Pain in this area can be caused by injury, infection, or an underlying condition. If you have pain in your chest, you might worry about a serious condition, such as a heart attack. While it’s true that pain under your left ribs can be a heart attack symptom, discomfort in that area is not always related to your heart.

This occurs when the strong tissue (cartilage) attaching your ribs to your breastbone (costochondral joint) becomes inflamed. It can cause a sharp pain under left rib cage and your chest. It can be caused by injury or straining that area, or can result from an infection, for example an infection of your airways (respiratory).

Rib cage pain can be caused by a variety of things, ranging from pulled muscles to a rib fracture. The pain may occur immediately upon injury or develop slowly over time. It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. You should report any instance of unexplainable rib cage pain to your doctor immediately.