Tension in the sternum | Sternum

Tension in the sternum

Tension in the sternum is usually the result of poor posture. The tensions become noticeable by a stabbing or even pulling in the area of the sternum. Often affected patients tend to adopt a relieving posture, which worsens the symptoms in the long term.

First of all, an upright and stretched posture is helpful. This is particularly important for people who, for example, sit a lot at work and therefore adopt a bent posture. In addition, you can also do some stretching exercises to support the body, which stretch and relax the front sternum muscles. Overall, a strengthened back and trained abdominal muscles can also contribute to a healthier posture.

Sternal stabbing

A stabbing of the sternum has a harmless cause in most cases. It can be caused by muscular tension or heartburn, for example. As a patient, you should pay attention to when this stinging occurs.

Does it always hurt after a rich meal or after strenuous exercise? Does it hurt regularly or does the pain disappear by itself after some time? If the pain is very strong, lasts longer or even radiates into the arms, a doctor should be consulted.

A prick on the sternum can also be an indication of a serious illness. This could be a heart attack, angina pectoris (“chest tightness”) or even a pulmonary embolism. In rare cases, the pleura, oesophagus or pericardium may also be the cause of a stabbing pain in the breastbone.

Breastbone contusion

A sternum contusion is an injury caused by trauma. The breastbone (sternum) is a part of the ribcage (thorax). It is cartilaginously connected to the upper seven pairs of ribs and lies centrally on the front wall of the chest.

This frontal position makes it vulnerable to many different traumas. Bruises to the sternum are particularly common in traffic accidents or sports accidents. In a car accident, for example, an enormous force is applied, which is transmitted to the sternum via the safety belt.

In sports accidents, martial arts, in which the athletes have close physical contact, are particularly noteworthy. A sternum contusion is noticeable by pain in the area of the sternum, which becomes stronger during movement and inhalation. The treatment of such an injury is usually uncomplicated.

The patient should take it easy for a few weeks and also avoid sports. If the sternum is badly bruised, painkillers (analgesics) are prescribed to relieve the pain, especially at the beginning. Nowadays, imaging is often used as a means of definitive diagnosis of the injury. This enables the doctor treating the patient to rule out a fracture of the sternum or ribs, for example.

Swelling of the sternum

Swelling of the sternum can have various causes. The area around the sternum swells and is sensitive to pressure. Patients also often report an accelerated pulse and a feeling of excessive heat.

A common diagnosis for these symptoms is Tietze’s disease. Tietze syndrome usually occurs in people between 30 and 40 years of age and disappears on its own after some time. It is still unclear how this syndrome develops and what the exact causes are.

However, other causes for this type of symptoms must also be clarified. For one thing, past accidents or falls have to be investigated and clarified by means of imaging (e.g. MRT or CT). Possible causes are a fracture of the breastbone (sternum fracture) or a superficial accumulation of fluid.

On the other hand, not always the sternum itself must be injured, but also the surrounding cartilage tissue of the costal arch. If this is inflamed, one speaks of costochondritis. This inflammation is treated with ointments and physiotherapy.

Another cause of swelling in the area of the breastbone is problems with the heart (e.g. myocardial infarction) or the lungs (e.g. pulmonary embolism). Overall, these symptoms can have many causes, so a good medical history and clinical examination is essential.