Sternum pain can come from several common causes, especially inflammation of the chest wall, acid reflux, injury, or muscle strain, but it can also signal more serious heart or lung problems. Because chest pain has a wide differential, an authoritative article should explain both the likely benign causes and the red flags that need urgent evaluation.
What the sternum pain means
The sternum, or breastbone, sits at the center of the chest and helps connect the rib cage. Pain felt there is often described as sharp, aching, burning, or pressure-like, and it may worsen with movement, breathing, coughing, or pressing on the area.
Common causes
- Costochondritis: inflammation where the ribs join the sternum; this is one of the most common causes of chest wall pain and can mimic heart pain.
- Muscle strain or chest wall overuse: heavy lifting, repetitive activity, or forceful coughing can irritate muscles and cartilage around the breastbone.
- Trauma or injury: a blow to the chest, fall, or fracture can directly injure the sternum or nearby cartilage.
- Acid reflux or GERD: stomach acid can cause a burning pain behind the breastbone that may feel like sternum pain.
- Inflammatory or infectious conditions: less common causes include joint inflammation or, rarely, infection involving the sternum or chest wall.pmc.
Serious causes to rule out
Some sternum-area pain is not from the sternum itself. Heart-related causes, such as angina or heart attack, and lung-related causes, such as pulmonary embolism or pleurisy, can produce pain in the center of the chest and must be considered when symptoms are severe or unusual. Mayo Clinic notes that costochondritis pain can resemble a heart attack, which is why chest pain should be assessed promptly when the cause is unclear.
When to seek urgent care
Get emergency help if sternum pain comes with shortness of breath, fainting, sweating, nausea, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, or pressure-like chest discomfort. Pain after an injury, fever, or worsening symptoms also needs medical evaluation.
Summary
Sternum pain refers to discomfort felt in the center of the chest over the breastbone. It often comes from the chest wall itself, especially costochondritis, a condition caused by inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum. Other common causes include muscle strain, repeated coughing, chest injury, or acid reflux, which can create a burning pain behind the breastbone.
In some cases, sternum pain may reflect a more serious condition. Heart problems, lung disorders, and other medical issues can cause chest pain that feels like it is coming from the sternum, so symptoms should not be ignored when they are severe, sudden, or accompanied by breathing difficulty or pain radiating to the arm or jaw.