Your ribs are curved bones in your chest. They help protect structures in your chest, such as your heart and your lungs and expand and contract when you breathe. Children's ribs bend easily and can often withstand a blow or fall. But adult ribs are more likely to break (fracture) under stress. Even coughing or a hard sneeze can fracture a rib.

Although they can be painful, most rib fractures aren't serious. But they often make it hard to cough or breathe deeply. Get to the ER or call 911 right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing
• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain with a sore or bruised rib
• Pain that gets worse over time
• An injury to the chest or stomach

Here's what will happen in the ER:

• A doctor will ask about your injury and examine you carefully.
• An X-ray of your chest will likely be taken to show any major damage to ribs and lungs. But ribs can have small breaks that don't show up on X-rays, even though they still hurt. In some cases, a CT scan may be done.
• You may be given medicine to ease your discomfort.
• In rare cases, rib fractures can cause a lung to collapse or lead to bleeding in the chest. In these cases, a tube will be inserted into the chest to reinflate the lung or drain the blood.

You are likely to heal in 6 to 8 weeks. Most rib fractures heal on their own with no lasting effects. Contact your doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Increased chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, or as advised by your doctor
• Chills
• Coughing up blood