Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have found that patients with shortness of breath can have a higher risk of dying from cardiac disease than patients without symptoms, and even than patients with typical cardiac pain.
The sternum, commonly known as the breastbone, is a long, narrow flat bone that serves as the keystone of the rib cage and stabilizes the thoracic skeleton. Several muscles that move the arms, head, and neck have their origins on the sternum.
The body of the sternum articulates above with the manubrium by means of a fibrocartilaginous joint (a symphis) called the manubriosternal joint, which allows slight movement between these two parts of the sternum when the ribs rise and fall during breathing.