Can i crack a rib coughing

Pain around the fracture when someone pushes on your breastbone. If you can't breathe normally because of your injuries, you may: Feel short of breath. Feel anxious, restless, or scared. Have a headache. Feel dizzy, tired, or sleepy. How is a fractured rib diagnosed? Your doctor will ask questions about your injury and do a physical exam. The doctor may: Push on your chest to find out where you are hurt. Watch you breathe and listen to your lungs to make sure air is moving in and out normally.

Listen to your heart. Check your head, neck, spine, and belly to make sure there are no other injuries. How is it treated? To help manage the pain while the fracture heals: Put ice on the injured area. Get extra rest.

Take pain medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medicine if over-the-counter medicines don't work. Pulmonary trauma. In JE Tintinalli, ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Collier BR, et al. Back to Health A to Z. Bruised or broken ribs can be very painful, but usually heal by themselves. Broken or bruised ribs are usually caused by a fall, a blow to the chest or severe coughing.

Ribs cannot be easily splinted or supported like other bones, so they're usually left to heal naturally. A broken rib can injure blood vessels and internal organs. The risk increases with the number of broken ribs. Complications vary depending on which ribs break. Possible complications include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Broken ribs Open pop-up dialog box Close. Early symptoms of the illness usually resemble those of a cold, such as a runny nose and mild fever. But about one to two weeks later, infected individuals can develop a violent cough. During coughing "fits," an infected person may cough over and over, until the air is gone from his or her lungs, the CDC said.

When the person inhales again, they may make a "whooping" sound when they breathe in, which is how the disease got its name, according to the National Institutes of Health. The disease is most serious in infants, but adults can experience complications from the illness as well, including broken ribs.