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Pain in the sternum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Pain in the sternum is most often associated with heart disease. Still: since childhood, we have formed a clear association: the heart is in the chest. But statistics show: chest pain can be associated with cardiovascular disease in only 2% of cases up to 18 years, in 10% of cases up to 30 years and only with age - 50-60 years - these figures are gradually increasing. What are the causes of chest pain?
The main causes of chest pain
Most often, the pain in the sternum is associated with malfunctioning of the internal organs. This disrupts the work:
- Of cardio-vascular system
- Respiratory system
- The digestive system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Central nervous system
- The immune system
The most common diseases that can cause chest pain are:
- Angina pectoris
- Myocardial infarction
- Psychogenic diseases
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Aortic aneurysm (exfoliating) or in other words - aortic rupture
- Pneumonia
- Pleurisy
- Lungs' cancer
- Stomach ulcer
- Duodenal ulcer
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Abscess of diaphragm
Depending on the cause, the pain in the sternum can be:
- Sharp
- Stupid
- Stinging
- Aching
- Piercing
- Compressing
- Shooting
Here are some of the most common diseases that provoke pain in the sternum.
Stomach pain associated with cardiovascular system
Although this is not the only cause of pain in the sternum, problems with the heart and blood vessels are the most common causes of pain in the sternum.
Angina pectoris
It is a disease in which clots are formed in the vessels that carry blood to the heart. This reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart, causing pain in the sternum in the heart. True, angina pectoris, unlike infarction, does not lead to irreversible damage to the heart. Pain in the chest can give in the arm, shoulder, jaw or back. A person can feel as if his chest is squeezed and squeezed. Excitement or emotional stress can cause chest pain due to angina, so be careful, do not worry, protect yourself from unnecessary emotional manifestations.
[5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
An infarct occurs when blood from the artery in the heart does not just flow weakly, but overlaps at all. This is due to a complete blockage of the cardiac artery. The complete cessation of blood flow in the vessels of the heart causes the death of the cells of the heart muscle. Pain in this case is similar to pain in angina pectoris, but it is much stronger and does not last long. And here is one more difference in infarction from angina: excessive sweating, nausea, severe weakness can accompany this pain, but it does not go away for 15-30 minutes, as happens with angina pectoris.
Myocarditis
In addition to pain in the sternum, inflammation of the heart muscle - myocarditis - can cause fever, fatigue and trouble breathing. Although there is no blockage of the arteries with this disease, the symptoms of myocarditis can resemble the symptoms of a heart attack (infarction).
Pericarditis
This is an inflammation or infection of a small bag of tissue covering the heart - the pericardium. Pericarditis can cause pain similar to pain in angina pectoris. This is a sharp pain in the sternum, a feeling of contraction in the chest, pain with pericarditis radiates into the arm, shoulder. This disease also often leads to sharp, persistent pain along the upper part of the neck and shoulder muscles. Sometimes a person becomes even worse when he breathes deeply, takes food and drinks ordinary water or lies down on his back.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
When the heart muscle thickens, heart failure may occur. This fact does not allow the heart to work, it pumps blood much harder. Along with the pain in the sternum, this type of cardiomyopathy can cause dizziness, shortness of breath and other symptoms of poor heart function: increased fatigue, intermittent breathing, poor sleep.
Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which the heart valve does not close properly. With this person, there are pains in the sternum, palpitations and dizziness.
Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
A number of factors - such as smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, heredity - can cause a condition in which cholesterol plaques develop in the coronary artery. When the coronary artery becomes too narrow and the blood flow over it stops, a coronary artery rupture may occur. This can cause sudden severe pain in the sternum or a feeling of rupture in the chest, with pain giving to the neck, back, or stomach.
[12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]
Sore throat associated with lungs
Problems with the lungs can cause different types of pain in the sternum. The most common causes of pain in the sternum can be bacterial or viral infections, pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax. Other, less common causes associated with respiratory diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and cancer.
Pleurisy
It is an inflammation or irritation of the mucous membrane of the lungs and chest. In this case, the patient feels a sharp pain in the sternum, when he breathes deeply or exhales, and also coughing or sneezing.
Pneumonia or lung abscess
Infections that enter the lungs through the respiratory tract can cause pleural and other types of pain in the sternum, such as deep and severe pain. Pneumonia often occurs suddenly, causing fever, chills, coughing and sputum, which is released when coughing out of the airways.
Pulmonary embolism
When a blood clot passes through the lobules of the lungs, it can cause acute pleurisy, breathing problems and heart palpitations. This disease is accompanied by chills and shock. Pulmonary embolism most often occurs after deep vein thrombosis or after a person has remained motionless for several days.
Pneumothorax
This disease is often caused by a chest injury. Pneumothorax occurs when a part of the lungs is destroyed, and air is released into the chest cavity. Pneumothorax can also cause severe pain in the sternum, which becomes even stronger when the person breathes deeply, this pain is accompanied by other symptoms, such as low blood pressure, dizziness, weakness.
