Sometimes abrupt, sharp chest discomfort can seem like a bubble behind your ribcage is about to burst, like it’s about to break or compress.
This type of pain can be a sign of a number of different, more serious illnesses.
While some of these illnesses warrant worry, others might go away on their own.
Discover some typical causes for the bubbling sensation in your chest by reading on.
If you experience this kind of pain, you should always visit a doctor for a diagnosis.
Read on to discover more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ If you experience a bubbling in your chest, you should always visit a doctor.
✅ The fluid that is entrapped in the tissue between your lung and the chest wall is called a pleural effusion.
✅ Shortness of breath and a bubbling sensation in the chest are two signs that this fluid is present.
Early-onset catch syndrome
When you breathe in, precordial catch syndrome makes your chest hurt. Most often, it affects persons in their teens or early 20s. The pain is immediate, intense, and without prior notice. It can take place once a week or just once, never again.
Contrary to popular belief, this syndrome rarely requires medical attention. Precordial catch syndrome may be brought on by inflamed or compressed nerves in the outer chest cavity.
To rule out more significant reasons for your discomfort, a specialist must diagnose this illness. Precordial catch syndrome, however, has no known cure, and most sufferers simply stop experiencing symptoms as they age.
GERD
The digestive disorder gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can give you a bubbling sensation in your chest. Stomach acid leaks into your esophagus tube when you have GERD. Acid reflux is a burning ache in your chest that can be brought on by stomach acid. Other GERD symptoms include having trouble swallowing and experiencing a lump in your throat.
Most GERD cases are identified by symptoms. Changing your diet and lifestyle, using over-the-counter antacids, and taking drugs that prevent your body from producing acid are all common therapies.
Dyspepsia
Indigestion, often known as dyspepsia, may result in:
- nausea
- bloating
- Acid retching
Your chest may also start to bubble and gurgle as a result.
Overgrowth of the H. pylori strain of bacteria, which is present in the bodies of more than half of humanity, can result in dyspepsia. Excessive drinking and taking over-the-counter medicines frequently on an empty stomach can also contribute to this illness.
Certain underlying causes of dyspepsia can be diagnosed with the aid of an endoscopy, blood test, or stool sample. Making meal choices that support the repair and calming of the stomach lining is a method of treating dyspepsia. Other medications, such as antacids, might also be administered.
Lung effusion
The fluid that is entrapped in the tissue between your lung and the chest wall is called a pleural effusion. Shortness of breath and a bubbling sensation in the chest are two signs that this fluid is present.
This ailment is a sign of another medical problem. A pleural effusion can be caused by pneumonia, congestive heart failure, malignancy, trauma to the chest cavity, and more. Depending on the reason, many pleural effusion treatments exist.
Inflammation of the gallbladder
Your gallbladder may become inflamed due to:
- gallstones
- a contamination
- congested bile ducts
This organ’s inflammation may result in a pain or pressure sensation that starts in your abdomen and travels to your back and shoulders. Your gallbladder’s condition and the cause of the inflammation will be determined by blood tests, an ultrasound, or a CT scan. Your physician will then suggest:
- antibiotics
- pain relievers
- an operation to remove the gallbladder, the gallstones, or the obstruction causing the inflammation
Asthma
When you have asthma, your chest may hurt and bubble up. Inflammation in the airways caused by asthma makes breathing difficult. Along with other factors, the following can cause asthma flare-ups:
- exercise
- weather
- allergies
An asthma episode can cause you to cough, wheeze, or feel a tightening around your lungs in addition to a bubbling in your chest. Your doctor will do a lung function test to determine if you have asthma. In some cases, you’ll also need to visit an allergist to identify the specific irritants that are causing your asthma attacks.
The most typical treatment for asthma is to regularly inhale corticosteroids, take other drugs when your asthma flares up, and try to stay away from situations that make your asthma worse.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the thin membrane that lines your chest cavity. This might take place as a result of an infection, a broken rib, inflammation, or even a side effect of a few drugs.
Pleurisy symptoms can include:
- coughing
- Excessive breathing
- Chest ache
Blood work is used to determine whether you have an infection before pleurisy is determined. Additionally, it can be identified via a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or ultrasound. Typically, pleurisy can be managed at home with an antibiotic or some downtime.
Heart fibrillation
When you have atrial fibrillation, often known as “AFib,” your heartbeat becomes irregular. The following are signs of this condition:
- an unnaturally quick heartbeat
- dizziness
- fatigue
- Excessive breathing
- a fluttering sensation in your chest
The electrical system of the heart malfunctions and leads to AFib, which is typically brought on by coronary artery disease or excessive blood pressure. A physical examination or an EKG can be used by your doctor to identify AFib. Medication to thin the blood, drugs to regulate heart rate, and occasionally surgical techniques to halt AFib and restore the heart’s normal rhythm are all examples of treatments.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the airways that enter and exit your lungs is known as bronchitis. Typical signs include:
- cough
- Minimal fever
- chills
- Chest discomfort
Your doctor can determine if you have bronchitis by listening to your breathing using a stethoscope. Sometimes additional tests are required, such as a chest X-ray. Home treatments and over-the-counter decongestants can be used to treat acute bronchitis as a cold. An inhaler may occasionally be needed to treat chronic bronchitis, which can linger for three months or longer.
lung collapsed
Your lung (or a piece of your lung) could collapse as a result of air leaking from your lung into your chest cavity. While an injury is the most common cause of this leak, it can also be brought on by surgical treatment or underlying lung disease.
Lung collapse results in:
- Excessive breathing
- Acute pain
- Chest discomfort
Other symptoms include low blood pressure and a fast heartbeat. A chest X-ray will probably be used to determine if you have a collapsed lung. In order to cure this problem, it may occasionally be necessary to remove air from your chest cavity using a hollow plastic tube.
Lung collapse is temporary. With treatment, a collapsed lung often gets well in 48 hours.
What else might this be due to?
There are other, less typical reasons why your chest could bubble up. This unpleasant sensation can be brought on by an air embolism, a lung tumor, and a relatively uncommon illness termed pneumomediastinum.
This might possibly indicate a heart attack. It’s crucial to look into the reasons behind any chest-bubble sensation you may encounter.
At what point should I go and visit a doctor?
If you experience a bubbling in your chest, you should always visit a doctor. Although GERD may be the cause, it’s crucial to rule out anything more serious. You should seek emergency care right away if any of the following symptoms accompany your chest pain:
- soreness that radiates from your chest to your shoulders, neck, or jaw
- breathing difficulties while resting that continue longer than three minutes.
- an erratic heartbeat
- vomiting choking sensation
- weakness in your side or hand
- the inability to walk or stand