Sharp or aching pain in the sternum during coughing often stems from muscle strain, inflammation, or underlying chest conditions requiring attention.
Understanding Why Sternum Hurts When Coughing
Experiencing pain right in the middle of your chest when you cough can be alarming. The sternum, or breastbone, sits at the center of your chest and connects your ribcage. When you cough forcefully or repeatedly, this area may hurt due to various reasons ranging from simple muscle strain to more serious medical conditions.
Coughing exerts pressure on the muscles and bones around the chest. If these muscles or cartilage are inflamed or injured, each cough can trigger sharp or dull pain localized at the sternum. Sometimes, what feels like sternum pain might actually originate from deeper structures such as the lungs, heart, or esophagus.
Pinpointing why your sternum hurts when coughing requires understanding the anatomy involved and recognizing symptoms that suggest different causes. Let’s explore common reasons behind this discomfort and how you can approach treatment.
Common Causes of Sternum Pain During Coughing
1. Muscular Strain and Costochondritis
One of the most frequent culprits is muscular strain in the chest wall. Vigorous coughing can overstretch or irritate the intercostal muscles—those lying between your ribs—or cause inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the sternum (costochondritis). This inflammation leads to tenderness and sharp pain that worsens with movement or deep breaths.
Costochondritis often results from persistent coughing due to colds, bronchitis, or respiratory infections. The repeated stress inflames cartilage joints and surrounding tissues, causing localized pain that mimics heart-related issues but is usually benign.
2. Rib Fractures and Bruises
Severe coughing fits might cause small rib fractures or bruises, especially in individuals with weakened bones (osteoporosis) or after trauma. These injuries cause intense pain at the sternum area during coughing because each cough moves the rib cage forcibly.
If you notice swelling, bruising on your chest wall along with sharp sternum pain on coughing, a rib injury could be responsible. Medical imaging like X-rays can confirm fractures if suspected.
3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD happens when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus causing irritation behind the breastbone. This acid reflux may cause a burning sensation known as heartburn but also sharp discomfort that worsens with coughing as pressure increases within your abdomen and chest.
People with GERD often report sternum pain linked to swallowing difficulties or after meals. Managing reflux through diet changes and medications usually reduces coughing-related pain.
4. Respiratory Infections and Inflammation
Bronchitis, pneumonia, and other lung infections inflame airways leading to persistent coughing bouts that strain chest muscles and irritate pleura (lung lining). This irritation causes a stabbing or aching sensation centered around the sternum.
Infections may also produce other symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, and sputum production alongside sternum pain during coughs.
5. Serious Conditions: Cardiac or Pulmonary Causes
Though less common than musculoskeletal issues, sternum pain triggered by coughing could signal serious problems involving heart or lungs:
- Pericarditis: Inflammation of the sac around the heart can cause sharp chest pain aggravated by coughing.
- Pulmonary Embolism: A blood clot in lung arteries may present with sudden chest pain worsened by deep breaths or cough.
- Pneumothorax: Collapsed lung causing sudden sharp chest pain on breathing/coughing.
If sternum pain is accompanied by dizziness, sweating, severe breathlessness, or radiating arm/jaw pain—seek emergency care immediately.
How Coughing Mechanically Causes Sternum Pain
Coughing involves a rapid contraction of muscles in your abdomen and thorax to expel air forcefully from lungs. This sudden burst puts stress on:
- Sternocostal joints: Where ribs meet sternum via cartilage.
- Intercostal muscles: Between ribs assisting breathing movements.
- Pectoral muscles: Chest muscles attached near sternum.
Repeated forceful contractions can inflame these structures causing tenderness and soreness at the breastbone site. If any injury exists—like fractured cartilage—the impact intensifies resulting in sharper localized pain during each cough.
Even mild inflammation becomes noticeable since coughing repeatedly stretches affected tissues without giving time for healing.
Treatment Options for Sternum Hurts When Coughing
Addressing this type of chest discomfort depends heavily on identifying its root cause:
Pain Relief for Muscular Strain & Costochondritis
Rest is crucial—avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous activities helps reduce muscle stress around your sternum. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen ease swelling and soreness effectively.
Applying warm compresses relaxes tight muscles while gentle stretching improves flexibility once acute symptoms subside.
