You can break a rib from a forceful cough. But it is very rare to do so. Women with chronic cough and people with osteoporosis are the most likely to break a rib from coughing. Treatment for a broken rib is often identical to treatment for a sore or bruised rib.

A cracked rib is a type of rib fracture that can occur with a fall, car accident, sports injury, or violent coughing. The central symptom is pain when you inhale. The injury will usually heal on its own within six weeks. Over-the-counter or prescription painkillers can help manage the pain.

Severe coughing can also cause a rib fracture. These stress fractures tend to occur in the upper or middle ribs. Some people are more susceptible to broken ribs, including older adults and those with health conditions that affect the bones, such as osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Occasionally, severe coughing can cause a rib fracture, especially in people who have a bone-weakening cancer, or who are elderly or have osteoporosis.