Sternum Pain: What Is It?

Pain in your sternum, or breastbone, may be caused by a number of things, including inflammation, a joint or collarbone injury, and acid reflux. Pain in your sternum may also happen with a heart attack, but this is more likely if you’re over the age of 40 and have heart disease.

Your sternum, or breastbone, connects the two sides of your rib cage together. It sits in front of many major organs located in your chest and gut, including your heart, lungs, and stomach. As a result, many conditions that don’t necessarily have anything to do with your sternum may cause pain in your sternum and the surrounding area.

Your first reaction to chest pain, especially severe or consistent chest pain, may be to think it’s a heart attack. But in many cases, chest pain has nothing to do with your heart. This is especially true if you’re under age 40 and don’t have any serious health issues or existing conditions.

Sternum pain is actually more likely caused by conditions that have to do with your muscles, your bones, or your digestive tract than with your heart or the sternum itself.

Keep reading to learn the most common reasons for sternum pain and when you should see your doctor.

The most common cause of sternum pain is a condition called costochondritis. This occurs when the cartilage that connects your ribs to your sternum becomes inflamed.

Symptoms of costochondritis include:

• sharp pains or aches on the side of your sternum area
• pain or discomfort in one or more ribs
• pain or discomfort that gets worse when you cough or breathe in deeply

Costochondritis doesn’t always have a specific cause, but it’s most often a result of a chest injury, strain from physical activity, or joint conditions like osteoarthritis. Costochondritis isn’t a serious condition and shouldn’t cause you to be concerned.

See your doctor if the pain persists or if you have other symptoms that might indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Conditions or injuries to the muscles and bones around your sternum can also cause sternum pain.

This includes:

• joint injury
• collarbone (clavicle) injury
• fractures
• hernias
• surgery on the sternum (such as open heart surgery)

These aren’t the only musculoskeletal conditions that may make your sternum hurt, but they’re among the most common.

Sternoclavicular joint injury

The sternoclavicular joint (SC joint) connects the top of your sternum with your collarbone (clavicle). Injury to this joint can cause pain and discomfort in your sternum and in the area in your upper chest where this joint exists.

Common symptoms of injury to this joint include:

• feeling mild pain or having aching and swelling around your upper chest and collarbone area
• hearing pops or clicks in the joint area
• feeling stiff around the joint or not being able to fully move your shoulder

Collarbone trauma

The collarbone is directly connected to your sternum, so injuries, dislocation, fractures, or other trauma to the collarbone can affect the sternum.

Common symptoms of collarbone trauma include:

• bruises or bumps around area of collarbone injury
• intense pain when you try to move your arm upwards
• swelling or tenderness around collarbone area
• pops, clicks, or grinding noises when you lift your arm
• abnormal frontward sagging of your shoulder

Sternum fracture

Fracturing your sternum can cause a lot of pain, because your sternum is involved in many of your upper body movements. This type of injury is often caused by blunt force injuries to your chest. Examples of this include your seat belt tightening in a car accident or your chest getting hit while you’re playing sports or doing other high-impact physical activity.

Common symptoms include:

• pain when you breathe in or cough
• difficulty breathing
• pops, clicks, or grinding noises when you move your arms
• swelling and tenderness over the sternum

Muscle strain or hernia

Pulling or straining a muscle in your chest can cause pain around your sternum.

Common symptoms of a pulled muscle include:

• pain around the pulled muscle
• discomfort when using the affected muscle
• bruising or tenderness around the affected muscle

A hernia can also cause sternum pain. A hernia happens when an organ is pushed or pulled from the area where it normally sits into a nearby part of the body.

The most common kind is a hiatal hernia. This happens when your stomach moves up past your diaphragm into your chest cavity.