Tackling Underlying Respiratory Illnesses
If infection causes persistent cough leading to sternum pain:
- Antibiotics: For bacterial bronchitis/pneumonia prescribed by doctors.
- Cough suppressants: To reduce severity/frequency of cough bouts.
- Hydration & rest: Essential for recovery from viral infections.
Clearing up lung infections reduces irritative coughs that strain your chest wall tissues.
Treating GERD-Related Sternum Pain
Lifestyle adjustments like avoiding spicy foods, eating smaller meals, quitting smoking decrease acid reflux episodes minimizing associated chest discomfort when coughing.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prescribed by physicians reduce stomach acid production allowing esophageal healing which eases burning sensations near the breastbone aggravated by coughs.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help?
If sternum hurts when coughing accompanied by any of these signs:
- Sudden severe shortness of breath
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Pain radiating down arms/jaw/neck
- Cough producing blood
- High fever with chills
Seek emergency care immediately as these could indicate life-threatening cardiac events or pulmonary embolism requiring prompt intervention.
Sternum Hurts When Coughing – Key Takeaways and Prevention Tips
Pain centered over your breastbone triggered by coughing isn’t unusual but shouldn’t be ignored if persistent or severe. Most cases arise from muscular strain caused by repeated forceful coughing linked to respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or viral infections.
To avoid worsening symptoms:
- Avoid excessive forceful coughing—use medications if necessary to control it.
- Practice good posture reducing unnecessary pressure on chest muscles.
- Avoid heavy lifting until complete healing occurs if you have costochondritis.
- Treat underlying conditions like GERD promptly to prevent acid-related irritation near your sternum.
- If you have osteoporosis or brittle bones avoid activities increasing fracture risk during illness periods involving severe coughs.
Pay attention to accompanying symptoms that might hint at serious conditions requiring urgent medical evaluation such as cardiac events or lung embolisms.
Key Takeaways: Sternum Hurts When Coughing
➤ Possible causes include muscle strain and respiratory infections.
➤ Persistent pain warrants medical evaluation for serious issues.
➤ Rest and avoiding heavy coughing may help reduce discomfort.
➤ Over-the-counter pain relievers can ease mild sternum pain.
➤ Seek emergency care if pain is severe or accompanied by other symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my sternum hurt when coughing?
Sternum pain during coughing is often caused by muscle strain or inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the sternum. Repeated coughing puts pressure on these areas, leading to sharp or aching pain that worsens with movement or deep breaths.
Can coughing cause a rib fracture that makes my sternum hurt?
Severe or persistent coughing can sometimes lead to small rib fractures or bruises, especially in people with weakened bones. These injuries cause intense pain around the sternum because coughing moves the rib cage forcefully, so medical evaluation may be necessary if pain is severe.
Is sternum pain when coughing related to heartburn or GERD?
Yes, acid reflux from GERD can irritate the esophagus behind the sternum, causing burning sensations and sharp discomfort when coughing. This type of pain is often accompanied by heartburn and may require treatment for acid reflux to relieve symptoms.
How can I tell if my sternum pain when coughing is serious?
If sternum pain is accompanied by swelling, bruising, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness, it could indicate a more serious condition like rib injury or heart problems. Persistent or worsening pain should be evaluated by a healthcare professional promptly.
What treatments help relieve sternum pain caused by coughing?
Treatments often include rest, avoiding strenuous activity, and using anti-inflammatory medications for muscle strain or costochondritis. Managing underlying causes like respiratory infections or acid reflux is also important to reduce coughing and associated sternum discomfort.
Conclusion – Sternum Hurts When Coughing Insights
Sternum hurts when coughing mainly because intense pressure strains muscles and connective tissues around your breastbone. Inflammation from costochondritis or respiratory infections often tops this list along with rib injuries in some cases. Acid reflux also masquerades as mid-chest discomfort triggered by cough-induced abdominal pressure spikes.
Identifying exact causes involves noting accompanying symptoms plus medical assessment if needed. Treatment ranges from rest and anti-inflammatories for muscular issues to antibiotics for infections and lifestyle modifications for GERD-related cases.
Never dismiss severe chest pain combined with breathing difficulty as it could signal emergencies demanding immediate care. Otherwise, managing underlying causes effectively resolves most instances allowing you to breathe easy again without painful reminders every time you cough.