Here are the diseases that can cause sternum pain.
- Sternal pain can be a sign of different diseases: pulmonary embolism, angina, pneumonia, pericarditis or esophagitis.
- In case of pain in the sternum, you should consult a doctor or, if the pain is very severe, call the emergency room.
- Chest pain is also worrying, and can have various causes: cardiovascular, pulmonary, digestive, etc.
The sternum, this flat bone located in front of the rib cage, can hurt. But what does this mean? This can be a symptom of various pathologies, which can be serious: pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, pericarditis or even esophagitis.
Diseases that manifest as pain in the sternum
There pneumonia is an acute bacterial lung infection that can cause sternum pain. If this disease is treated in time, it remains benign. But, if this is not the case, complications can be significant, such as sepsis or a lung abscess. Among other signs, there may be fever, dry cough or even shortness of breath.
Other possible illness in case of sternum pain: pulmonary embolism, that is to say an obstruction of an artery in the lungs. People who suffer from it may also suffer from dyspnea (difficulty breathing) or a strong cough. In the event of an embolism, you must call the emergency services for very rapid treatment.
Langina pectoris manifests itself as chest pain, more precisely on the back of the sternum. This ailment generally occurs during intense exercise or stress. Here too, you must quickly consult your doctor who, with various tests, establishes the diagnosis.
People with sternum pain may also have pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane that covers the heart, or esophagitis, an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.
See a doctor if you have sternum pain
In all cases, when you notice pain in the sternum, it is recommended to consult your doctor because all of these illnesses can be, in the short or medium term, serious and sometimes life-threatening.
This advice is also valid for thorax or chest pain which can be of cardiovascular origin (infarction, angina pectoris), pulmonary (infection, pneumothorax, inflammation of the pleura), digestive (gastroesophageal reflux), abdominal (hepatic colic, appendicitis) or even psychological.