Common symptoms of a hiatal hernia include:

• frequent burping
• heartburn
• having trouble swallowing
• feeling like you ate too much
• throwing up blood
• having black-colored stool

Check out: Muscle strain treatment »

Your sternum sits right in front of several major digestive organs. Conditions that affect your esophagus, stomach, and intestines can all cause sternum pain. Having heartburn or acid reflux after a meal are the most common gastrointestinal causes for sternum pain.

Heartburn

Heartburn happens when acid from your stomach leaks into your esophagus and causes chest pain. It’s common to get right after you eat. Pain usually gets worse when you lie down or bend forward.

Heartburn usually goes away without treatment after a short time.

Check out: Post-meal tips to ease heartburn »

Acid reflux

Acid reflux is similar to heartburn, but happens when stomach acid or even what’s in your stomach starts to bother or wear away the lining of your esophagus. It can be part of a chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Symptoms of acid reflux include:

• burning in your chest
• abnormal bitter taste in your mouth
• difficulty swallowing
• coughing
• throat soreness or hoarseness
• feeling like you have a lump in your throat

Learn more: How to prevent acid reflux and heartburn »

Conditions that affect your lungs, windpipe (trachea), and other parts of your body that help you breathe can cause sternum pain.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy happens when your pleura gets inflamed. The pleura is made up of tissue within your chest cavity and around your lungs. In some cases, fluid can build up around this tissue. This is called pleural effusion.

Common symptoms include:

• sharp pain when you breathe in, sneeze, or cough
• feeling like you can’t get enough air
• an abnormal cough
• fever (in rare cases)

Bronchitis

Bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes that bring air into your lungs become inflamed. It often happens when you get the flu or a cold.

Bronchitis pain can also make your sternum hurt as you breathe in and out. It can last only briefly (acute bronchitis) or become a long-term condition (chronic bronchitis) due to smoking or infections.

Common bronchitis symptoms include:

• persistent wet cough that causes you to spit up mucus
• wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• pain or discomfort in your chest

Flu or cold symptoms that can go along with bronchitis include:

• high fever
• exhaustion
• runny nose
• diarrhea
• vomiting

Check out: 7 home remedies for bronchitis »

Pneumonia

Pneumonia happens when your lungs get infected by a virus or bacteria.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• difficulty breathing
• high fever
• persistent cough

Other conditions that affect your gastrointestinal tract or your chest muscles can cause sternum pain.

Stomach ulcer

A stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer) happens when you get a sore on the lining of your stomach or at the bottom of your esophagus.

Symptoms of a stomach ulcer include:

• stomach pain, especially on an empty stomach, that responds to antacids
• feeling bloated
• nausea
• lack of appetite

Panic attack

A panic attack happens when you suddenly feel fear, as if something dangerous or threatening is happening, with no actual reason to be afraid. It’s often a result of stress or a symptom of mental health conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder or depression.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

• feeling like something bad is about to happen
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• having trouble breathing or swallowing
• sweating
• feeling alternately hot and cold
• stomach cramps
• chest pain

Check out: 11 ways to stop a panic attack »

Sternum pain can sometimes be the result of a heart attack. This is much less likely if you’re under age 40 or are in overall good health. They’re more likely to happen if you’re over 40 and have an existing condition, such as heart disease.

A heart attack is life-threatening. You should go to the emergency room right away if you have any symptoms besides sternum pain that may indicate a heart attack, especially if they appear without any obvious cause or if you’ve had a heart attack before.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• chest pain in the middle or left side of your chest
• pain or discomfort in your upper body, including your arms, shoulder, and jaw
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• having trouble breathing
• sweating
• nausea

The more of these symptoms you have, the more likely that you’re having a heart attack.

See your doctor right away if you have heart attack symptoms or symptoms that cause you sharp, consistent pain that gets in the way of your daily life.

You should also see your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• sternum and general chest pain that has no obvious cause
• sweating, dizziness, or nausea with no specific cause
• trouble breathing
• pain that spreads from your chest throughout your upper body
• chest tightness

If you’re experiencing other symptoms and they last for more than a few days, talk to your doctor.