Pulmonary hypertension
This disease is accompanied by pain in the sternum resembling angina. Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the lungs, as well as in the arteries. Because of this, the right side of the heart works too intensively, so the pains arise mainly from the right side.
Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. In this disease, a person has severe dyspnea, wheezing, cough, and sometimes chest pain.
Chest pain associated with gastrointestinal diseases
Heartburn is a very common cause of chest pain, which is not related to heart problems. Pain in the heart, for example, with angina pectoris, and pain from heartburn are somewhat similar because the heart and esophagus are located close to each other and connected by nerve endings. Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, other than gas reflux disease, can also cause pain in the sternum. These include gastritis, ulcers, inflammation of the walls of the stomach and so on.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
This disease is also known as acid reflux, GERD occurs when the contents of the stomach return back to the esophagus, leading to the development of acute esophagitis. This can lead to a sour taste in the mouth and a burning sensation in the chest or in the throat, popularly known as heartburn. Factors that can cause heartburn include obesity, smoking, pregnancy, as well as taking hot or fatty foods.
Disorders of the esophagus
Poor coordination of muscle contractions (spasms), high pressure on the walls of the esophagus with contractions and other problems of the esophagus can also cause pain in the sternum.
[22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28]
Hypersensitivity of the esophagus
Hypersensitivity of the esophagus is manifested when the esophagus becomes very painful at the slightest change in pressure or acid effect. The cause of this sensitivity is unknown.
Esophagus rupture
Sudden, severe pain in the sternum, vomiting, or a sharp increase in temperature can be a sign of rupture of the esophagus.
[29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36]
Peptic Ulcer
An ulcer of the stomach or duodenum can cause a constant recurrent discomfort, a sore throat or sternum. The reason - painful sores of the mucous membrane of the stomach or the beginning of the small intestine. More often this disease occurs in people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol. Pain often decreases when you eat something or take antacids (drugs to treat the stomach), sometimes ordinary baking soda can help.
Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm
The diaphragm is a septum that separates the abdominal cavity and the sternum.
The problem with the operation of the diaphragm occurs when the upper part of the abdominal cavity falls out into the lower part of the thorax because of the diaphragmatic hernia. This usually happens after eating. Pain in the sternum tends to deteriorate when the person lies down (the horizontal position provokes pain in the sternum with a hernia of the diaphragm).
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can often cause pain in the lower part of the chest, they worsen when you lie down, and you get better when leaning forward.
Diseases of the gallbladder
Problems with the gallbladder in his diseases often occur after eating fatty foods. A person usually experiences a feeling of fullness in the stomach or pain in the right lower part of the sternum or the right upper abdomen. Then you need to examine the condition of the gallbladder.
Chest pain associated with injuries
Sometimes, chest pains can occur as a result of excessive pressure on the muscles, ligaments or trauma in the chest area during a fall or accident. Stress can also cause nerve pain in the chest area. They are also called psychogenic pains. These pains occur when a person experiences something very badly, then spasms appear in the chest, muscles contract. If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, then it is much more difficult to cope with the pain in the sternum, because the muscle blocks do not disappear when sitting on the couch.
Pain due to broken ribs
Pain in the sternum due to fracture of the rib can deteriorate with deep breathing or coughing. Such pains are often limited to one area. A person can feel pain when someone or he himself presses on the area of the diseased rib. The area where the ribs attach to the sternum can also inflame and ache.
Muscle Stress
Even a simple cough can irritate the muscles and tendons between the ribs and cause pain in the sternum with excessive muscle tension. Pain in the sternum with muscle tension tends to intensify when a person tenses even more, doing any physical exercises.
Shingles
Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, shingles can cause severe pain in the sternum, and this is a harbinger of a rash that appears later in a few days.
Other Possible Causes of Sore Throat
There are other causes of chest pain - anxiety or panic attacks. Symptoms that accompany this condition may include dizziness, dyspnea, rapid heartbeat, tingling and trembling in the fingers.
When to see a doctor if you have chest pain?
If you are in doubt about your symptoms, call your doctor for any pain in your chest, especially if you are talking about sudden pain that does not go away for a long time. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms along with chest pain
- Sudden sensation of pressure, compression under the breastbone, especially if the pain does not pass after rest.
- Pain in the chest that gives to the jaw region, left arm or back.
- Sudden acute pain in the chest, which is accompanied by shortness of breath, especially after a long rest period.
- Nausea, dizziness, palpitations or rapid breathing, confusion, weakness, excessive sweating.
- Very low blood pressure or very low heart rate.
- Fever, chills, coughing or yellow-green mucus that is secreted by coughing.
- Problems with swallowing - shortness of breath, sore throat
- Severe pain in the sternum, which does not last long.
Which doctors should I use for chest pain?
- Pulmonologist
- Hematologist
- Gastroenterologist
- Traumatologist
- Therapist
- Cardiologist
- Psychiatrist
- Phthisiatrician