4. Repeated Coughing
A sudden and severe impact on the ribs is usually the most common way in which this type of fracture or break is sustained, but it’s not just sudden trauma which can cause a broken rib. Sometimes it’s repetitive trauma over a longer period of time that creates enough pressure to fracture or pop ribs – and in this case, repetitive coughing can be this type of associated strain.
Repeated coughing is one of the ways in which ribs can fracture; this can often be associated with long bouts of flu, bronchitis or any other medical conditions where repeated or chronic coughing is a symptom.
If you aren’t sure what might be causing the symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis first. If the initial cause for the coughing isn’t treated with the rib, the injury is likely to worsen or just happen again over time as the coughing continues past this point.