You can find a primary care doctor near you through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Your next steps depend on what condition might be causing your sternum pain and how severe the condition is.

You may just need to take over-the-counter pain medication or change your diet. But you may need long-term treatment if the underlying condition is more serious. In some cases, you may need surgery to treat a heart or gastrointestinal condition.

Once your doctor diagnoses the cause, they can develop a treatment plan that can help relieve the symptoms and causes of your sternum pain.

Sternum Pain: What Is It?

Pain in your sternum, or breastbone, may be caused by a number of things, including inflammation, a joint or collarbone injury, and acid reflux. Pain in your sternum may also happen with a heart attack, but this is more likely if you’re over the age of 40 and have heart disease.

Your sternum, or breastbone, connects the two sides of your rib cage together. It sits in front of many major organs located in your chest and gut, including your heart, lungs, and stomach. As a result, many conditions that don’t necessarily have anything to do with your sternum may cause pain in your sternum and the surrounding area.

Your first reaction to chest pain, especially severe or consistent chest pain, may be to think it’s a heart attack. But in many cases, chest pain has nothing to do with your heart. This is especially true if you’re under age 40 and don’t have any serious health issues or existing conditions.

Sternum pain is actually more likely caused by conditions that have to do with your muscles, your bones, or your digestive tract than with your heart or the sternum itself.

Keep reading to learn the most common reasons for sternum pain and when you should see your doctor.

The most common cause of sternum pain is a condition called costochondritis. This occurs when the cartilage that connects your ribs to your sternum becomes inflamed.

Symptoms of costochondritis include:

• sharp pains or aches on the side of your sternum area
• pain or discomfort in one or more ribs
• pain or discomfort that gets worse when you cough or breathe in deeply

Costochondritis doesn’t always have a specific cause, but it’s most often a result of a chest injury, strain from physical activity, or joint conditions like osteoarthritis. Costochondritis isn’t a serious condition and shouldn’t cause you to be concerned.

See your doctor if the pain persists or if you have other symptoms that might indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Conditions or injuries to the muscles and bones around your sternum can also cause sternum pain.

This includes:

• joint injury
• collarbone (clavicle) injury
• fractures
• hernias
• surgery on the sternum (such as open heart surgery)

These aren’t the only musculoskeletal conditions that may make your sternum hurt, but they’re among the most common.

Sternoclavicular joint injury

The sternoclavicular joint (SC joint) connects the top of your sternum with your collarbone (clavicle). Injury to this joint can cause pain and discomfort in your sternum and in the area in your upper chest where this joint exists.

Common symptoms of injury to this joint include:

• feeling mild pain or having aching and swelling around your upper chest and collarbone area
• hearing pops or clicks in the joint area
• feeling stiff around the joint or not being able to fully move your shoulder

Collarbone trauma

The collarbone is directly connected to your sternum, so injuries, dislocation, fractures, or other trauma to the collarbone can affect the sternum.

Common symptoms of collarbone trauma include:

• bruises or bumps around area of collarbone injury
• intense pain when you try to move your arm upwards
• swelling or tenderness around collarbone area
• pops, clicks, or grinding noises when you lift your arm
• abnormal frontward sagging of your shoulder

Sternum fracture

Fracturing your sternum can cause a lot of pain, because your sternum is involved in many of your upper body movements. This type of injury is often caused by blunt force injuries to your chest. Examples of this include your seat belt tightening in a car accident or your chest getting hit while you’re playing sports or doing other high-impact physical activity.

Common symptoms include:

• pain when you breathe in or cough
• difficulty breathing
• pops, clicks, or grinding noises when you move your arms
• swelling and tenderness over the sternum

Muscle strain or hernia

Pulling or straining a muscle in your chest can cause pain around your sternum.

Common symptoms of a pulled muscle include:

• pain around the pulled muscle
• discomfort when using the affected muscle
• bruising or tenderness around the affected muscle

A hernia can also cause sternum pain. A hernia happens when an organ is pushed or pulled from the area where it normally sits into a nearby part of the body.

