Definition Chest pain (called thoracic pain by the medical profession) occurs in a wide variety of forms and intensities and can therefore have a wide variety of causes. For example, the pain can be pressing, throbbing or stabbing, motion-dependent or motion-independent and accompanied by various other symptoms such as heartburn, vomiting, increased sweating or upper … Pain on the chest
Associated symptoms The complaints that accompany chest pain can provide information about its origin. If certain muscle groups are restricted in their mobility or if the pain worsens during movement, the muscles may be tensed or overstressed. A fever indicates an inflammatory disease, which is usually located in the respiratory tract and is also manifested … Associated symptoms | Pain on the chest
Pain between shoulder blades and armpit Pain between the shoulder blade and armpits is also usually caused by the muscles or connective tissue. They can occur, for example, after excessive training with push-ups or by lifting too hard, often with some delay. A long-term, very one-sided strain on the muscles, for example from a desk … Pain between shoulder blades and armpit | Pain on the chest
Pain between chest and stomach A distinction must be made between superficial and deep-seated pain. Superficial pain often originates in the rectus abdominis muscle, the large abdominal muscle. If this muscle is tense, it pulls on the edges of the lowest ribs and thus exerts painful tension on the chest. The resulting pain is often … Pain between chest and stomach | Pain on the chest
Pain when breathing If the chest hurts when breathing, in most cases the lung is the trigger. The most common diseases are bronchitis (inflammation of the airways) and pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs). Pleuritis (inflammation of the pleura) or rib fractures are also possible, as is pneumothorax (air in the chest that constricts the lungs). … Pain when breathing | Pain on the chest
Diagnosis For a diagnosis, the doctor first asks for details about the pain: Possible clues to the cause may be In an anamnesis interview, the doctor also asks about accompanying complaints, previous illnesses, eating habits and possible family illnesses. Diagnostic tools such as X-rays or echocardiography can also be used to detect or rule out … Diagnosis | Pain on the chest
General Pain in the ribs can therefore originate either from the ribs or their cartilaginous part. The cause of rib pain can therefore come from the joints and the ligaments there or be triggered by nerves that run very close to the ribs. However, since pain is usually very uncharacteristic, inflammatory or other diseases may … Pain in the ribs
Inflammatory causes Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of varicella viruses. These viruses are responsible for chickenpox in childhood and can remain in the nerves of the spinal cord after this infection. If there is a weakening of the immune system (e.g. in old age, due to cancer, HIV, etc. ), these viruses … Inflammatory causes | Pain in the ribs
Diseases as further causes Pain of the upper rib pairs one to four in the area of their starting point at the breastbone can be accompanied by swelling and is then called Tietze syndrome. The cause of this rare form of precisely localized rib pain at the front of the sternum is an inflammation of … Diseases as further causes | Pain in the ribs
Situations in which the rib pain occurs In addition to direct injuries to the ribs, rib pain when breathing can also be caused by irritation or injury to the muscles and nerves involved in raising and lowering the rib cage. It is therefore often difficult for the layperson to differentiate the origin of the pain. … Situations in which the rib pain occurs | Pain in the ribs
Other symptoms Pain in the ribs generally manifests itself as chest pain. This pain can be either permanent (chronic) or sudden (acute). Chronic rib pain is a recurring pain that lasts longer than six months. They can also vary in intensity. Rib pain that originates directly from the ribs is usually caused by a bruise … Other symptoms | Pain in the ribs
Diagnosis of rib pain In order to find out where the rib pain comes from, various causes must be excluded. For example, external palpation of the ribs can already lead away if the rib is broken. Inspection of the body can also provide information if the rib pain is caused, for example, by a body … Diagnosis of rib pain | Pain in the ribs
