Does one side of your chest hurt when you breathe? Let's talk about the muscles between your ribs (Intercostal Muscles)

Have you ever felt a stabbing pain in the side of your chest when you suddenly turn your body, take a deep breath, or laugh out loud? Many people worry that it's a heart problem. But not all chest pains are caused by the heart. In fact, there is a muscle system in our body that is essential to the breathing process, but we don't talk about it much. Today we're talking about this important muscle system hidden between our ribs, the Intercostal Muscles.

What are these Intercostal Muscles?

Simply put, these are the muscles that connect your ribs to each other. Think of your rib cage as a ladder. The rungs of that ladder are the ribs. These rungs, that is, the ribs, are connected to each other, and are kept strong and flexible by these intercostal muscles. The word "intercostal" comes from the Latin word for "between the ribs."

These muscles are located in the spaces between the ribs, which in medical terms are called ``intercostal spaces''. These spaces contain not only the muscles, but also the blood vessels that supply them with blood and the nerves that carry sensations. So this is a very complex and important system.

What really happens to these muscles?

The main and most important function of these muscles is to help with the breathing process. When you inhale and exhale, your rib cage expands and contracts, right? That process is controlled by these Intercostal Muscles and the large muscle called the diaphragm that separates the chest and abdomen.

Just like a team rowing a boat, these muscles work together to expand and contract the chest cavity.

• When you inhale (inhaling): The external intercostal muscles contract, pulling the rib cage up and out. This increases the space inside the lungs and reduces the pressure. As a result, air from outside is automatically drawn into the lungs.
• When you exhale (Exhaling): The internal intercostal muscles contract, pulling the rib cage inward and downward again, compressing it. This creates pressure on the lungs, forcing the air inside out.

In addition to breathing, these muscles help whenever you need to quickly expel air from your lungs, such as when you cough loudly, sneeze, laugh, or sigh.

Let's take a closer look at these three types of muscles and their functions.

What are the common conditions that affect the Intercostal Muscles?

Like any other muscle, these intercostal muscles can be affected by various disorders, injuries, and medical conditions.

• Muscle damage: This is the most common. Imagine lifting a heavy object, twisting your body suddenly while playing sports, or coughing loudly after a long day. During these times, these muscles can become strained, torn, or spasmed.
• Fractured ribs: If a rib is broken due to an accident or fall, the surrounding intercostal muscles can also be damaged.
• Interference with signals from the brain: In some nervous system diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the signals from the brain to the muscles become weak. This can cause the muscles involved in breathing to become weak.
• Spinal cord injury: If the nerves are damaged by an accident to the spinal cord, these muscles can become paralyzed.
• Medical treatments: Sometimes, these muscles can be affected during lung surgery or treatments such as thoracostomy, which involves placing a tube in the chest.

How do you recognize a problem with these muscles? What are the symptoms?

If you have a problem with your intercostal muscles, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be similar to those of a heart attack, which can scare many people. However, there are clear differences between these symptoms.

How does a doctor check this?

When you go to see a doctor with symptoms like these, he or she will run several tests to find the cause.

• Physical exam: This is the first thing that is done. The doctor will ask you questions, such as how the pain started and when it gets worse. Then they will listen to your chest, press on the area of ​​pain, and observe how you breathe.
• Imaging tests: These help to check the condition of the muscles, bones, and surrounding tissues. An ultrasound or, if necessary, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done.
• Nerve tests: If nerve damage is suspected, a nerve conduction study, which measures the speed at which signals travel through the nerves, or an electromyography, which measures the electrical activity of the muscles, may be done.

What are you doing as treatment?

Treatment options depend on your condition, its severity, and the cause.

Most of the time, minor muscle strains don't require any special treatment. They will heal on their own over time. In such cases, a doctor may give you some advice like this:

• Rest: Stay away from activities that increase pain for a few days.
• Ice: For the first two to three days, apply an ice pack to the area of ​​pain and swelling several times a day.
• Painkillers: Take paracetamol or another painkiller recommended by your doctor.

However, if the pain is severe, there is difficulty breathing, or if the problem is caused by another serious medical condition, it may require specialized treatment. So it is best and safest to talk to your doctor to find out what treatment is best for you.

Even as you read this article, your Intercostal Muscles are working without you even realizing it. Behind every breath you take, there is the action of these muscles. We don't even think about them until they are working properly. But when the slightest problem arises, the pain makes it impossible to think about anything else. So if you have any symptoms or doubts regarding these muscles, don't think twice about seeking medical advice.