The most common kind is a hiatal hernia. This happens when your stomach moves up past your diaphragm into your chest cavity.

Common symptoms of a hiatal hernia include:

• frequent burping
• heartburn
• having trouble swallowing
• feeling like you ate too much
• throwing up blood
• having black-colored stool

Check out: Muscle strain treatment »

Your sternum sits right in front of several major digestive organs. Conditions that affect your esophagus, stomach, and intestines can all cause sternum pain. Having heartburn or acid reflux after a meal are the most common gastrointestinal causes for sternum pain.

Heartburn

Heartburn happens when acid from your stomach leaks into your esophagus and causes chest pain. It’s common to get right after you eat. Pain usually gets worse when you lie down or bend forward.

Heartburn usually goes away without treatment after a short time.

Check out: Post-meal tips to ease heartburn »

Acid reflux

Acid reflux is similar to heartburn, but happens when stomach acid or even what’s in your stomach starts to bother or wear away the lining of your esophagus. It can be part of a chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Symptoms of acid reflux include:

• burning in your chest
• abnormal bitter taste in your mouth
• difficulty swallowing
• coughing
• throat soreness or hoarseness
• feeling like you have a lump in your throat

Learn more: How to prevent acid reflux and heartburn »

Conditions that affect your lungs, windpipe (trachea), and other parts of your body that help you breathe can cause sternum pain.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy happens when your pleura gets inflamed. The pleura is made up of tissue within your chest cavity and around your lungs. In some cases, fluid can build up around this tissue. This is called pleural effusion.

Common symptoms include:

• sharp pain when you breathe in, sneeze, or cough
• feeling like you can’t get enough air
• an abnormal cough
• fever (in rare cases)

Bronchitis

Bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes that bring air into your lungs become inflamed. It often happens when you get the flu or a cold.

Bronchitis pain can also make your sternum hurt as you breathe in and out. It can last only briefly (acute bronchitis) or become a long-term condition (chronic bronchitis) due to smoking or infections.

Common bronchitis symptoms include:

• persistent wet cough that causes you to spit up mucus
• wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• pain or discomfort in your chest

Flu or cold symptoms that can go along with bronchitis include:

• high fever
• exhaustion
• runny nose
• diarrhea
• vomiting

Check out: 7 home remedies for bronchitis »

Pneumonia

Pneumonia happens when your lungs get infected by a virus or bacteria.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• difficulty breathing
• high fever
• persistent cough

Other conditions that affect your gastrointestinal tract or your chest muscles can cause sternum pain.

Stomach ulcer

A stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer) happens when you get a sore on the lining of your stomach or at the bottom of your esophagus.

Symptoms of a stomach ulcer include:

• stomach pain, especially on an empty stomach, that responds to antacids
• feeling bloated
• nausea
• lack of appetite

Panic attack

A panic attack happens when you suddenly feel fear, as if something dangerous or threatening is happening, with no actual reason to be afraid. It’s often a result of stress or a symptom of mental health conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder or depression.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

• feeling like something bad is about to happen
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• having trouble breathing or swallowing
• sweating
• feeling alternately hot and cold
• stomach cramps
• chest pain

Check out: 11 ways to stop a panic attack »

Sternum pain can sometimes be the result of a heart attack. This is much less likely if you’re under age 40 or are in overall good health. They’re more likely to happen if you’re over 40 and have an existing condition, such as heart disease.

A heart attack is life-threatening. You should go to the emergency room right away if you have any symptoms besides sternum pain that may indicate a heart attack, especially if they appear without any obvious cause or if you’ve had a heart attack before.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• chest pain in the middle or left side of your chest
• pain or discomfort in your upper body, including your arms, shoulder, and jaw
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• having trouble breathing
• sweating
• nausea

The more of these symptoms you have, the more likely that you’re having a heart attack.

