A broken rib bone that may be caused by forceful trauma, such as a fall or a blow to the chest, or by the pressure of intense coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include pain that intensifies when a breath is taken, tenderness and shallow breathing, and bruising at the site of the injury. In most cases, a fractured rib will heal naturally within 3 to 8 weeks. A physician should be notified if the person has a high temperature, a cough develops, or thick or bloody sputum is coughed up. Emergency medical care should be sought when there is difficulty breathing or an increase in pain, or if the person has nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.