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A feeling like an air bubble is in your chest can be a symptom of several conditions, ranging in seriousness. Some of these conditions are a cause of concern, while others may resolve on their own.

Sharp, sudden pain in your chest can sometimes feel like cracking or compression, as if a bubble is about to pop under your ribs.

Read on to learn some common causes for the feeling of bubbling in your chest. You should always see a doctor for a diagnosis of this kind of pain.

Precordial catch syndrome causes chest pain when you take a breath. It mostly happens to people in their adolescence or early 20s. The pain occurs with no warning and is sharp and sudden. It can happen once a week or only once and never again.

Believe it or not, this syndrome isn’t usually cause for concern. Precordial catch syndrome can be caused by nerves in your outer chest cavity becoming irritated or compressed.

This condition does need to be diagnosed by a doctor to rule out more serious causes for your pain. But there’s no treatment for precordial catch syndrome, and most people simply stop having symptoms as they grow older.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive condition that can cause a bubbling feeling in your chest. When you have GERD, stomach acid flows into your esophagus tube. The stomach acid can cause a burning pain in your chest called acid reflux. Other symptoms of GERD include difficulty swallowing and feeling like you have a lump in your throat.

GERD is diagnosed mostly by symptoms. Common treatments include changes in diet and lifestyle, over-the-counter antacids, and medications to block your body’s acid production.

Dyspepsia, also called indigestion, can cause:

  • nausea
  • bloating
  • acid reflux

It can also cause a bubbling and gurgling feeling in your chest.

Dyspepsia can be caused by an overgrowth of a bacteria called H. pylori, a strain of bacteria that more than half of the people on earth have in their bodies. This condition can also be caused by excessive drinking and by taking over-the-counter painkillers frequently on an empty stomach.

An endoscopy, blood test, or stool sample can help diagnosis certain underlying causes of dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is treated by making food choices that help repair and soothe the stomach lining. Antacids and other drugs might also be prescribed.

Pleural effusion is fluid that’s trapped in the tissue between your lung and the chest wall. This fluid can cause symptoms like a bubbling in your chest and shortness of breath.

This condition is a symptom of another health condition. Pneumonia, congestive heart failure, cancer, and trauma to the chest cavity can all result in a pleural effusion. Treatments for pleural effusion vary according to the cause.

Inflammation of your gallbladder can be caused by:

Inflammation of this organ can cause a feeling of pain or pressure that begins in your abdomen and spreads to your back and shoulders.

Blood tests, an ultrasound, or a CT scan will be used to determine if and why your gallbladder is inflamed. Your doctor will then recommend:

  • antibiotics
  • pain medication
  • a procedure to remove the gallstones, the gallbladder itself, or the blockage that’s causing the inflammation

The symptoms of asthma can feel like a bubbling pain in your chest. Asthma is a lung condition that inflames your airways and makes it hard to breathe. Asthma flare-ups can be triggered by the following, along with other causes:

Along with a bubbling in your chest, an asthma attack can also cause you to wheeze, cough, or feel a tight compression around your lungs. Asthma is diagnosed by a lung function test that your doctor will give you. Sometimes you’ll also need to see an allergist to determine what kind of irritants are triggering your asthma flare-ups. The most common treatment is inhaling corticosteroids regularly and taking other medications if your asthma flares up, and trying to avoid the circumstances that aggravate your asthma.

Pleurisy is when the thin membrane that lines your chest cavity becomes inflamed. This can happen because of an infection, a rib fracture, inflammation, or even as a side effect of certain medications.

The symptoms of pleurisy can include:

  • coughing
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain

Pleurisy is diagnosed through a blood test to see if you have an infection. It can also be diagnosed through a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or an ultrasound. Pleurisy can usually be treated at home with an antibiotic or a period of rest.

Atrial fibrillation, also called “AFib,” is a condition in which your heartbeat falls out of its normal rhythm. Symptoms of this condition include:

  • an abnormal rapid heartbeat
  • dizziness
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • a bubbling feeling in your chest

AFib is caused because the heart’s electrical system is misfiring, usually due to coronary heart disease or high blood pressure. Your doctor can use a physical exam or an EKG to diagnose AFib. Treatments include blood thinner medications, medications to control the heart rate, and sometimes procedures to stop the AFib and convert the heart back to its normal rhythm.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. Common symptoms include:

  • cough
  • slight fever
  • chills
  • pain in your chest

Bronchitis can be diagnosed by your doctor using a stethoscope to listen to you breathe. Sometimes other tests like a chest X-ray are needed. Acute bronchitis can be treated as a cold with over-the-counter decongestants and home remedies. Chronic bronchitis can last three months or more and sometimes calls for use of an inhaler.

When air escapes from your lung and leaks into your chest cavity, it can cause your lung (or a portion of your lung) to collapse. This leak typically occurs from an injury but can also result from a medical procedure or underlying lung damage.

A collapsed lung causes:

  • shortness of breath
  • sharp pain
  • chest tightness

Low blood pressure and rapid heart rate are other symptoms. If you have a collapsed lung, it will probably be diagnosed with a chest X-ray. Sometimes the air from your chest cavity will need to be removed with a hollow plastic tube to treat this condition.

A collapsed lung isn’t permanent. Usually a collapsed lung will improve within 48 hours with treatment.

There are other causes of bubbling in your chest that are less common. An air embolism, a lung tumor, and a rare condition called pneumomediastinum, can all cause this uncomfortable sensation. This can also be a symptom of a heart attack. Whenever you experience a bubbling feeling in your chest, it’s critical that you investigate what’s causing it to happen.

You should always see a doctor when you feel a bubbling in your chest. It may be something like GERD, but it’s important to rule out anything serious. If your chest pain comes with any of the following symptoms, you should get emergency care right away:

  • pain that spreads from your chest to your neck, jaw, or shoulders
  • shortness of breath that lasts for more than three minutes while resting
  • an irregular pulse
  • vomiting
  • a feeling of choking
  • numbness in your hand or side
  • an inability to stand or walk