See your doctor right away if you have heart attack symptoms or symptoms that cause you sharp, consistent pain that gets in the way of your daily life.

You should also see your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• sternum and general chest pain that has no obvious cause
• sweating, dizziness, or nausea with no specific cause
• trouble breathing
• pain that spreads from your chest throughout your upper body
• chest tightness

If you’re experiencing other symptoms and they last for more than a few days, talk to your doctor.

You can find a primary care doctor near you through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Your next steps depend on what condition might be causing your sternum pain and how severe the condition is.

You may just need to take over-the-counter pain medication or change your diet. But you may need long-term treatment if the underlying condition is more serious. In some cases, you may need surgery to treat a heart or gastrointestinal condition.

Once your doctor diagnoses the cause, they can develop a treatment plan that can help relieve the symptoms and causes of your sternum pain.

Pain in the thoracic spine

I completely trusted and the results were not long in coming!

I turned to Igor Nikolaevich with acute severe pain in the cervical spine. Since I live in Germany, I first looked for help there, but unfortunately I didn’t get a result, and my good friend, who has been treated with him for many years, said that I need to go to him, he cured her hernia. I came with an MRI, the doctor studied the history, examined, said that I have chondrosis of the cervical spine, that this causes a lot of problems: pinched nerves, blood vessels are out of order. He prescribed therapy according to his own method, 14 sessions in total, which included osteopathy, which takes about an hour, electrophoresis, injections and gravitational therapy, I liked it the most, I felt like an astronaut. After the third session, I already felt an improvement, that the pains were gradually released, a bright consciousness appeared, my head felt better. I have not seen such a technique, but I have met a person who “flies”
after this technique, this is my friend, and she completely trusted and really the results were not long in coming.

Marina from Germany

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

We solved the problem in 3 sessions!

Just a month ago I faced a problem – my back began to hurt. I have been looking for a way to get rid of this problem for a very long time. I went to a neurologist, because at first they thought that I had something with my nerves. After many attempts to help, she sent me to a vertebrologist. This was the first time we heard of such a specialist. Then we learned about the medical center “Palikha”, as we were purposefully looking for a vertebrologist, he was not in our city and we found him here in Moscow. My specialist’s name is Novichkov Evgeny Nikolaevich, I was very lucky with him, because after three sessions I felt much better. Initially, a course of three sessions was prescribed, but I was very lucky and felt better in three.

Olga

Attending physician: Novichkov E.N.

There was a hernia. Within a month the pain was gone!

I live in the Moscow region, in the city of Elektrostal. I have already climbed to the top for 70 years, and from this peak you can see a lot, but diseases also come. In September 2019, I felt very severe pain in my left shoulder blade and left arm. I did an MRI – it turned out that this was due to a vertebral hernia. Went to the clinic at the place of residence. The doctor prescribed injections and pills. For two weeks of their use, the pain did not go away, the result left much to be desired. I signed up for another doctor, everything was the same, injections, pills, and so for another two weeks, but the pain still tormented me. I remembered that a few years ago I applied to the Palikha clinic in Moscow on the issue of pressure. And there I saw a stand on which it was written that Dr. Igor Nikolayevich Yarukhin treats vertebral hernias according to his method, that as a result of this complex treatment, a hernia decreases by 2 times in a year and cartilaginous tissues grow in the intervertebral discs. I turned to Igor Nikolaevich, we started a course of treatment. A month later, the pain disappeared, I felt like a completely healthy person, but I continue the course of treatment so far. Today is already February, soon 23, and I can say that over the past month I have not experienced any pain, I feel like a completely healthy person, I can only say that Igor Nikolayevich is a great merit in this. So today I came for another procedure. In 3 months I will come for a follow-up examination. There is already hope that my health has returned, I don’t feel pain, I do exercises with 5 kg dumbbells, and everything is fine. Thanks to Igor Nikolaevich.

Viktor Semenovich, 70 years old

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

I had a problem with my back. At the end of the course, I do not feel any problems!

