Pressure on my sternum

>;) I have had the same issue for a while now and I am only 28. This year I had to have open heart surgery. It was and still is very difficult to tell if my chest is popping or the sternum is clicking and has not healed yet. I wish someone knew what was going on and how to tell them apart.

i had bypass 3 years ago successfully..completely released by doctors and workout regularly as i have since 17 years old (now 59)..popping and pain primarily on left side of chest never occurred until after surgery.. sometimes i must aggravate whatever it is because then it is painful for an extended period of time and is disturbing having had bypass surgery.. i saw recommendation to take vit D and will do so...laying down usually gives some relief as does popping chest or extending left arm over shoulder as though doing a tricep curl which causes a crack in the upper left of chest and usually resolves pain including sternum pain..any thoughts?

I feel the same problem after I stop working out because of my back pain situation. I noticed it get better if I use fish oil pills, avoid soda and eat yogurt. Try these options may be it help you.

but the sound can be heard from 5 feet away and it grosses me out. i do not try to pop it at all - never have - i stretch, it pops. MAKE IT STOP

In most cases I believe the pressure and subsequent popping of the sternum is caused by a combination of stress, poor posture, and muscular imbalance. I was a ballet and modern dancer for 16 years and never had this problem until I got sidelined by an injury and had to stop dancing. Since then, I have noticed the pressure and need to pop the sternum increases when I am under continued stress or slouch/hunch over a computer for hours. For most people, stretching and improving one's posture will alleviate the problem; try yoga, pilates, or even a beginning ballet class to learn methods of stretching. Gently arching your back over a large fitness ball or styrofoam roller will also help. If working with weights be sure that the back muscles are in balance with the chest muscles, otherwise, posture will approach a hunchback position if the back and shoulders are weaker. Doing dumbbell pullovers while lying on a bench to stretch the ribcage also works (breathe in as the DB goes over the head and exhale as it returns over the chest). Most importantly, good posture cannot be overstressed; stand and situp straight as much as possible!

Otherwise, here's a good ballet stretch: find an immobile handle or bar at waist height that you can hold-on to; stand next to it upright, six inches away, with your shoulders down and one hand on the bar (your body is facing 90 degrees to the bar); slowly bend backwards as if you are stretched over a barrel or fitness ball; start with the lowest vertebrae near the buttcrack and slowly move up towards the head one joint at a time, one degree at a time, as you arch backwards; be very careful here and DO NOT increase the arch by sticking out your hips -- isolate them. The feet, legs, and hips do not move on this stretch but remain completely vertical from the floor up. This exercise only affects the upper body from the waist up. If you are new to this stretch a little goes a long way, do not attempt to bend like Gumby; you might have to stop half way up the spine due to inflexibility. However, flexibility will increase the more this stretch is practiced. This should NEVER hurt, but rather, feel like a good stretch. When you arch back reach farther out instead of crunching down on the spine, any tension will make your shoulders move incorrectly up towards your ears instead of staying down and relaxed. The key here is to remain relaxed while breathing through the tension. For beginners the arm away from the bar should just hang down or swing loosely from the shoulder socket. To increase the stretch lift the free arm up overhead but keep the shoulders down as you arch backwards. The neck and head part of the stretch is the most important and dangerous aspect; the natural tendency is to flop the head back which is bad. Attempt to continue the smooth curve of the arch by connecting the neck vertebrae with the thoracic vertebrae via the neck muscles. This takes strength to build up and might not be possible at first. In any case, the head weighs as much as a bowling ball and must be controlled especially when arching backwards; otherwise, a neck injury might occur. Don't make any sudden movements with the head while doing this stretch or you might really hurt yourself. Count and hold to three while at the top of the stretch, continuing to inhale/exhale. Next bring the upper body slowly back to vertical in reverse order by first lifting the head, neck, and then thorax one vertebrae at a time; continue by dropping the head and chin into the chest and allow the weight of the head to bend the upper body forward towards the toes one vertebrae at a time with the arms hanging loosely at the sides. Bend the knees if the hamstrings are tight while breathing. Repeat the cycle three to five times, each complete cycle should roughly take 30 seconds going back and 30 seconds going forward. If at any point of the stretch there is pain, STOP and go back to the last position where there was no pain, that is your limit for now. This exercise is meant for people in good health; please consult your physician first if recovering from injury or surgery.

I have the same problem as well. A friend of mine told me it was due to an underdeveloped sternum- but I don't know for sure. I personally agree with "mlowdrma's" post that it is related to stress and improper posture. For me, the problem started about 2 years ago and last year I took up yoga along with vipassana meditation. I found that these two practices worked very well for this condition- the yoga dramatically improved my posture and flexibility, and the meditation completely uprooted my stress condition and further helped with my posture and comfort throughout my daily activities in whole. I stopped doing both when I moved this year and the problem came back, along with my stress and many other issues, so I am convinced that whether or not this can be permanently cured, it is vitally important to establish a routine of healthy stress-relieving activities to alleviate the symptoms.

