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Costochondritis Is An Inflammation Of The Cartilage That Connects

The ribs are connected to the breastbone by tough, protective tissue called cartilage. When this cartilage becomes inflamed, the condition is known as costochondritis or chest wall pain.While this condition is usually temporary, it can be alarming, as the pain can become so significant it mimics a heart attack.Doctors may also refer to costochondritis as costosternal syndrome or costosternal chondrodynia. The condition will usually resolve on its own with home treatments.Share on PinterestUsually costochondritis will resolve itself with home treatment, and is a temporary condition.Though causes are often unknown, in some instances, the condition can be the result of one or more of the following:history of an illness that causes a lot of coughingheavy lifting or strenuous exercise, involving the upper extremities and chest wallcarrying heavy bags, such as a heavy backpack on one side or the otherhaving large breastshistory of chest injuries or chest infectionsundergoing surgery that affects the chest wall, such as cardiac bypassDoctors call costochondritis that has no known causes idiopathic costochondritis.Chest discomfort and pain may be stabbing, burning, or aching in nature. The ribs most affected are the second to fifth ones.The condition most commonly affects those older than age 40, according to an article in the journal American Family Physician. An estimated 13-36 percent of those who seek emergency medical attention for chest pain are experiencing costochondritis.The following activities usually worsened the pain associated with costochondritis:significant amount of coughingstrenuous exercisephysical activity using the upper arms, such as lifting boxesThe pain associated with costochondritis usually occurs on the left side of the body but can affect both sides.Tietze syndromeThere is a variation of costochondritis called Tietze syndrome. This condition causes pain associated with costochondritis, as well as swelling of the rib cartilage.The swelling of Tietze syndrome affects at least one of the upper four ribs, usually the second or third ribs. While the pain associated with costochondritis may subside with time, some people with Tietze syndrome will still experience the swelling.Although doctors have not defined how prevalent this condition is, they do consider it to be a rare disorder. Other than pain and discomfort, it does not cause any long-term harmful effects.Share on PinterestThe symptoms of costochondritis can be worsened by certain activities, such as lifting heavy objects, or strenuous coughing.Doctors usually treat costochondritis conservatively. Resting and avoiding strenuous exercise that affects the chest wall can help. So can over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.Children under age 18 should not take aspirin due to the increased risk for Reye’s syndrome.In rare instances, a doctor may recommend injections of lidocaine or corticosteroids to reduce pain and inflammation. Other treatments that may help to relieve chest pain include:Applying moist heat by way of warm compresses.Taking cough suppressants to ease coughing and reduce pressure to the cartilage.Physical therapy to ease tension in the chest wall.If these treatments do not reduce a person’s incidence of costochondritis, they should seek a follow-up with their doctor.If a person is having chest pain, they should not try to determine for themselves if it is a heart-related issue or costochondritis. Instead, they should seek immediate medical attention.If a younger person who is not at risk of heart attack experiences these symptoms, they should seek emergency attention if their chest pain is sharp and does not improve with rest.If someone has gone to a doctor for their symptoms and has been diagnosed with costochondritis, there are still some instances when a person should seek immediate medical attention again. These include:feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheadedfeeling as if the heart is beating irregularly or too fastpain that worsens over time or cannot be relieved by pain medicinehaving a shortness of breatha fever that is higher than 100.4 °F in an adultcoughing up dark-colored sputum or bloodIf the chest pain is radiating to the arms, neck, shoulder, jaw, or back, a person should seek immediate medical attention.Share on PinterestSome conditions may seem similar to costochondritis, including an injured shoulder or neck, or arthritis of the surrounding joints.Doctors often diagnose costochondritis by ruling out other potential causes of the chest pain and discomfort connected with the condition. For example, if a person is older than 35, a doctor may first want to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD), as a potential cause.Individuals who are at risk of CAD, such as those with a family history, those who are obese, or those with a history of smoking, should usually have an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and chest X-ray to check for CAD.Other medical conditions that may closely resemble costochondritis include:arthritis of the shoulder or nearby jointschest wall infections or cancerfibromyalgia, a condition that causes nerve painslipping rib syndrome, when there is too much mobility in the cartilage supporting the ribsinjuries to the shoulder or neck that causes pain to refer or travel to the chest wallA physical examination to detect tenderness of the cartilage to the touch may also be performed. If a person is having a heart attack or has another type of heart condition, the cartilage in the chest is not usually sensitive to the touch.A doctor will also listen to the heart and lungs, as well as examine the skin for any signs of infection. An X-ray or other imaging studies will not show signs of costochondritis.Doctors can usually diagnose a child, adolescent, or young adult by asking questions about their medical history and by conducting a physical exam. The doctor will often check for tenderness in the chest cartilage, as part of this.According to American Family Physician, costochondritis can last anywhere from a few weeks to months. It may also recur if it has been caused by physical exercise or strain.The condition does not usually last longer than one year. However, adolescents with costochondritis can sometimes have a longer period of symptoms.

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