical forms by yourself? The condition does not lead to any permanent problems, but may sometimes relapse. Costochondritis may be confused with a separate condition called Tietze's syndrome.

Both conditions involve inflammation of the costochondral joint and can cause very similar symptoms. But Tietze's syndrome is much less common and often causes chest swelling, which may last after any pain and tenderness has gone. Costochondritis also tends to affect adults aged 40 or over, whereas Tietze's syndrome usually affects young adults under As the conditions are very similar, most of the information below also applies to Tietze's syndrome.

When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness, which may develop gradually or start suddenly.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between the chest pain associated with costochondritis and pain caused by more serious conditions, such as a heart attack.

But a heart attack usually causes more widespread pain and additional symptoms , such as breathlessness , feeling sick and sweating.

If you or someone you're with experiences sudden chest pain and you think there's a possibility it could be a heart attack, dial immediately and ask for an ambulance. If you have had chest pain for a while, do not ignore it. Make an appointment to see a GP so they can investigate the cause. Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection, irritation or injury. It's not known exactly why the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, but in some cases it's been linked to:.

If you have symptoms of costochondritis, a GP will probably examine and touch the upper chest area around your costochondral joint. They may ask you when and where your pain occurs and look at your recent medical history. Before a diagnosis can be confirmed, some tests may need to be carried out to rule out other possible causes of your chest pain.

If no other condition is suspected or found, a diagnosis of costrochondritis may be made.