I had a problem with my back. My good friend, a work colleague, advised Novichkov Evgeny Nikolaevich. Called, made an appointment, came by appointment. Evgeniy Nikolayevich took a look and prescribed a course of manual procedures. I did not argue with the doctor, the entire course that was prescribed passed. In general, at the end of the course, the problem went away, I don’t feel the problem, everything is fine, the back works, moves. Conducted field tests in the country – withstood, everything is fine. There are no restrictions on loads, everything is possible. I highly recommend the doctor, highly recommended. Even among my acquaintances, several people are being treated by him. Impressions are only positive. Professionally. Correctly. Politely. I recommend both the clinic and the doctor to everyone.

Maxim, 32 years old

Attending physician: Novichkov E.N.

After the second procedure the discomfort disappeared!

I turned to Dr. Novichkov on the recommendation of a neurologist from a clinic in the city of Korolev. I have had a problem with my back for a long time – an intervertebral hernia. After the MRI, the neurologist advised me to take a course of osteopathy and manual therapy with Dr. Novichkov. She advised him as a knowledgeable, competent specialist in this particular problem. I underwent a course of osteopathy and an injection of the chondroprotector GiarRepair to moisturize the intervertebral discs. After the second procedure, I felt that my body became more obedient to me, there were no difficulties when turning the neck, when bending the body, and I no longer experienced other unpleasant sensations.

Elena

Attending physician: Novichkov E.N.

It became easy to breathe, the spine became soft and mobile!

I came to the medical center with my back problems. I have a hernia, my back hurt, not much, but it bothered me. I visited many neurologists, went to the state polyclinic, they could not help me there, the pain does not go away, I sleep badly. My friend suggested that I turn to Palikha specifically to Igor Nikolaevich Yarukhin. He received me, looked at me very well, all the pictures, x-rays. Interrogated from and to. We started treatment, osteopathic procedures, electrophoresis. And I want to say that after about 4 procedures I felt better. I realized that it became so easy for me to breathe, the spine became soft and more mobile. I like it. I began to sleep well, sound sleep. If earlier I could not sleep soundly, twisted, rolled over, worried about my back, now I sleep and feel good. I advise, if someone needs help in this regard, contact Igor Nikolaevich, they will definitely help.

Irina, 55 years old

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

Thanks to Igor Nikolaevich for a new opportunity to a full life!

I went to the clinic when they were talking about an operation to replace the vertebrae. Came in for a consultation on the recommendation of a friend. The doctors said that if Yarukhin does not take it, then it will definitely be an operation. I came to Igor Nikolaevich. He said, “No operation! Will be working!”. I did not believe, because I could hardly walk, there was already swelling of the bone marrow, one leg pulled the other. When people passed by, it seemed to me that they were birds that fly, and I was lined. A month later I started walking, after two or three months the pain went away, and now I don’t have a single hernia. I remember that pain, and I am glad that I can walk. I am very grateful to the Palikha Medical Center and Igor Nikolaevich for giving me a new opportunity to a full life, thank you very much! Very nice staff, always helpful and helpful.

Irina Zolotareva

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

Evgeniy Nikolaevich set me on my feet with his procedures!

An age-related problem of urban sedentary life that also covered me – lower back pain. Since I already went to the clinic for hirudotherapy, I saw information about other services of the clinic, I decided to do manual therapy and massage. Luckily, I managed to see a clinic doctor even during an acute period, and what is especially pleasant, during the winter holidays. He helped me a lot, literally put me on my feet with his procedures, because I could not even stand for 2-3 minutes near the sink – I immediately felt drawn to my side. I have had manual therapy sessions. Went in for a massage and manual therapy. Of course, I can’t say that everything went well for me, but the situation is under control and I already know how to behave, whom to contact, how to optimize the load so as not to fall out of active life at all. I recommend Evgeny Nikolayevich Novichkov to all those who suffer with pain in the back, neck and other places, because he is a very attentive, sensitive therapist who uses techniques aimingly, and proceeding not from the method but from the patient’s condition, always in dialogue and able to understand those problems, that this particular sufferer has and help in their resolution. Only positive feedback.

