No one wants to experience pain from eating, but if you are prone to certain digestive problems, you may develop sharp pains in your sternum after a meal. The sternum is the bone in the center of your chest where your esophagus meets the opening of your stomach. The most common explanations for sharp pain in the sternum after eating are indigestion, heartburn, gas and an ulcer. Only a medical doctor can provide you with a clinical diagnosis. Do not attempt to treat your symptoms with over-the-counter medications without first talking with your doctor.
Indigestion
Indigestion is commonly confused with heartburn because the two are closely related. Indigestion is the feeling of fullness or pressure in your upper chest or abdomen after eating a meal. You may develop pain between your chest bone and navel that can be minor to severe, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. You may also develop a warm sensation in your esophagus that may radiate throughout your chest. Common causes of indigestion include overeating, eating too fast and eating spicy or fatty foods.
Heartburn
Heartburn is a common result of indigestion. Indigestion occurs when stomach fluid enters the esophagus during digestion and heartburn is the resulting effect of this action. Heartburn is a burning sensation that can begin in your sternum and spread into your neck and shoulders, according to MayoClinic.com. Heartburn pain may be made worse by bending over or lying on your back. If you develop heartburn more than twice a week, you have difficulty swallowing or your symptoms don't subside, you need to see your doctor.
Gas
Gas pains can develop shortly after eating a meal that may be felt in your abdomen and throughout your chest. Gas pains are identified by sharp, jabbing pains that develop suddenly and go away quickly. Gas is a common occurrence that is caused by swallowing air when you eat or drink or by bacteria interacting with certain carbohydrates that enter the colon undigested. Gas causes a pressure buildup that can cause pain throughout your digestive system. Most gas pains subside once you pass the gas by belching or through flatulence.
Ulcer
Pain that develops in your sternum every time you eat may be a sign of an ulcer. An ulcer is a sore that develops in your esophagus, stomach or small intestines that can cause pain when you eat foods that are spicy or highly acidic, such as oranges, curry or pineapples.
