Q. The area right in the middle of my chest, sternum area, is very sore. I do not remember doing anything that would cause external damage. What could be the cause of this sometimes severe pain?

A. The sternum is the bone just below the collar bone, and is often described as a “T” shape. The sternum protects the heart and lungs from being injured. There are a number of different things that may cause sternum pain, and it is important to be seen by a doctor if you are having other heart related pain symptoms.

If you were in a car accident recently, and were wearing your seatbelt, that could be the cause. The seatbelt goes across the sternum, and it could have been bruised or possibly cracked during an accident. If you were in an accident you should see a doctor for a chest x-ray. Playing ball or another sport where you might have been hit in the chest, can also cause bruising and pain.

Costochondritis can cause pain in the sternum area. There is no known cause for it, and does not normally need any treatment. It is an inflammation within the chest walls and causes pain and discomfort. Pressing on the sternum area may cause more pain. Adults with any kind of chest pain, will most likely need to undergo testing to ensure it is not a heart related problem.

Digestive diseases like GERD, may cause pain in the sternum area. This is a more severe form of heartburn and indigestion. If the pain in the sternum area is worse when laying down, or shortly after eating it is most likely a digestive issue. An antacid may alleviate the pain in these cases. A hiatal hernia may also be present and causing pain. A doctor will need to evaluate the severity of the hernia to determine treatment. In most cases the hernia is left alone and just managed with diet changes.

Any kind of sternum pain should be evaluated by a doctor to ensure it is nothing serious. It can be hard to tell the difference between a heart area pain or if the pain is coming from the lung and rib area. A doctor can perform several tests and help ease your mind.

Related Questions