Galina Lyubimova, 64 years old

Attending physician: Novichkov E.N.

Life seems to be getting better!

I have osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, hernia of the cervical vertebrae, protrusion of the cervical vertebrae, and even swelling of the (spinal) cord in these vertebrae. Unfortunately, what neuropathologists offered – classical methods did not help me very much. After I got dizzy, it was even hard to walk. After I turned to Igor Nikolayevich at the Palikha clinic, I was given a course of osteopathy, electrophoresis, injections, which significantly changed the situation. Pain in the vertebrae subsided, dizziness significantly decreased, confidence appeared when walking, no swaying. Life seems to be getting better. In general, I am satisfied, I can advise. In my opinion, in such a situation, the best treatment is osteopathy, manual therapy and electrophoresis.

Viktor Ivanovich

Attending physician: Yarukhin I. N.

Condition improved by 90%!

With my problem of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, I went to the Palikha clinic to Igor Nikolaevich Yarukhin, having found information on the Internet. He helped me a lot by conducting 10 sessions of manual therapy and electrophoresis. My condition has improved by 90%, for which I am grateful to the clinic. The result exceeded all expectations, especially considering that my age has already exceeded 80 years.

Evgenia, 82 years old

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

The doctor deals with my problem individually!

I had a series of osteopathic sessions with Dr. Yarukhin. I turned to the Palikha clinic, as I always had problems with my back. I was tormented by osteochondrosis, pain for a long time, 2 years ago there was a serious attack. After that, she began to do gymnastics and look for a solution to the problem. I came to the clinic with an MRI, I liked that the doctor got acquainted with the pictures, and during the sessions I noticed that the doctor deals individually with my problems of my spine. At the 1st session, I still felt severe stiffness and stiffness in the lumbosacral region on the right side, where my muscles and tendons have always been tightened. After 3-4 sessions, I felt that I could take the positions that the doctor recommended, the muscles became stretched. I received very valuable advice on maintaining health, which I follow at home. I plan to have several massage sessions and return to Dr. Yarukhin for another course of osteopathy and supplement it with electrophoresis. Now my condition and general mood is much better. I saw positive dynamics and hope to put my spine in order. I recommend everyone who has back problems to contact this clinic, which I have the best impression of.

Marina Vladimirovna

Attending physician: Yarukhin I.N.

causes in Irkutsk at the Expert Clinic

It can be a sign of life-threatening conditions, so it is important to know its main characteristics in order to seek medical help in a timely manner. Pain in the region of the heart. What is she like? Is it always an indicator of heart pathology?

Natalia Aleksandrovna Shelest, a cardiologist at the Expert Clinic, Irkutsk, tells about the characteristics of pain in the region of the heart and the possible causes of their occurrence.

— Natalya Alexandrovna, is chest pain always a sign of heart disease?

— No, not always. Pain in the chest, along with diseases of the cardiovascular system, can also manifest diseases of the bones, joints, muscles (Tietze’s syndrome, anterior scalene syndrome, fibromyositis, dorsopathy), changes in the lungs and pleura (pleurisy, spontaneous pneumothorax, pulmonary infarction, tumors ), organs of the digestive tract (esophagitis, cardiospasm, diaphragmatic hernia, gastric and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis), some neurological disorders (shingles, neurocirculatory dystonia), diseases of the mammary gland.

Among the pathologies that cause chest pain, there are both life-threatening, requiring immediate intervention (in particular, myocardial infarction, dissecting aortic aneurysm, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery and its branches, pneumothorax), and less serious pathologies – for example, anterior chest wall, anxiety-depressive state. They, of course, also require correction, but they are not classified as emergency conditions.

— For what reasons can true pains appear in the region of the heart?

