Breastbone Discomfort
Common Causes of Breastbone Discomfort
Any type of pain in the chest area should be taken seriously, and breastbone discomfort is no exception. While not all causes for the discomfort are grave, it is important to have any issues of the chest area diagnosed as soon as possible by a medical professional to ensure that there are no serious problems.
The scientific name for the breast bone is the sternum. Beginning as three totally separate bones, they may bind together at least partially and in some cases, fully to become as one. The full sternum is flat and extends down from the collar bone to the middle of the chest; with the collarbones, it is similar in appearance to a steer’s skull and horns. The proximity of the bone provides ample protection for the vital organs; lungs, heart and airways as well as some of the body’s most important blood vessels. While its purpose is to be the protector, the area where this bone is located is still prone to pain of its own.
Issues with the breast bone itself can include traumatic injuries, such as fracture (commonly seen in car accidents when the driver hits the steering wheel), joint pain (often experienced as result of strenuous exercise such as weight lifting) or resulting from side effects of surgery such as open heart surgery. Situations that create muscle pain such as strains in the pectoral muscles could possibly be the cause for breastbone pain as well, since the pecs attach to the sternum.
Medical and respiratory complications can result in breastbone discomfort as well. Illnesses like bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis are a few examples of conditions that could create unpleasant sensations around the sides of the breastbone. Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux are conditions that cause sufficient pain in the chest area as to be mistaken for a heart attack. This is certainly something to be concerned about since cardiac conditions are accompanied by severe pain under the breastbone also. Those who suffer from respiratory disorders like asthma and emphysema are also likely to experience pain around the sternum as a result of problematic breathing.
It has also been discovered that people with psychological disorders may be prone to what is termed as “perceived” pain in the area of the sternum. When experiencing attacks of anxiety or panic situations, some individuals report having chest pains, which are likely due to heartburn, irregular heart rates or even simply imagined pain. Heavy breathing or the inability to catch one’s breath can also make for painful chest sensations.
The discomfort felt by an individual can vary from a lingering achy feeling, a general soreness or as severe as stabbing pains. There may or may not be additional symptoms of swelling or tenderness to the touch. Some individuals have even reported hearing a “popping” or a “cracking” noise that accompanies the pain. Treating any type of pain in the chest must always be preceded by an accurate diagnosis of the actual condition causing the pain. Because the possibility that the discomfort could be the result of an issue with the heart, all chest pain must be closely examined and treated as though it were serious until tests prove differently. Since there are a wide variety of reasons for pain that occurs around the sternum, there are also any number of tests that may be required to narrow down the exact cause.
Breastbone discomfort is a symptom of many different conditions and illnesses, with the most serious of these being heart disease. Due to this fact, it is vital that the individual experiencing the pain immediately seek medical attention to rule out this threat.