What causes tenderness when pressing on the area of the xiphoid process?

Pressing pain in the xiphoid process area may be caused by various factors, mainly including the following: 1. **Chest wall diseases**: Such as costochondritis and intercostal neuralgia. Local inflammation may lead to pain upon palpation of the xiphoid area. These conditions typically involve inflammation of the chest wall structures, including ribs, cartilage, and nerves. 2. **Cardiac diseases**: Although cardiac conditions such as myocardial ischemia usually do not present with tenderness upon palpation, they cannot be completely ruled out. Persistent pain in the precordial area, especially when accompanied by symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, should raise suspicion of cardiac disease. Prompt medical evaluation is advised. 3. **Gastrointestinal diseases**: Conditions such as acute gastritis and gastric ulcers may cause pain upon pressing the xiphoid area due to irritation of the gastric mucosa by gastric acid and food. This type of pain is often closely related to diet and digestive status. 4. **Other factors**: Such as herpes zoster and localized soft tissue inflammation may also lead to pain upon pressing in the xiphoid area. If such symptoms occur, timely medical consultation is recommended to determine the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment.