Costochondritis refers to the swelling or inflammation of those junctions where the cartilage is conjoined with the upper ribs, holding them to the sternum or the breastbone. This leads to general chest pain that can be regenerated by pushing on the cartilage before your rib cage. Where there is no cause of this relatively harmless condition that also does not need treatment, costochondritis can be more often found in females than males in the ratio of 7:3 (including children and adolescents). The cause of musculoskeletal chest pain can be attributed to costochondritis. Chest pain resulting from costochondritis is usually preceded by exercises, minor trauma or an upper respiratory infection.
