A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone. A break in the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone is also considered a rib fracture. The most common cause is a direct blow to the chest such as in falls from heights, motor vehicle accidents, or blunt-force trauma like getting hit with a baseball bat. Coughing hard can also cause a rib to fracture if you already have underlying bone disease such as osteogensis imperfect or some cancers. It is important to seek medical attention as a blow that is hard enough to fracture a rib may have also caused injury to the organs protected by the ribs. Breathing is also painful when suffering from fractured ribs as the muscles used in breathing pull on the ribs. Keeping the person calm and breathing slowly will help ease some of the pain.