Breastbone Ache
What Does it Mean When You Have a Breastbone Ache?
Having a breast bone ache doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your breast. In fact, your breast bone is also referred to as a sternum, and your sternum can be affected by many different things. There are a few problems that may in fact cause your breastbone to ache, and here are a few simple solutions on what you can do to help the pain.
The first thing that a doctor will look at in a patient, who has a breastbone ache, is to consider their age and any relative causes. The most valid question to ask anyone with a breastbone ache is whether or not they are short of breath or have a history of heart attacks. Many times patients become distracted by the pain and are not able to think clearly, thus indicating the pain they feel is spread out everywhere.
If you tend to have pain when you cough, or if breathing hurts around the breastbone then it’s likely that you have a condition called Costochondritis. This is a condition in which the joints around the breastbone are aching due to inflammation. This is the same thing that happens when a patient has rheumatoid arthritis. The joints begin to swell and for many who have this they experience a lot of swelling in their hands as a result and therefore they have a lot of pain.
When an older patient complains of a breastbone ache, and physical activities bring the pain on then it might be a sign of something a little more serious. Angina will cause patients to experience a breastbone ache, and in some cases they may even experience sensitivity colder temperatures. The colder temperatures also have the same affect that they would in the case of an arthritis patient. When this happens, they swelling of those joints occur, or in this case the arteries may swell causing pain. It is critical that Angina is diagnosed early on so that it can be treated correctly. Without the proper course of treatment, the Angina can lead up to a heart attack as those arteries continue to swell. In this case the doctor may request some more serious testing and possibly a stress test as well.
A faulty gall bladder has also been known to cause patients to experience a similar type of pain, but generally in this case the pain is below or above the breastbone. When the pain is radiating in this fashion it leads doctors to believe that the patient may have gallstones or a gallbladder infection. In the meantime the best course of action is to avoid fatty foods and see the doctor as soon as possible so they can monitor what is going on and get pictures of the gallbladder.
Another cause for a breastbone ache could be indigestion or severe acid reflux. These conditions affect the esophagus in this case, and it may be related to an ulcer. Having a breastbone ache in this area is definitely reason enough to believe that you might have an ulcer as they can be very painful. The pain is usually located below the breastbone in this case, but can radiate upward especially after having eaten something that may aggravate the ulcer. Strong antacids are usually prescribed so that the affected area can start healing right away. Other simple things like having a glass of milk and eating a very bland diet are helpful in treating these ulcers and healing the esophagus.
When experiencing symptoms that are not typical of your own health, be sure to talk to your family members about what is happening and see if they can shed some light onto your family’s medical history.