Pain on my left side under breast

Costochondritis most commonly affects the upper ribs on the left-hand side of your body. Pain is often worst where the rib cartilage attaches to the breastbone (sternum), but it can also occur where the cartilage attaches to the rib.

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What organ is on the left side under the breast?
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Costochondritis (kos-toe-kon-DRY-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). Pain caused by costochondritis might mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.

Costochondritis is sometimes known as chest wall pain syndrome, costosternal syndrome or costosternal chondrodynia. Sometimes, swelling accompanies the pain (Tietze syndrome).

What causes costochondritis is unclear. Treatment focuses on easing the pain while waiting for the condition to improve on its own, which can take several weeks or more.

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Symptoms

The pain associated with costochondritis usually:

Occurs on the left side of your breastbone
Is sharp, aching or pressure-like
Affects more than one rib
Can radiate to arms and shoulders
Worsens when taking a deep breath, coughing, sneezing or with any chest wall movement

When to see a doctor

For chest pain, seek emergency medical attention to rule out life-threatening causes such as a heart attack.

Causes

Costochondritis usually has no clear cause. However, costochondritis might be associated with trauma, illness or physical strain, such as severe coughing.

Risk factors

Costochondritis occurs most often in women older than 40.

Tietze syndrome usually occurs in teenagers and young adults, and with equal frequency in men and women.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Diagnosis & treatment

May 11, 2022

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Show references

Ferri FF. Costochondritis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 20, 2022.
Phillips K, et al. Management of isolated musculoskeletal chest pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 20, 2022.
Frontera WR, et al. Costosternal syndrome. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 24, 2022.
Wise CM. Major causes of musculoskeletal chest pain in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 20, 2022.

Costochondritis

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The heart on the left shows the typical outer lining of the heart (pericardium). The heart on the right shows a swollen and infected lining (pericarditis).

Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pericarditis often causes sharp chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other.

Pericarditis is usually mild and goes away without treatment. Treatment for more-severe cases may include medications and, rarely, surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the risk of long-term complications from pericarditis.

Symptoms

Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis. It usually feels sharp or stabbing. However, some people have dull, achy or pressure-like chest pain.

Pericarditis pain usually occurs behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest. The pain may:

Spread to the left shoulder and neck
Get worse when coughing, lying down or taking a deep breath
Get better when sitting up or leaning forward

Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include:

Cough
Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick
Leg swelling
Low-grade fever
Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
Shortness of breath when lying down
Swelling of the belly (abdomen)

The specific symptoms depend on the type of pericarditis. Pericarditis is grouped into different categories, according to the pattern of symptoms and how long symptoms last.

Acute pericarditis begins suddenly but doesn't last longer than three weeks. Future episodes can occur. It may be difficult to tell the difference between acute pericarditis and pain due to a heart attack.
Recurrent pericarditis occurs about four to six weeks after an episode of acute pericarditis with no symptoms in between.
Incessant pericarditis lasts about four to six weeks but less than three months. The symptoms are continuous.
Chronic constrictive pericarditis usually develops slowly and lasts longer than three months.

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical care if you develop new symptoms of chest pain.

Many of the symptoms of pericarditis are similar to those of other heart and lung conditions. It's important to be thoroughly evaluated by a health care provider if you have any type of chest pain.

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What organ is on the left side under the breast?

Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen.

What causes pain on the left side under the breast?

Sometimes, pain under your left breast signifies inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to the breast bone. There is no identifiable cause, but rib cage injury, heavy lifting, infection, and arthritis are tied to this condition as possible culprits.