Is pain in the sternum dangerous?

So there are different triggers for pain in the sternum. Many are harmless, but there are also some life-threatening conditions that must be considered. The characteristics of the pain, the accompanying symptoms, as well as the duration and timing of its onset are crucial.

Localization of pain in the sternum

Diseases of the breastbone (sternum) itself are very rare. With pain within the range of the breastbone is to be thought therefore rather of illnesses of the lung and the respiratory system. Especially when the pain is intensified by coughing, bronchitis is the probable cause of the complaints.

In the case of pain on the right side, this would correspond to an inflammation of the right supplying airways. A further indication of this can be green or yellow sputum. Pneumonia is also conceivable.

If the pain occurs very suddenly, radiates into the entire thorax and is accompanied by shortness of breath, testing for pulmonary embolism should be performed. However, if the pain depends on the respiratory movement of the thorax, a blockage of the rib-vertebral joints is conceivable, as is intercostal neuralgia. This assumption is confirmed by pain-sensitive pressure points on the chest wall.

Chest pain on the left side is understandably associated with the fear of a heart attack for many people affected. However, the character of the pain can quickly provide information as to whether this fear is justified. Pain associated with a heart attack or a narrowing of the coronary arteries typically has a constricting, oppressive character.

Not without good reason, this symptomatology is called angina pectoris, “chest tightness”. Furthermore, the pain occurs mainly during physical exertion and independently of breathing movements. Left-sided pain caused by inflammation of the airways, on the other hand, increases when coughing and is usually accompanied by mucusy sputum and fever.

If instead the pain occurs mainly when breathing or during movements in the shoulder, a blockage of the rib-vertebral joints or intercostal neuralgia should be considered. If pain-sensitive pressure points are found on the chest wall, this supports the latter suspected diagnosis. Just as for right- or left-sided localized pain in the sternum, a handful of basic causes are likely for pain in the middle of the sternum.

One of these is bronchitis, an inflammation of the large supplying airways (bronchi). If the pain increases when coughing and mucusy sputum is observed, this diagnosis is very likely. A pneumonia (pneumonia) would also be conceivable here.

If the pain is dependent on chest movements, for example when breathing, or when moving the shoulder, a musculoskeletal cause is more likely. This includes above all blockages of the rib-vertebral joints and the so-called intercostal neuralgia. Nevertheless, a heart-related cause should also be considered.

However, pain associated with this differs significantly from those mentioned above. Pain associated with a reduced blood supply to the heart muscle occurs particularly during physical exertion and is characterized by a pressing, constricting pain. This is also where the name of the symptomatology angina pectoris, “chest tightness”, comes from.

A similar symptomatology can also trigger heartburn (reflux). This also often causes a feeling of pressure and burning pain behind the sternum. In addition, heartburn is often accompanied by hoarseness, as the stomach acid attacks the vocal chords. Increased pain after eating also indicates heartburn as the cause of the symptoms.