Quite often, people are concerned about chest pains that occur mainly in the sternum in the middle. The reasons for this condition can be completely different: from physical stress to heart attack and other dangerous diseases.
Pain in the sternum in the middle of the physical strain. The sternum is a flat bone located in the center of the chest and articulating with the ribs. It consists of three parts - the handle, the body itself and the xiphoid process. With strong loads on the bone, these parts can partially move. This phenomenon is quite rare and occurs mainly among adolescents.
In addition, pain in the sternum in the middle can occur with strong bumps, bruises, excessive physical work. As a rule, soreness increases with pressing the sternum, as well as when the body is bent.
Pain in the sternum in the middle and respiratory system diseases. Quite often, the cause of pain in the chest area is a disease 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, pain in the sternum during coughing only intensifies. Sometimes an unpleasant, raw 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 the most common cause of chest pain.
- Angina pectoris is a fairly common disease, which manifests itself with short bouts of dull and constricting pain in the chest area. In this case, pain in the sternum and back can occur, especially on the left side, in some cases, unpleasant sensations cover the spade and left arm. Such a syndrome, as a rule, worries a person while walking or other physical exertion and completely disappears after a short rest.
- Myocardial infarction is a rather serious condition that requires immediate hospitalization. The painful sensations slightly remind the symptoms of angina pectoris, but in this case the pain is much stronger and longer. An attack occurs even at rest. A very characteristic sign of a heart attack is a strong, inexplicable fear.
- Pain in the sternum can also occur with other diseases of the circulatory system, for example, with aortic aneurysm, pulmonary vascular thrombosis, cardiac muscle neurosis, aortic dissection, embolism, coronary artery disease, etc.
Sternum pain: other common causes. Pain in the sternum can also have completely different causes. For example, quite often it is a symptom of diseases of the digestive tract - esophagitis, acute gastritis, stomach ulcer, gall bladder disease.
In some cases, acute and severe pain in the sternum occurs when a large solid object is swallowed. This occurs mainly among young children. At the same time, pain only increases when swallowing.
Pain can also be given to the sternum, which occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges. In some cases, painful syndrome may indicate some forms of thoracic osteochondrosis, pinched 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 is an injury, gastritis or heart problems, it is necessary to immediately undergo an examination in a 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 final diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.