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Why is Your Chest Bubbling?

Oct 15, 2022 | Blog

Everyone is familiar with the stomach gurgles, but what if your chest is making sounds now? Is it normal? Well, gurgling in the chest is not normal, and there are quite a few medical conditions linked to it. This bubbling feeling in your chest may be mild or severe, so the treatment depends on individual situations.

Gurgling Chest – 7 Causes Why That Might be

The causes for your chest to make rattling sounds that feel like a bubble include:

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the respiratory tubes. They articulate the lung to mouth and nose. This condition may be short-term (acute) or chronic (degenerative).

You may see signs of:

  • chest tightness or pain
  • chills
  • a cough
  • mild fever

Asthma

A bubbling or gurgling sensation in your chest may indicate an asthma attack. Asthma is a respiratory issue involving narrowing or swelling of the airways obstructing airflow. Out of all, approximately 25 million Americans suffer from this issue.

Triggers include:

  • Allergy stimuli
  • Exercise
  • Weather change

Asthma is easily manageable with lifestyle changes and medication.

Collapsed Respiratory System

If the air leaks from your respiratory tract or lungs, it is said to be collapsed. The situation is abnormal and leads to gurgling in the chest area.

Along with the bubbling feeling, a collapsed respiratory chest can cause:

  • Give bluish color to the skin
  • tiredness
  • flared nostrils
  • low BP
  • fast heartbeat

Pneumomediastinum

In this condition, the air gets entrapped in the middle of the chest, creating a gurgle-like feeling. The problem lies under the sternum and between respiratory organs that is a result of injury or air leakage.

Individuals who have pneumomediastinum may show symptoms like:

  • cough
  • voice hoarseness
  • neck pain
  • breathing difficulties
  • nausea or vomiting

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is inflammation of the film-like membrane that encapsulates the inner chest cavity and (pleura).

Symptoms that show up include:

  • Stinging pain in the chest along with gurgles that worsens at the time of breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Fever (in some cases)

Dyspepsia

Rumbling pain or discomfort inside the upper abdominal region that results in a bubbling sensation in the chest or gurgling after eating is dyspepsia.

Some common signs of this condition are:

  • Water retention or bloating
  • Pyrosis
  • Vomiting or nausea

Respiratory organ tumor

Tumors that grow in the respiratory organ may be harmless or cancerous. More often than not, they produce a bubbling feeling in the chest.

Usually, the symptoms do not appear right away. The changes in sensation occur after the issue stays on for several years.

Visible signs of respiratory cancer include:

  • Pain in the chest.
  • Blood sputum.
  • Fever
  • Chronic cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplainable weight loss

Final Take out

If your chest is gurgling and there is no apparent reason, maybe it is not related to the respiratory system. Some other issues like anxiety, angina, or a heart attack can also give you the same bubbling feeling. So, you should get a detailed examination for the appropriate route of treatment. Call pulmonology experts from Pulmonary Medical Care at (281) 357-1300

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