Hi all,

Do you have areas of your chest that are painful to the touch?

which causes pain around the breastbone and rib cage, could be to blame. A condition called costochondritis.

Is the chestpain you feel is related to heart or not?

Costochondritis is also called noncardiac chest pain or musculoskeletal chest pain. It does not involve the heart. a lot of
people don't realize this pain is from a separate condition that requires its own treatment.

Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone. Depending on how much
inflammation there is, it can range from mildly annoying to intensely painful. People sometimes describe the pain as
stabbing, aching, or burning.

 The causes of costochondritis aren't clear, but they may include:

 Chest trauma, such as from a car accident
 Repetitive trauma or overuse
 physical strain from activities, such as heavy lifting and strenuous exercise Viral infections, especially upper
respiratory infections
 Pain in the chest wall and rib cage is the chief symptom of costochondritis. Generally, the pain will get worse
with activity or exercise.
 Taking a deep breath can also cause more pain because it stretches the inflamed cartilage. Sneezing and
coughing can increase pain as well.

Treatment

You can treat costochondritis the way you'd treat any inflammation—

 ice and anti-inflammatory drugs, including Aleve (naproxen) and ibuprofen-based drugs such as Advil and
Motrin.( but first check if you have any allergies in taking medicines)
 Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist about any possible interactions between anti-inflammatories
and your other medications.
 your doctor will probably recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil)
or naproxen (Aleve). Your doctor may also prescribe: other painkillers, such as narcotics antianxiety
medications tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline , oral steroids or injection of a steroid into the
area involved.
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 running and weightlifting. Manual labor can also
have a negative effect.
 Your doctor may also recommend: bed rest , physical therapy ,hot or cold therapy using a heating pad and ice
 Your doctor may use pain levels to evaluate your response to treatment. Once you’ve finished treatment, you
can gradually build up to your previous activity levels. Daily stretching can help relieve some pain.