Chest injuries range from bruised ribs to punctured lungs. Whether it’s a fall, a car crash, or a sports hit, the chest lets you know right away that something is wrong.

Sharp pain with breathing is the hallmark. It stabs when you inhale, cough, laugh, or roll over in bed.

Tenderness to touch follows. Pressing on the ribs or sternum hurts, and the spot may feel crunchy if bones are broken.

Swelling and bruising show up fast. The chest wall puffs and turns purple within hours.

Shortness of breath creeps in. You take shallow breaths to avoid pain, or you feel winded even while sitting still.

Cough changes color. Pink, frothy sputum can mean lung bleeding; green or yellow mucus points to infection.

Late signs include a hard time keeping your breath, blue lips, or one side of the chest not moving—an alarm that air or blood is trapped inside.