Individual sensitivity to pain varies greatly. If the pain is simple sternal pressure pain without other systemic or localised diseases of the sternum, such as haematological malignancies, ankylosing spondylitis, sternal osteomyelitis, etc., most of the pain is caused by excessive chest activity or prolonged ambulation, and may resolve on its own within a short period of time. If “simple sternal pain” persists for more than 1 to 2 weeks and is not significantly relieved by rest, further investigations can be carried out in orthopaedics, rheumatology or haematology.