Breastbone Pain and Causes

Press Release • Jul 9, 2014
Breastbone pain is defined as a painful feeling in the chest area, characterized by pressure and bruising sensations [1]. This may be felt in the bone itself, underneath the bone, or in the side areas of the breastbone. Sometimes, clicking or crackin

Online, July 9, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Costochondritis

  • This condition involves pain in the chest wall caused by inflamed joints between cartilages that connect the ribs to the breastbone.
  • Cartilages are essential because it allows the expansion of the rib cage, thereby permitting the lungs to expand freely during breathing. Unlike bones, cartilages are softer and more flexible. These are found in the different joint areas in the body. In the rib cage, the joints that can be found are the costochondral joints (between the ribs and the cartilages), costosternal joints (between the ribs and the breastbone), and the costoclavicular joints (between the collarbones and the breastbone). Inflammation of one or more of these joints causes costochondritis
  • The cause of costochondritis is unknown, but medical experts say it may be linked to injury to the ribs or breastbone, physical stress from lifting and carrying heavy objects, or from repeated coughing Breastbone Pain more information vue in videos    www.youtube.com/watch?v=49wgfvmmO7I

Tietze’s Syndrome

  • Similar to costochondritis, the pain in the breastbone experienced in Tietze’s syndrome is also caused by the inflammation of costochondral, costosternal or costoclavicular joints. However, in Tietze’s syndrome, swelling can be experienced. In contrast with costochondritis, only pain and tenderness can be felt in this kind of disease.

Bornholm Disease

  • This is another condition similar to costochondritis and Tietze’s syndrome. On the contrary, the cause of this disease is a viral infection, mainly due to the Coxsackie B virus. Aside from breastbone pain, muscle pain is also experienced in this condition.

Heartburn

  • Heartburn is a burning sensation felt in the chest or breastbone area. A bitter taste in the mouth often accompanies the burning sensation. This is caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, which usually happens after heavy meals, or when lying down immediately after eating.
  • The reflux occurs mainly because of the weakening of the cardiac sphincter, the juncture between the stomach and the esophagus. This juncture closes upon the entry of food into the stomach. The stomach contents leak when the cardiac sphincter does not function properly.

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