Where is my sternum

Pain in this region can also be caused by inflammation or a spasm of the windpipe. People with GERD should talk to their doctor about how to prevent further damage to this area.

The sternum and ribs have many muscles attached to them. These muscles can be pulled or strained by severe coughing or strenuous activity involving the arms or torso. Symptoms of sternum pain vary depending on the cause.

The most common symptom is discomfort and pain in the center of the chest, which is the location of the sternum. People experiencing any kind of chest pain may worry they are having a heart attack. However, sternum pain differs from heart attack pain. People who are having a heart attack experience specific signs before the heart attack itself, whereas most sternum pain starts suddenly.

However, anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should seek immediate medical attention. While sternum pain is not usually serious, there are some causes of sternum pain that require immediate medical attention.

A person should also speak to a doctor if the pain in their sternum gets worse or does not improve over time. Read the article in Spanish. Here, learn to recognize a heart attack and what to do next. We also describe treatment and recovery and provide tips for prevention. In this article we look at what causes uncomfortable gas in the chest, how to tell it apart from a heart attack, and how to relieve symptoms.

Symptoms of a heart attack can often vary between males and females. Being able to spot the early signs means that prompt treatment can be sought…. Learn more: How to prevent acid reflux and heartburn ». Conditions that affect your lungs, windpipe trachea , and other parts of your body that help you breathe can cause sternum pain. Pleurisy happens when your pleura gets inflamed. The pleura is made up of tissue within your chest cavity and around your lungs.

In some cases, fluid can build up around this tissue. This is called pleural effusion. Bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes that bring air into your lungs become inflamed. It often happens when you get the flu or a cold. Bronchitis pain can also make your sternum hurt as you breathe in and out. It can last only briefly acute bronchitis or become a long-term condition chronic bronchitis due to smoking or infections.

Check out: 7 home remedies for bronchitis ». Pneumonia happens when your lungs get infected by a virus or bacteria. Other conditions that affect your gastrointestinal tract or your chest muscles can cause sternum pain. A stomach ulcer peptic ulcer happens when you get a sore on the lining of your stomach or at the bottom of your esophagus. A panic attack happens when you suddenly feel fear, as if something dangerous or threatening is happening, with no actual reason to be afraid.

Check out: 11 ways to stop a panic attack ». Sternum pain can sometimes be the result of a heart attack. A heart attack is life-threatening. Symptoms of a heart attack include:. See your doctor right away if you have heart attack symptoms or symptoms that cause you sharp, consistent pain that gets in the way of your daily life. You can find a primary care doctor near you through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Your next steps depend on what condition might be causing your sternum pain and how severe the condition is. You may just need to take over-the-counter pain medication or change your diet. After surgery, the two halves of the sternum must be wired back together with stainless steel wire to prevent their separation.

Any extreme stresses placed on the broken sternum after surgery, such as lifting heavy objects, can result in the wires cutting through the bony tissue and severely damaging the sternum. Another risk associated with the sternum is the fracturing of the xiphoid process during CPR, which can potentially lead to the xiphoid process breaking off and lodging into one of the delicate vital organs below it. By: Tim Taylor.

Last Updated: Jul 16, All Rights Reserved. Innerbody Research does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This can often happen due to the overuse of a muscle from working out, playing sports, or even excessive coughing. Initial treatment involves the RICE method , which stands for:. Over-the-counter pain medication may also help with pain and swelling. Severe injuries may need surgery. The most common cause of this is blunt force trauma from a car accident. Other potential causes include falls and sports injuries.

Treatment depends on how severe the injury is. It typically involves rest and pain relief while you heal. In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to put the bone back in place. The sternoclavicular joint is the area where your collarbone meets your sternum. Although uncommon, sometimes you can develop joint problems in this area due to injury, arthritis, or infections. Since your collarbone is connected to your sternum, injury to this bone may also lead to pain or discomfort around your sternum.

Collarbone injuries often occur due to things like falls, accidents, or sports injuries. The most common causes of sternum pain are musculoskeletal issues. If you have lingering pain or discomfort in the area of your sternum, make an appointment to see your doctor.

They can diagnose the cause of the pain and work with you to put together a treatment plan. Remember that chest pain is also associated with health emergencies like a heart attack and pulmonary embolism.