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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Pain In The Ribs While Coughing, Severe Heart Burn. Stopped Smoking. Cause?

I am a 41 year old woman, I woke up this morning with pain in between my rib area. It is a dull constant, pain, but when i breath deep, cough, or laugh it is a sharp pain each time. I am also having random sharp pain below my left rib. I stopped smoking 3 months ago, I still cough every morning for the first hour I am awake, and now and again still have mucus come up. I do have severe heartburn, I take prescription med for it...
posted on Mon, 6 May 2013
Twitter Mon, 17 Jun 2013 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 18 Jun 2013 Last reviewed on
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Your symptoms can be caused by heart ischemic disease, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or by stomach issues.
As you have been smoking, heart condition and lungs condition should be checked at first.
Coughing in the morning is very characteristic symptom for COPD. This disease is caused by severe smoking. Pain during breathing can be also present with this disease.

Stomach issues like peptic ulcer, stomach inflammation or acid reflux disease can also give chest burning. Upper middle abdominal pain and nausea can be also present. The pain usually appears after a meal.

I suggest you to visit cardiologist, have heart ECG, stress test and ultrasound.
You should also visit pulmunologist, have chest X-ray (or better CT) and blow test (spirometry).

If nothing will be found in this tests, abdominal ultrasound and gastroscopy should be done.

Hope this will help.
Regards.
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Pain In The Ribs While Coughing, Severe Heart Burn. Stopped Smoking. Cause?

Hello! Thank you for the query. Your symptoms can be caused by heart ischemic disease, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or by stomach issues. As you have been smoking, heart condition and lungs condition should be checked at first. Coughing in the morning is very characteristic symptom for COPD. This disease is caused by severe smoking. Pain during breathing can be also present with this disease. Stomach issues like peptic ulcer, stomach inflammation or acid reflux disease can also give chest burning. Upper middle abdominal pain and nausea can be also present. The pain usually appears after a meal. I suggest you to visit cardiologist, have heart ECG, stress test and ultrasound. You should also visit pulmunologist, have chest X-ray (or better CT) and blow test (spirometry). If nothing will be found in this tests, abdominal ultrasound and gastroscopy should be done. Hope this will help. Regards.