Costochondritis Symptoms: Recognizing the Common Causes

Understanding Costochondritis: Key Symptoms and Causes

Costochondritis is an inflammatory condition around the cartilage that joins each rib to the sternum (breastbone). It is estimated that 4 to 50% of individuals with chest pain have costochondritis. In reality, most cases of costochondritis are mistaken for other major conditions, like heart attacks or lung problems. 

Hence, knowing the cause of costochondritis and its symptoms will only help diagnose someone in time to get them treated properly. Let's explore the common symptoms and causes of this disease, as well as the ideal costochondritis treatment strategies.

What is Costochondritis?

Costochondritis is an inflammatory process in the costal cartilage, which connects the ribs to the breastbone. Inflammation may cause chest pain or tenderness that worsens with certain movements or activities. It can even make breathing and moving your chest painful. 

The pain may start suddenly or may develop slowly and spread (radiate) across your chest. Costochondritis is a very common disorder that might affect anyone, but its prevalence is most pronounced in young adults and adolescents. It tends to be really panicking for people experiencing pain that might feel like that of a heart attack.

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What are the Costochondritis Symptoms?

Determination of costochondritis is most crucial in arriving at the appropriate diagnosis and even treatment. The common costochondritis symptoms are as follows:

• A sharp, localized pain in the chest is considered to be the most significant symptom of this disease. The presence of pain hurts more with movement, deep breaths, or even some forms of physical exercise. This kind of pain also strikes when coughing or sneezing.
• The affected individual may face tenderness on pressure over the costosternal, costochondral, or costovertebral joint. In most cases, the tenderness usually presents as the hallmark of the disease.
• Severe pain on the front chest wall, often spreading to the back and abdomen.
• Worsening pain with deep breathing or coughing.
• Aching or pressure in the area where the rib meets the sternum, which worsens upon applying pressure.
• The pain may radiate to other areas, including the back or abdomen, which usually is confused with the diagnostic cause. This type of pain needs to be differentiated from heart problems as well.
• Reduced pain when remaining still and breathing gently.
  Often, costochondritis symptoms may appear to come and go, thus making accurate diagnosis challenging without a thorough evaluation.

Some Common Costochondritis Causes

There is often no apparent reason why costochondritis disease occurs in humans. However, it can be the result of following factors among others such as:

• Chest or rib injuries
• Rigorous workout or weight-lifting
• Viral infections, most notably respiratory infections
• Strain resulting from chronic coughing
• Infection that can occur post-surgery 
• Using IV drugs
• Sitting or standing in incorrect postures for a long time can increase the risk of developing costochondritis.
• Heavy exercise or sport adequately prepares for rest and recovery, such as exercising, playing sports, or having a strenuous occupation or hobby.
• Sudden augmentation of physical activity, such as overexertion from increasing a routine workout too aggressively or helping a friend move heavy furniture over a weekend.
• Inflammatory diseases affecting the articulations and spine, such as arthritis, may be over a spectrum. Costochondritis may sometimes represent the presence of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or some other disorders that affect cartilage health.

Note: Women are slightly more commonly affected than men, with a ratio reported as 69% female to 56% male.

Risk Factors of Costochondritis

Some groups are at a greater risk for costochondritis. These include:

• People engaging in contact sports
• Workers in very strenuous or hard-line occupations
• Women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB)
• Hispanic people
• People over 40 to 50 years of age and older

Note: Remember that M94.0 is the medical code for costochondritis ICD-10-CM.

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Tests and Diagnosis of Costochondritis

Although there is no diagnostic test for costochondritis, your physician will conduct a thorough evaluation, including asking many questions and performing some examinations to identify the cause of your chest pain. After that, the doctor may resort to one or more of the following:

Laboratory Tests

Lab tests are rarely required to diagnose costochondritis, but based on your medical history, whether you've had pneumonia or coronary artery disease, the doctor may order some tests to rule these possibilities out.

Imaging and Cardiac Evaluation

Your physician may advise an X-ray to ascertain if your lungs function correctly. In costochondritis, the result of the X-ray should be normal. Your physician might also recommend an electrocardiogram (ECG) that will help to confirm whether your heart is causing you pain in your chest.

Costochondritis Treatment Procedure

Proper costochondritis treatment can be curative to the symptoms and root causes. Here are some of the most common ways of treating the disease:

Rest

Analgesic rest usually restricts physical activities and avoids certain movements that trigger more pain. This helps the inflammation abate.

Ice and Heat Therapy

Ice packs on the affected area help reduce swelling, and heat therapy relieves tension in the muscles.

Medications

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help manage pain and inflammation. On some occasions, the prescribing doctor will also prescribe more powerful drugs or a corticosteroid injection.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist can help improve posture, strengthen muscles around the chest, and increase flexibility in the chest.

Stress Management

This is one of the finest costochondritis treatment therapies. Techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises will reduce stress and tension around the chest area.

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Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or chiropractic treatment, may prove beneficial to some, but one should consult a medical physician before attending a new kind of therapy.

Costochondritis can be properly managed and treated only when its symptoms and common causes are understood. Lifestyle factors, along with appropriate management and treatment, may provide relief from the discomfort caused by costochondritis. 

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