Why Do I Feel Chest Pain When I Cough?

When you cough hard or very often, your chest muscles and the bones (ribs) in your chest can be put under stress. This can lead to pain because the muscles stretch or become sore, or even because a small rib fracture may occur. Conditions that affect your lungs, such as bronchiectasis or pneumonia, can also make the chest hurt when you cough because the lungs or the thin covering around the lungs (called the pleura) become inflamed. In some cases, the act of coughing may be linked to heart dysfunction, but that is less common. The pain you feel while coughing is usually related to the strain on your chest wall and the breathing muscles, rather than a direct heart problem. If you find that your chest pain with coughing is very severe, continues for a long time, or is accompanied by other symptoms like trouble breathing or feeling very weak, you should talk with a doctor. They can check your symptoms, perform tests, and help figure out the exact cause so you can be treated appropriately.