Feeling pain in your ribs can be scary.

After all, the ribs protect your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs.

Pain in the left side of the right cage can indicate problems with your liver, right?

Young woman having rib pain

Rib pain alone is rarely due to heart, lung, or liver problems.

AXA Healthexplains that it’s possible to feel pain in the ribs following an injury or trauma.

A pulled muscle and other similar injuries may cause rib pain, too.

Rib cage anatomy model

If you’re having problems with your heart or lungs, you’ll most likely experience several other symptoms.

Gallstones, on the other hand, tend to cause nausea, vomiting, and fever.

The best thing you might do is to pay attention to your symptoms.

This inflammatory condition affects the area where your upper ribs connect to the breastbone.

Some people may also experience tightness in the chest or other symptoms that mimic aheart attack.

Tietze syndrome, a similar condition, causes inflammation of the affected area, explainsWebMD.

The cause of costochondritis remains a mystery.

However, researchers agree that certain factors may contribute to the onset of this condition.

Those over the age of 40 are at higher risk.

Tietze syndrome, on the other hand, tends to affect men and women under 40 years old.

In severe cases, doctors may prescribe corticosteroid injections.