Introduction
A burning sensation in the sternum is a rather rare phenomenon. Often the burning occurs behind the sternum. It is a burning pain, a burning sensation alone does not occur as often.
The burning may be directly behind the sternum, but often this unpleasant sensation also affects the entire thorax. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as pressure on the chest or a feeling of tightness. These symptoms are often not clearly distinguishable from each other, so that even a general feeling of discomfort behind the sternum can be interpreted as a burning sensation.
The possible causes
The causes of a burning sensation in or behind the sternum are very diverse. Directly behind the sternum, i.e. in the ribcage, there are several organs that may be the origin of the complaints. The classic burning sensation directly behind the sternum is usually caused by a reflux.
This causes stomach acid to rise into the oesophagus, where it attacks the mucous membrane. However, heart complaints can also manifest themselves as a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Possible causes include all types of heart failure (cardiac insufficiency), cardiovascular diseases and acute heart attacks.
The lungs can also cause a burning sensation. This can be triggered by irritation of the respiratory tract, for example by particularly cold air. Tension usually refers to an excessive tension of the musculature, which cannot be released by itself.
Behind the sternum itself there is actually no musculature that can trigger these complaints. However, there are many muscles in the area of the ribcage that can be tense and thus lead to a burning sensation behind the sternum. Such tension can occur in the so-called intercostal muscles, i.e. the small breathing muscles between the individual ribs.
However, the most frequent cause of a burning sensation behind the sternum is tension in the diaphragm. Irritation of the nerves that control the diaphragm can lead to misregulation of muscle activity. This happens, for example, with hiccups, in which the diaphragm jerks uncontrollably.
Slightly more serious dysfunctions can lead to a cramping or prolonged tension of the diaphragm. Not only is there a burning pain, but breathing can also be impaired, so that breathlessness occurs especially under stress. .
The esophagus is part of the digestive system and runs from the lower end of the larynx to the entrance to the stomach. The task of the oesophagus is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. The oesophagus runs together with the windpipe directly behind the breastbone.
Shortly before it enters the stomach, the oesophagus passes through the diaphragm. The esophagus is closed at the bottom by the constriction in the diaphragm and a sphincter (esophageal sphincter). This is intended to prevent chyme from rising from the stomach back up into the oesophagus.
In the stomach, the chyme is mixed with the extremely acidic gastric acid. The stomach itself is protected from the acid by an additional layer of mucus. If this chyme enters the oesophagus again due to a dysfunction of the sphincter muscle, its unprotected mucous membrane is attacked by the strong acid.
This leads to the typical heartburn, which manifests itself as a burning sensation immediately behind the breastbone. Risk factors for heartburn include a malfunction of the sphincter muscle, widening of the passage through the esophagus and an increase in pressure in the abdominal cavity. This can be caused, for example, by overweight, but also by pregnancy, and leads to the stomach being constricted and pressed upwards.
This promotes reflux, i.e. the reflux of food from the stomach into the oesophagus. The psychological causes of a burning behind the sternum are primarily stress. This can favour a reflux, which leads to heartburn and thus to a burning behind the breastbone.
However, the stress can also influence the heart function and thus lead to a burning sensation in the ribcage or behind the sternum. Even in cases of pronounced anxiety, the heart may begin to race, causing a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Anxiety and panic attacks also affect breathing, so that affected persons often breathe very quickly and shallowly.
This ineffective breathing can disrupt the lungs and respiratory muscles, causing a burning pain. Stress is a very common trigger for pressure on the chest or a burning sensation behind the sternum. Typically, stress can cause reflux and thus a burning pain in the esophagus (heartburn).
Stress also flattens breathing, which causes the diaphragm to cramp and can cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone. The lungs can also be irritated by permanent stress breathing. Long-term stress also has a negative effect on heart function and coronary arteries.
More calcium deposits are formed in the vessels, which worsens the blood flow to the heart muscles. As a result, the heart is no longer sufficiently supplied with nutrients and burning or stabbing heart pain can occur. .
Complaints in the back are usually not only directly noticeable in the spine and back. Often the complaints radiate into other parts of the body. Since the rib cage and thus also the sternum has a direct bony connection to the back, the symptoms of the back can quickly affect the sternum as well.
Muscular tension of the back also has an effect on the muscles of the ribcage and thus occasionally causes a burning sensation behind the sternum. Damage to the nerves in the spinal cord can also affect the ribcage. This is noticeable by a burning or electrifying pain.
