Pain in Center of Chest Under Ribs: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment & Medications

13.07.202306.07.2023 by alexxlab

What is the cause of pain in the center of the chest under the ribs? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause this type of chest pain. How is GERD treated and what medications are used to manage it.

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Understanding Costochondritis: Causes and Symptoms

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. It can occur due to infection, injury, or other underlying health conditions. The condition typically affects the cartilage where the upper ribs attach to the breastbone, also known as the sternum, in an area called the costosternal joint or costosternal junction. Chest pain caused by costochondritis can range from mild to severe, and may worsen with certain movements, deep breaths, or pressure on the chest area.

Symptoms of Costochondritis

People with costochondritis often experience chest pain in the upper and middle rib area on either side of the breastbone. This pain can gradually increase over time or come on suddenly. Additional symptoms can include:

Pain that becomes worse when lying down
Pain that becomes worse when there is pressure on the chest, like when wearing a seatbelt
Pain that intensifies with coughing or deep breaths
Pain that increases with physical activity

It’s important to note that symptoms like chest tightness and radiating pain can indicate other conditions, including a heart attack. Seek immediate medical care if you’re experiencing persistent, intense chest pain.

Causes of Costochondritis

The exact cause of costochondritis in most people is unknown. However, there are several conditions that may contribute to the development of this condition:

Trauma to the chest, such as a blunt impact from a car accident or fall
Physical strain from activities, such as heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
Certain viruses or respiratory conditions, such as tuberculosis, that can cause joint inflammation
Severe coughing

Research suggests that costochondritis may occur more often in women, especially those who are athletes. You may also be at a higher risk if you participate in high-impact activities, have recently experienced physical trauma or a fall affecting the chest area, or have allergies and are frequently exposed to irritants.

Diagnosing Costochondritis

While there’s no specific test to diagnose costochondritis, your doctor will likely ask a series of questions and perform various tests to determine the source of your chest pain and rule out other potential causes. This may include:

Lab tests to check for underlying conditions like pneumonia or coronary heart disease
X-rays to ensure there are no abnormalities in your lungs
Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the health of your heart

Diagnosing costochondritis often involves a process of elimination, as the doctor works to rule out other more serious conditions that could be responsible for your chest pain.

Treating Costochondritis

Costochondritis can be treated in several ways, depending on the severity of your symptoms. Most cases are treated with over-the-counter medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).

Your doctor may also recommend:

Prescription-strength NSAIDs
Oral steroids or injection of a steroid into the affected area
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which delivers a mild electric current to the area

In addition to medication, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes, such as:

Rest
Physical therapy
Hot or cold therapy using a heating pad and ice

If you have chronic or persistent costochondritis, you may need long-term care to manage the pain and ensure it doesn’t significantly impact your quality of life or ability to engage in daily activities.

Distinguishing Costochondritis from Other Conditions

It’s important to note that while costochondritis is a common cause of chest pain, it’s not the only possible cause. Chest pain can also indicate more serious issues, such as heart or lung problems. If you’re experiencing persistent, intense chest pain, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention to rule out any life-threatening conditions.

Managing Costochondritis Long-Term

In most cases, costochondritis will go away on its own within a few weeks or months with proper treatment. However, for some individuals, the pain may persist or return, even with treatment, when they engage in certain activities or exercises. In these cases, long-term management strategies may be necessary to ensure the condition doesn’t significantly impact one’s quality of life or ability to participate in daily activities.

Symptoms, Causes, Tests, and Treatment

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. It can happen due to infection, injury, and other health conditions.

This condition usually affects the cartilage where the upper ribs attach to the breastbone, also known as the sternum, in an area known as the costosternal joint or costosternal junction.

Chest pain caused by costochondritis can range from mild to severe. Mild cases may only cause your chest to feel slightly tender or some pain when you push on the area.

More severe cases may get worse with certain movements as well as with deep breaths. The condition often goes away within a few weeks or months, but some cases may require treatment.

People with costochondritis often experience chest pain in the upper and middle rib area on either side of the breastbone. This pain can gradually increase over time, or come on suddenly.

Additional symptoms can include:

pain that becomes worse when lying down
pain that becomes worse when there’s pressure on your chest, like when you wear a seatbelt
pain that intensifies with coughing or deep breaths
pain that increases with physical activity

The exact cause of costochondritis in most people is unknown. But conditions that may cause it include:

trauma to the chest, such as blunt impact from a car accident or fall
physical strain from activities, such as heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
certain viruses or respiratory conditions, such as tuberculosis, that can cause joint inflammation
severe coughing

There’s some research that suggests costochondritis occurs more often in women, especially those who are athletes. You may also be at a higher risk for this condition if you:

participate in high-impact activities
recently had a physical trauma or fall that affected the chest area
have allergies and are frequently exposed to irritants

While there’s no test to diagnose costochondritis, your doctor will most likely ask a series of questions and do a series of tests to determine the source of your chest pain.

