Can costochondritis cause difficulty with taking a deep breath?

From the Guidelines

Yes, costochondritis can cause difficulty with taking a deep breath. This inflammatory condition affects the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone (sternum), resulting in chest pain that often worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or physical activity 1. When you inhale deeply, your rib cage expands, which stretches the inflamed cartilage connections and triggers pain. This pain can make you reluctant to breathe deeply, leading to shallow breathing patterns. According to the American College of Radiology, costochondritis is the most common cause of nontraumatic musculoskeletal chest wall pain, accounting for approximately 42% of cases 1.

Treatment typically includes rest, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (400-800mg three times daily) or naproxen (500mg twice daily) for 1-2 weeks to reduce inflammation, and applying heat or ice to the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times daily. Gentle stretching exercises may also help once acute pain subsides. The condition is benign though often uncomfortable, and symptoms usually resolve within weeks to months with appropriate management. If breathing difficulties are severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms like fever or spreading redness, medical attention should be sought promptly to rule out other conditions. It's also important to note that dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, can have a significant impact on quality of life, and addressing the underlying cause of the symptom is crucial for effective management 1.

Some key points to consider in the management of costochondritis include:

• The importance of physical examination in diagnosing costochondritis, as most cases can be readily diagnosed without the need for diagnostic imaging 1
• The potential for costochondritis to cause significant discomfort and impact daily activities, highlighting the need for effective pain management and supportive care
• The distinction between dyspnea as a symptom and signs of respiratory distress, such as tachypnea or intercostal retractions, which may not always be present in patients with costochondritis 1

From the Research

Costochondritis and Breathing Difficulties

• Costochondritis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the costochondral junctions of ribs or chondrosternal joints of the anterior chest wall 2.
• The symptoms of costochondritis usually include non-cardiac chest pain, which can be reproducible by palpation over the costal cartilages 2.
• While costochondritis is usually self-limited and benign, it can cause discomfort and pain in the chest area, which may lead to difficulties in taking deep breaths.
• However, there is no direct evidence in the provided studies that costochondritis causes difficulty with taking a deep breath.

Related Conditions and Breathing Difficulties

• Hyperinflation, which can occur in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can cause the diaphragm to operate at shorter than normal lengths, reducing its ability to lower intrathoracic pressure and making it harder to breathe 3.
• Hyperinflation can also lead to abnormalities in rib cage-abdominal motion, which can affect breathing patterns 4.
• However, these conditions are not directly related to costochondritis, and there is no evidence to suggest that costochondritis causes hyperinflation or affects breathing patterns in the same way.

Treatment and Management

• The treatment of costochondritis usually involves acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications, avoidance of activities that produce chest muscle overuse, and reassurance 2.
• In some cases, osteopathic manipulation techniques (OMT) and physical therapy (PT) techniques may be useful in the treatment of rib dysfunction and costochondritis 5.
• However, there is no evidence to suggest that these treatments are specifically aimed at addressing breathing difficulties associated with costochondritis.