When should you worry about left rib pain being related to the heart or lungs?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Left rib pain may signal a heart or lung issue, particularly when accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, or a clicking sound while breathing. Other possible causes include muscle strain, rib injury, costochondritis (inflammation of rib cartilage), or digestive problems like gastritis.

Because left-sided rib pain can range from harmless to serious, identifying the cause early is important. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms, learn what may be causing them, and get clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

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Explanation

Left rib pain might be related to heart or lung issues if other symptoms are present. For example, a condition called pneumothorax can make a clicking noise when you breathe, and it affects the lungs. This condition may mimic heart problems due to its location and symptoms.

Additionally, chest pain can sometimes be related to heart issues, as seen in cases where people experience sudden and severe chest pain. This kind of pain may need immediate medical attention.

Finally, sometimes, lung tumors can be found incidentally during tests for heart problems. This means that although a person might think they have a heart issue, it could be something affecting the lungs instead.

If you experience left rib pain with symptoms like breathing difficulty or unusual sounds, you can use Ubie's free AI symptom checker to help identify possible causes before consulting with a healthcare professional.

(References)

Midttun M, & Videbaek J. (1993). [Noisy pneumothorax. Clicking pneumothorax mimicking .... Ugeskrift for laeger, 8317049.
Alnabulsi R, Tsushima T, & Shaniuk PM. (2021). A 60-Year-Old Man With Acute Chest Pain. Chest, 34488966.
Shawgi M, & Arumugam P. (2014). incidental detection of a metastatic lung tumor on cardiac .... World journal of nuclear medicine, 25538493.

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