Lab tests

Typically, lab tests aren’t needed to diagnose costochondritis, but depending on your personal health history, your doctor may do some tests to see if your chest pain could be due to other issues like pneumonia or coronary heart disease.

X-rays and ECGs

Your doctor may want you to get an X-ray to make sure there’s nothing abnormal going out with your lungs.

If you’re dealing with costochondritis, your X-ray should look normal. They may also recommend an electrocardiogram (ECG) to make sure your heart isn’t the cause of your chest pain.

Many times, diagnosing costochondritis is a matter of eliminating other possible, more serious causes.

See your doctor right away if you have trouble breathing or are feeling intense chest pain.

Always seek immediate emergency care when you have abnormal and debilitating pain in your chest. It can indicate something serious, such as a heart attack.

Getting care as soon as possible limits the possibility of complications, especially if an underlying issue is causing your costochondritis.

Costochondritis can be treated in several ways.

Most cases of costochondritis are treated with over-the-counter medications. If your pain is mild to moderate, your doctor will probably recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).

Your doctor may also recommend:

prescription-strength NSAIDs
oral steroids or injection of a steroid into the area involved
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a mild electric current that is delivered to the area via a small, battery-powered device

Lifestyle changes

Your doctor may tell you to make permanent lifestyle changes if you have persistent or chronic costochondritis.

Some types of exercise can aggravate this condition, including rowing and weightlifting. Manual labor may also have a negative effect.

Your doctor may also recommend:

rest
physical therapy
hot or cold therapy using a heating pad and ice

Normally, treatment of the inflammation and pain causes costochondritis to eventually go away on its own.

If you have chronic costochondritis, the pain may persist or return — even with treatment — when you exercise or engage in certain activities. In these cases, you may need to seek long-term care to make sure that costochondritis doesn’t affect your quality of life and ability to take part in daily activities.

Pains associated with costochondritis can indicate other issues. Chest pain can often mean that you’re having heart or lung issues, so see your doctor right away when you feel pain in your chest to make sure that you’re not having a heart attack or have pneumonia.

The chest pain associated with costochondritis can be a symptom of fibromyalgia. With fibromyalgia, you may experience soreness in your chest in addition to:

pain throughout your body
fatigue and inability to rest due to pain
difficulty focusing or concentrating
feelings of depression
headaches

If you experience chest pains along with these other symptoms, talk with your doctor about getting tested for fibromyalgia. Understanding this condition can help you address the symptoms and ensure that it doesn’t interrupt your daily life.

Costochondritis is caused by inflammation and typically presents as chest pain that gets worse with certain movements or pressure. This condition usually isn’t persistent. In many cases, costochondritis goes away on its own.

Mild cases of costochondritis may disappear after a few days. Chronic cases can last for weeks or more, but most cases don’t last any longer than a year.

To lower your chances of developing persistent costochondritis, carry and lift heavy loads properly. Try doing fewer high-impact exercises or manual labor, when possible.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience chest pain while performing any of these activities.

Symptoms, Causes, Tests, and Treatment

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. It can happen due to infection, injury, and other health conditions.

This condition usually affects the cartilage where the upper ribs attach to the breastbone, also known as the sternum, in an area known as the costosternal joint or costosternal junction.

Chest pain caused by costochondritis can range from mild to severe. Mild cases may only cause your chest to feel slightly tender or some pain when you push on the area.

More severe cases may get worse with certain movements as well as with deep breaths. The condition often goes away within a few weeks or months, but some cases may require treatment.

People with costochondritis often experience chest pain in the upper and middle rib area on either side of the breastbone. This pain can gradually increase over time, or come on suddenly.

Additional symptoms can include:

pain that becomes worse when lying down
pain that becomes worse when there’s pressure on your chest, like when you wear a seatbelt
pain that intensifies with coughing or deep breaths
pain that increases with physical activity

The exact cause of costochondritis in most people is unknown. But conditions that may cause it include:

trauma to the chest, such as blunt impact from a car accident or fall
physical strain from activities, such as heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
certain viruses or respiratory conditions, such as tuberculosis, that can cause joint inflammation
severe coughing

There’s some research that suggests costochondritis occurs more often in women, especially those who are athletes. You may also be at a higher risk for this condition if you:

participate in high-impact activities
recently had a physical trauma or fall that affected the chest area
have allergies and are frequently exposed to irritants

While there’s no test to diagnose costochondritis, your doctor will most likely ask a series of questions and do a series of tests to determine the source of your chest pain.