10 Possible Causes of Bubble Like Feeling in Left Chest

Acid Reflux

A bubble feeling in chest left side is often caused by acid reflux, a condition that causes heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest. A muscular valve called lower esophageal sphincter is located in the area where food enters your stomach from the esophagus. This valve normally closes after food passes to the stomach. However, if it opens or does not close adequately, stomach acids can move up into the esophagus. The acid reflux can also cause a gurgling upper left abdomen, which is characteristic of a condition called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Dyspepsia

People who complain about a sensation that “feels like bubbles in my chest” may also be suffering from dyspepsia, a term often used to describe symptoms in the upper gut. This includes the esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of the small intestine or duodenum. It can cause a bubble feeling in chest left side, upper abdominal discomfort or pain, and other symptoms like bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting, and feeling of fullness. These symptoms are also sometimes referred to as indigestion, which tends to come and go.

Chronic Cholecystitis

What “feels like bubbles in my chest” could also be due to chronic cholecystitis, a condition that is characterized by inflammation of the gallbladder. You may also experience indigestion, upper abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. This pain may be increased sharply when inhaling, when the gall bladder touches the diaphragm.

Chronic cholecystitis consists of repeated attacks of pain that is associated with the formation of stones in your gallbladder. Gallstones develop when bile substances form into crystal particles, which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. These gallstones cause irritation, pressure, and may become infected.

Fluid in Lungs

A pleural effusion is a condition where there is an abnormal presence of fluids around the lung. This can result from various medical conditions, which may require treatment. Pleural effusion sometimes does not cause any symptoms, but when the amount of fluid around the lungs increases symptoms may occur, which include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain when breathing (pleuritic pain), and fever.

Atrial Fibrillation

Irregular, rapid heartbeat due to atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms affecting the left chest. Atrial fibrillation causes the heart's upper chambers (atria) to beat irregularly in a chaotic fashion, which leads to incoordination with the lower chambers (ventricles) of your heart. Symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, and weakness. These may come and go, but some people may require treatment since it may lead to formation of blood clots in the heart that can circulate and block blood flow to other organs like the heart and brain.

Collapsed Lung

A bubble feeling in chest left side may be due to a collapsed lung, which can occur when air inside the lung escapes into the chest cavity. This can happen after a penetrating chest trauma, a rib fracture, or when a weak spot in the lung causes air to escape. Medical conditions such as infection or lung cancer may be associated. Emergency medical treatment must be sought because this is a life-threatening situation.

Asthma

Airway inflammation and narrowing due to asthma can make it difficult for you to breathe and cause other symptoms like wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. For some people, symptoms like bubble feeling in chest left side are just a minor nuisance. But for others, asthma symptoms can interfere with their daily activities or may lead to life-threatening asthmatic attacks.

Chronic Bronchitis

This long-term, irreversible respiratory disease causes chronic cough with mucus production that occurs for at least three months a year, for at least two years. Chronic bronchitis causes worsening restriction of flow of air in the lungs, which leads to difficulty in breathing and sputum production in your lungs. It is a serious disease that needs ongoing medical treatment. Many patients also develop emphysema, another chronic respiratory disease.

Gastritis

The gurgling, upper left abdomen sensation may be due to gastritis, a condition characterized by irritation, inflammation, and erosion of the inner lining of your stomach. Symptoms may occur suddenly in acute gastritis, but they may also develop gradually and recur in chronic gastritis. Symptoms may vary, but the most common ones include:

• Upset stomach

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating

• Nausea, vomiting

• Hiccups

• Indigestion (bubble feeling in chest left side)

• Burning/gnawing pain between meals and at night

• Loss of appetite

• Blood or coffee ground material in vomit

• Black or tarry stools

Pleurisy

A person who has pleurisy might complain about something that “feels like bubbles in my chest.” Pleurisy or pleuritis occurs when the pleura or the moist membrane that surrounds your lungs and forms the inner lining of the chest cavity is inflamed. This condition often makes breathing very painful. It may be associated with pleural effusion, a condition where excess fluids fill the space between the layers of the pleura.

Other Causes

Other possible causes of pain, discomfort and bubble feeling in chest left side include other gastrointestinal problems, rib inflammation, angina (chest pain due to heart disease), an acute heart attack, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis), or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). Psychological causes like anxiety, stress, and panic attacks are also possible.

If your symptoms do not go away after rest, seek medical consultation. It is also best to see a doctor right away if your symptoms seem to be getting worse or if they recur often to get proper diagnosis and treatment.