Pain under the chest

Pain under the breast is a complaint that occurs relatively frequently overall. They can be triggered by a wide variety of causes. It is important to distinguish whether a harmless cause or a clinical picture in need of treatment is responsible for pain under the breast.

Depending on this, the right therapy is then chosen. In most cases, no special treatment is necessary. However, some causes of pain under the breast must be treated with medication or in some cases surgically.

Causes

Pain under the breast can originate from almost all structures and organs that are located near the breast. The most common causes are listed below: In addition to the breast itself, which can cause discomfort, especially in women, pain often originates from nerves, muscles or ribs. Here, it is not uncommon for tension and blockages to occur, which can cause pain under the breast (see also: Breast pain caused by nerves).

In addition, diseases of the lungs and the lung fur, which covers the chest wall from the inside, can cause pain under the chest. The heart can also cause pain, sometimes very severe, due to various processes. These are then more likely to be found on the left side.

In addition to the structures and organs of the thorax, organs located in the abdominal cavity can also cause pain under the chest. This is due to the fact that pain is often not limited to the place of origin but can radiate. Diseases of the stomach, liver or gallbladder are often mentioned in connection with pain under the chest.

In addition to the reasons mentioned, pain under the breast can also be caused by other structures. Bronchitis or chronic heartburn often causes pain in the area of the breastbone. They can radiate to below the breast.

In addition, pain under the breast can occur when a malignant tumor develops in the breast. Although pain is not typical, it can then lead to further discomfort, especially in the late stages. The most common causes as well as diagnostics and therapy will now be further explained in the following.

  • Growth spurs
  • Muscle tension or sore muscles
  • Wrong fitting bra
  • Breastbone contusion
  • Rib Blockage
  • Trapped nerves
  • Inflammation of the gall bladder or liver
  • Gastritis or ulcer
  • Shingles
  • Bronchitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Heart attack

Pain under the chest caused by coughing is common. Coughing is a symptom of various diseases. Typical are pains under the chest caused by coughing during bronchitis.

The bronchial tubes divide laterally approximately at the height of the breastbone, so that the pain is localized under the chest. In some cases the trachea is also inflamed. Then the pain radiates upwards through coughing to the throat.

Other causes and associated coughing can also cause pain under the chest, as over time the respiratory muscles become overexcited. If bloody sputum is added to the cough, a serious illness can be assumed. In this case, a pulmonary embolism or a tumor can hide behind the pain under the chest caused by coughing.

Pain under the chest is often caused by the ribs. A common reason is a so-called rib blockage. The ribs are attached to the spine by joints.

Due to jerky, incorrect movements or overloading, these joints can block to a certain extent. Long-term incorrect postures, e.g. at the desk, are also reasons for a rib blockage. This leads to pain under the chest, which can also occur at the back of the back.

The pain under the chest is in many cases dependent on breathing. They increase especially when breathing in. In severe cases, many movements are no longer possible due to pain.

Pain under the chest caused by a rib blockage is treated by releasing the blockage. This is achieved by moderate physical training and physiotherapeutic exercises. An experienced chiropractor can alleviate pain under the chest through the ribs with specific hand movements.

Thus, it can usually be assumed that after a few days of rest or after a visit to a specialist, no further pain should occur through the ribs. It is advisable to check your posture to avoid further rib blockage.Besides the rib block, there are other reasons for pain under the chest caused by ribs. These include blows to the chest or entrapment of nerves.

In rare cases a rheumatic illness is responsible for pain under the chest. Pain under the chest can also be caused by the breastbone. The most likely cause of pain under the chest caused by the sternum is a frontal impact of force against the sternum.

This happens for example during sports or accidents. A resulting contusion can cause pain in the sternum for days to weeks. If the pain is very severe or lasts longer, a fracture, i.e. a break, should be ruled out.

Diseases of the attachment of the ribs, which are located laterally on the left and right side of the sternum, can also impress like pain under the breast. In addition, excessive strength training can also lead to pain under the breast or through the sternum. The reason for this is the attachment of various muscles to the sternum, which can cause pain due to sore muscles.

The chest consists of the central sternum and the 12 pairs of ribs attached to it. Nerves and vessels run between the ribs, as well as the intercostal muscles, which are used for breathing in and out. All these structures can be irritated or diseased.

Pain under the chest, starting from the ribcage, can thus be caused by trauma, trapped nerves, blockages or muscular irritation. One of the causes of pain under the breast originating from the skin is shingles. This disease, which is caused by viruses, causes pain in a belt-shaped area, which can also occur under the breast.

The presence of small blisters in the affected area is a sign of shingles. However, the structures within the ribcage can also cause pain under the breast, which seems to emanate from the ribcage. Diseases of the lungs are common here.

For example, pneumonia can cause pain under the chest. Especially when the lung skin is involved, every breath causes stabbing pain under the chest. Rarely is a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) or a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in a blood vessel in the lung) the cause of the symptoms.

Pain originating in the chest can also be caused by the heart. If the heart is undersupplied, severe pain usually occurs under the left breast. In the worst case, a heart attack is the cause.

In most cases, however, these are harmless causes of pain under the chest that originate in the ribcage. Quite a few women complain of pain under the breast caused by bra straps. This is because some bras have rigid underwires to support the breast.

These are under the breast and press on the skin, especially when worn for a long time. This causes pain under the breast. In this case it is recommended to check the bra size and possibly buy a larger model.

If the underwire is still a problem, bras without underwiring should be used. These do not support the female breast as well, but they are much more comfortable and therefore last longer. Pain under the breast can be caused by upper abdominal pain as described above.

The reason for this is that some abdominal organs are located high up in the abdominal cavity and partly reach behind the lower ribs. Due to this anatomical proximity, pain below the chest is caused by pain in the upper abdomen. In addition, many organs project their pain to another part of the body.

This is due to the complex interconnection of the nerve tracts. Most commonly, the stomach, gallbladder, liver and intestines are the triggers of pain under the chest, which is caused by pain in the upper abdomen. Often the complaints of upper abdominal pain are accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

The exact cause can be narrowed down by examinations such as ultrasound, X-rays and blood tests. Afterwards the right therapy is initiated. For example, chest pain caused by organs in the upper abdomen is usually easy to treat.