— The cause of such pain may be an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate, heart rhythm disturbance, excessive physical and emotional stress. Alcohol abuse, smoking, heavy eating, drug use can also cause heart pain.

— If a patient complains of pain in the heart when taking a deep breath, what can this mean?

— First of all, about diseases of the musculoskeletal system — intercostal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, inflammation of the sternocostal joints (Tietze’s syndrome), chest injuries. The appearance of pain in the region of the heart in these pathologies is due to irritation or infringement of the intercostal nerves, excursion (movement) of the chest as a result of the act of inhalation and exhalation, and a change in body position.

A number of pulmonary diseases, such as pneumothorax, pleurisy, pneumonia, can also be accompanied by pain when inhaling, often additional symptoms are fever, shortness of breath and tachycardia.

— And if pain in the heart appears at rest?

– In this case, there is a high probability of developing a serious pathology, in particular, dissecting aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade.

Sometimes banal muscle pains in the chest can also disturb a person at rest due to excessive static loads or incorrect body position.

— Which doctor should I contact if I have pain in the heart area?

— If heart pain occurs for the first time, taking you by surprise, and is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, the person should immediately contact any doctor in the vicinity and explain what is bothering him. Regardless of qualifications and specialization, each doctor is able to navigate what to do in a particular case, provide first aid if necessary and refer to the right specialist.

If the patient can get to the clinic, you should contact a general practitioner. It is he who will decide on the necessary stages of medical care, including in consultation with narrow specialists – a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, surgeon and other doctors.

— What characteristics of chest pain require emergency medical attention?

— Chest pain should always be treated with caution. It is important not to miss conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, an attack of angina pectoris (popularly “angina pectoris”). They are characterized by paroxysmal compressive, bursting, pressing, burning pains behind the sternum and / or in the left half of the chest (precordial region), can spread to the axillary and subscapular region on the left, to the left arm and shoulder, to the left half of the neck and lower jaw, last no more than 10 minutes, may be accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath. It should be remembered that most often these symptoms appear on the background or immediately after physical or emotional stress. There is a rapid effect of taking nitroglycerin within 5 minutes.

If these pains last more than 20 minutes and worsen when the load is resumed, it is imperative to call an ambulance. A dangerous condition is also considered a combination of these pains with a decrease in blood pressure, a decrease (less than 50 beats per minute) or an increase (more than 120 beats per minute) in heart rate, with interruptions in the heart rate, profuse cold sweating, pallor of the skin, severe weakness, nausea, fainting, or even loss of consciousness. If these symptoms are present, the patient needs emergency medical attention.

— How is heart pain diagnosed?

– First of all, we evaluate vital functions – we determine whether the patient is conscious, what are the indicators of respiration, hemodynamics (blood circulation). If there are signs of respiratory failure, very low or high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, then emergency assistance is needed: an ambulance call and urgent hospitalization.

The second stage of diagnosis is the identification of risk factors for coronary heart disease. In the presence of pain of the type of angina pectoris, the patient is given a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is taken, and the clinical effect of the drug taken is evaluated. If there is a suspicion of pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, dissecting aneurysm, it is necessary to take an ECG, conduct echocardiography, determine markers of myocardial damage, take an x-ray of the chest, and assess blood oxygen saturation.

At the next stage of diagnosis (after exclusion of life-threatening pathologies), they proceed to the search for other causes that can cause pain in the region of the heart. In this case, complaints are detailed, a more thorough examination is carried out, an algorithm for laboratory and instrumental studies is developed: blood tests, holter ECG, daily monitoring of blood pressure (BP), radiography of the chest and spine, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, fibrogastroduodenoscopy, if necessary CT scan.

— Natalya Alexandrovna, tell our readers about the tactics of treating pain in the heart area.

— Pain in the region of the heart can occur with a variety of pathologies, both cardiac and non-cardiac. Therefore, therapeutic measures will depend on the background of which disease these pains are noted.