Pain in the sternum in the middle: the most common causes

Quite often people are concerned about pain in the chest, which occur mainly in the sternum in the middle. The reasons for this condition can be completely different: from physical overstrain to heart attack and other dangerous diseases.

Pain in the sternum in the middle of physical overstrain. The sternum is a flat bone located in the center of the thorax and articulating with the ribs. It consists of three parts - the handle, the body itself and the xiphoid process. With strong bone loads, these parts can partially shift. This phenomenon is rather rare and occurs mainly among adolescents.

In addition, the pain in the sternum in the middle can occur with severe strokes, bruises, excessive physical work. As a rule, soreness increases when the sternum is pressed, as well as when flexing the trunk.

Pain in the sternum in the middle and diseases of the respiratory system. Quite often, the cause of pain in the thoracic region are diseases of the respiratory system. The most common are pneumonia, tracheitis, bronchitis or pleurisy. In such cases, the pain is not associated with the disease itself, but with its symptom - a sharp, strong and persistent cough. The fact is that with severe spasms, intercostal muscles, joints between the sternum and ribs, and in some cases the diaphragm can be injured. In this case, the pain in the sternum with a cough only increases. Sometimes an unpleasant grunting feeling can spread to other areas of the body.

Pain in the sternum in the middle and problems of the cardiovascular system. In fact, heart disease is most often the cause of chest pain.

• Angina pectoris is a fairly common disease, which is manifested by short attacks of blunt and squeezing painful sensations in the chest area. In this case, there may be pain in the sternum and back, especially on the left side, in some cases with this unpleasant sensations cover the shovel and the left arm. Such a syndrome, as a rule, worries a person during walking or other physical exertion and completely passes after a short rest.
• Myocardial infarction is a rather serious condition requiring immediate hospitalization. Painful sensations remind a little of the symptoms of angina pectoris, but in this case the pain is much stronger and longer. There is an attack even at rest. A very characteristic sign of a heart attack is a powerful, inexplicable fear.
• Pain in the sternum can appear in other diseases of the circulatory system, for example, with aortic aneurysm, pulmonary thrombosis, heart muscle neurosis, aortic dissection, embolism, coronary artery disease, etc.

Pain in the sternum: other common causes. Pain in the sternum may have completely different causes. For example, quite often it is a symptom of digestive tract diseases - esophagitis, acute gastritis, stomach ulcer, gallbladder disease.

In some cases, acute and severe pain in the sternum arises when swallowing a large solid object. This occurs mainly among young children. However, soreness only increases with swallowing.

In the sternum can also give and the pain that occurs with an increase in the thyroid gland. In some cases, a painful syndrome may indicate some forms of chest osteochondrosis, pinching of nerves or intercostal neuralgia.

You can see that the pain in the sternum in the middle can occur for dozens of different reasons. But in almost every case, whether it be trauma, gastritis or heart problems, it is necessary to undergo an examination immediately in the hospital, because the consequences can be the most unpredictable. After a series of studies (blood tests, sputum, X-rays, fluorography, etc.), the doctor will be able to make a definitive diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.