This forum is really excellent. Reading through these posts has brought deeper insight into my situation as well.
In my situation I can see parallels with many other people who share this issue. My case is that I used to be quite muscular in the chest and generally slim, however I have gained some weight and lift less than before. I also am a heavy computer user at work and home and my posture is not fantastic.
I notice the pressure in the sternum and have cracked it for years, however now the pain has become worrisome and aches afterwards. I am going to try the Vitamin D and Fish oil, and also try to stop cracking it for a while, in favor or the breathing excercises. I do have one of the yoga balls which helps a lot.
I think that it is important to keep lifting weights after having lifted for many years, I am going to start again, I feel much better when I continue doing bench presses, however not heavy weights and not bouncing on the sternum. I think that for us athletes who have lifted and expanded our chests, that we need to keep this area expanded in a healthy way. Lifting and being athletes has opened our chests and developed our lungs, giving us greater capacity for physical prowess. This is fantastic we should be proud! Unfortunately, as we get older, natural decrease in muscle mass and general poor posture in our computer age, is causing the development of cartilage. I think that this build-up, if allowed to 'lock' in place during an extended period of poor posture, is what is the cause of the cracking.
When we stand up again, we need to open the chest, hence the cracking.
I really agree that posture is the 100% contributor to this, and maintenance of the chest cavity expansion that we have developed. I know that this particular situation will not apply to everyone, but it makes sense for me and I hope that someone else may relate to my experience too. Thanks very much for this forum. Thanks to you all!

I can't believe i'm reading that so many people have the same problem I do. I've been meaning to research why this was happening. I do work at a computer for long parts of the day, and if not I'm standing. I also have a larger chest for a smaller framed female. I'm only 5'2 with d cups. When I'm at work i sit on a stool, and with a heavier chest my posture gets horrible. I tend to slouch more on stool. It's funny that people say the popping is almost addicting, because I totally agree. It just really feels good when it does pop, and just relieves the pressure. I also notice it alot more when I'm stressed. It does help to strech more and stand up after sitting a really long time.

I also have this problem. I have been to doctor and had xrays and no abnormalitys show. I am a 26yr old, ex smoker and occasionaly have a smoke when drinking. 1 smoke will cause this problem to be worse for me. So I tend not to smoke anymore. Im used to work at a desk behind a computer, now im a carpenter so i do a bit of heavy lifting. I still play computer and prolonged hours slouched behind a screen playing COD will bring this on. I wont feel any pain untill I decide to finaly move my left hand off the WASD buttons and let go of the mouse to get a drink or something. Then I strech back have a few cracks of the sternam, good to go. I also get it if I sleep on my side with arm streched out and head on biscep. I believe after reading this its costochondritis and may have developed from a wakeboarding injury where i ahd a heavy impact on the sternam. It didnt start as soon as I got the injury, but since cartlidge will grow to heel damage to bones or other cartlidge it make sence that it starts a few months after. Basicly I now feel at ease with this and accept it as another permanent injury to add to the long list.

Dont think about it, improve posture and dont smoke!! Its bad for you.

I have recently noticed I can pop my sternum/breast bone as well. I am 23 and have never noticed this until recently. I am an extremely petite woman, about 5'6"/110lbs, so I dont think weight has much to do with it. I did play a lot of sports in college and recently started practicing contortion, so I kind of think its related to twisting my torso oddly. Though I also recently started battling GERD (only when I am seriously stressed) and I have taken my first desk-job (though I spent A LOT of time sitting around while in school and college).

I am going to try to stop popping this area because I dont really need to, I'm just fascinated that its possible. Very rarely do I feel built up pressure but I have before.

sternum cracking is realy annoying and it can last for a very long time because cartilage has a low and very long growth rate it could be permanent. ive had this problem for months and countless months. mine is starting to very slowly go away. what you need to do is take glucosamine supplements every day and wait without popping it. It is very hard to do since cracking it is addictive. it could take months to notice any difference but you have to be strong and never ever crack it again

Like so many others my sternum pops. Its only mildly painful and as soon as I pop it, it goes away. I only ever have to pop it once a day, in the morning. Thats the only time it bothers me. I often sleep on my chest (face down) and when I do, that is when I wake up with the need to pop my sternum. So I think for me it is the way I sleep, if I sleep lying on my back I am fine. I also thought it might have something to do with not being hydrated enough? A lot of people have said they are effected after drinking (alcohol) or exercising and I know dehydration can cause things like charlie horses and tightening of things... why not effect cartlidge to? So yeah I am no doctor but for me if I sleep on my back and stay hydrated i'm good.
Also sometimes I won't be able to pop it by stretching and then later in the day I will sneeze and *BAM!
I really doubt it is a heart problem, seems like cartlidge to me, I also crack/pop my knuckles and my jaw... TMJ Syndrome.

My friends laughed when I said my sternum keeps cracking. I don't do it on purpose, like many other people on here, mine just pops when I'm stretching. It started since I started boxing. I have no idea why. I try to sit up and maintain a correct posture when I remember to, I do yoga regularly and work out. NOT SURE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. It hurts too, until I crack it. Then there's no pain for a little while. I think its interesting how many people are experiencing this same problem.

I will try some of the suggestions on this site. Perhaps some glucosamine? Who knew?!

Wow, surprised that other people have this too (well not really..we're all human and this IS the internet). But it's not painful for me at all. It's just like cracking your knuckles and stuff..just gets "tight" sometimes and if I lean back it sometimes cracks (like half the time). But yeah, it does feel pretty good, like when you crack your back waaay down at the bottom of your spine.

I have the same symptoms as most people having posted, it is really good to hear that this really exists, at times I thought I was going crazy. When my sternum really starts to hurt my heart will skip beats until I re-adjust, does anyone else have this problem?