Have you ever had an intense sharp aching in your stomach when you have a forceful cough? It is a natural and rather unexpected feeling that can make you suspect that something is terribly wrong. Although the purpose of coughing is to clear your airways, its violent nature may build pressure that impacts other organs, particularly your core.
It may cause panic but usually, this sensation is merely a consequence of the natural process of coughing. The first step in achieving relief, and knowing when to see a doctor is to understand the connection between your cough and your abdomen.
The Connection Between Your Cough and Your Core Muscles
There is an involuntary reflex due to cough, as it engages your body strongly into it. This action involves more than just your lungs and throat. It is a full-body event that puts significant pressure on your chest and abdominal areas.
How Coughing Affects Your Abdominal Muscles
There are sets of powerful muscles in your stomach in the form of abs or abdominal muscles. They are required in the tasks of your daily life, such as sitting or leaning etc. These muscles shrink very quickly when you cough. It is this abrupt shortening that causes the air to leave your lungs. As with any other muscle, when your abdominal muscles are overworked or overstrained they may become sore, tender or even cramped.
These muscles may become overworked and painful with a strong long-lasting cough, as with respiratory infection. Imagine that it is a painful exercise for your inner muscles; the day after, you may have that dull ache or sharp pains and so it may happen that it follows a hard coughing experience.
Why the Pressure from a Cough Can Cause Pain
Coughing involves a temporary build-up of pressure within your chest and abdominal cavity. That is why you get a tightening pain in your stomach when you cough. It might not be your muscles that suffer from this added pressure. It may cause strain on other organs and tissues in the region.
In case of an underlying condition, like inflammation or weakness in a particular area, this pressure can increase the perceived pain. The pain can be located which can give a clue as to the cause of the pain. An example would be pain experienced in the upper part of the abdomen could be caused by strain in the muscles, whereas pain in the lower abdomen would be caused by another underlying problem.
Common Causes of Stomach Pain from Coughing
There are simple and less-complicated causes of stomach pain from coughing. They make you feel discomfort, but you can easily manage them at home
Muscle Strain
As stated, a basic muscle strain is the most common cause of this type of pain. An intense, continuous cough as is the case with a cold or bronchitis makes your abdominal muscles contract violently back and forth. This may occur with development of soreness or cramp like pain particularly in the upper abdomen.
Depending on the intensity of the strain the pain may be dull and achy or sharp and high. This form of discomfort normally resolves itself naturally at the moment, when the cough becomes better and muscles have time to relax and recover.
Hernias
In other instances, persistent or extremely violent coughing might exert sufficient pressure on the abdomen to trigger or aggravate a hernia. A hernia develops when a section of an organ (in most cases intestine) protrudes through a loose area on the wall of the muscle or tissue. This bulge may be more prominent and result in a sharp, sharp pain with the increased pressure due to coughing.
You may feel swelling or a sort of bump in this region, particularly in the groin, which is around your belly button. The agents like coughing, sneezing, and straining make your hernia pain more intense. You should be aware of the symptoms of the hernia, to have a timely diagnosis and treatment.
Digestive Issues
Coughing can also worsen the already existing digestive problems. When you become bloated with gas or there is much air in the alimentary canal, a cough may place pressure on these regions, causing sharp or cramp-like pains.
Other conditions that can result in the stomach being more sensitive include gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). Your pre-existing inflamed lining can be stretched by the force exerted due to coughing and can make you suffer. When your digestive system gets normal, these pains end, proving to be temporary.
Specific Medical Conditions to Consider
Although most of the causes are not that complicated, you should be conscious of stomach pain from coughing, as sometimes it indicates severe medical issues.
Acid Reflux (GERD) and its Link to Coughing
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a troubled health issue in which your stomach acid get reversed into the tube between your mouth and stomach. This may give you a burning feeling, or heartburn, in your chest. The acid may also cause a lingering cough because of the irritation.
Coughing can cause the movement to press on the stomach causing more acid to run uphill that worsens the pain and suffering in the upper stomach and chest in a GERD patient.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a severe disease that must be treated urgently.A small pouch attached to the large intestine; appendix gets swollen. Starting from the appendicitis near the belly button, it moves to the lower right side of the abdomen.
Among the more traditional symptoms of appendicitis is the fact that this pain becomes exacerbated by movement, in both walking and jumping, and coughing in particular. In case of such kind of pain, and in case you have any other symptoms such as fever, nausea and vomiting, you should call an ambulance immediately.
Kidney Stones and Gallstones
Kidney stones as well as gallstones may lead to severe pain that may be exacerbated by coughing. You can experience an immense level of intensity of pain due to kidney stones and gallstones at the time of coughing. Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits in the kidneys. Kidney stone can be painful and is usually experienced in the lower abdomen, but it starts in the back and sides.
Gallstones are the hardened deposits in the gallbladder. Immediate sharp pain in the upper right side of the abdomen may occur as a result of a gallbladder attack. The vigorous act of coughing in both instances may subject the affected organs to pressure, causing pain to escalate.
Diverticulitis and Pancreatitis
Diverticulitis is a disease in which small holes in the colon become inflamed or infected. You may experience pain in the lower left side of the abdomen that gets worse while coughing. The pain may also occur from pancreatitis, characterized by the inflammation of pancreas.
It makes your upper abdomen more painful, particularly after you eat or lay down. Such pain is exacerbated due to the pressure and strain exerted on organs of the abdomen by coughing. A medical expert should also be contacted in case you suspect any of the said conditions.
What to Do for the Pain at Home
If your stomach pain from coughing is mild and you are certain it is not a medical emergency, there are several steps you can take to find relief.
Immediate Relief
The most that you can do for a tight abdomen muscle is to take some rest. Avoid straining activities. Your sore muscles can be relaxed by applying a warm compress or a heating pad to your abdomen, that can also relieve your pain. General muscle relaxation can be achieved with a hot bath, as well.
Managing the Underlying Cough
It is necessary to manage the pain due to coughing. The pain due to coughing should be managed in a very convenient way. By staying hydrated and using warm fluids such as water or tea, you can minimize your irritation with the help of thin mucus. Natural products like honey can also help you treat sore throats.
Use of Pain Relieving Medications
Your muscle soreness and general pain can easily be reduced with the use of pain killer medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. To manage your dry or persistent cough, you can also use cough suppressants. While using medicines, you should be careful regarding their usage instructions and expiry date.
FAQs
Is it normal to have lower abdominal pain when coughing?
Yes, it is normal if you are feeling pain in your lower abdomen while coughing. Actually, the large muscles in this region of the abdomen contract strongly due to coughing that leads to muscular pain.
Can coughing cause a hernia?
Coughing is not the direct causative agent of hernia, but persistent or violent cough can lead to this disease. The extra pressure and strain on weak muscle walls of the abdomen due to coughing, helps in formation or exacerbation of hernia.
Why does my stomach hurt when I cough despite not having a fever?
The fever is characterized by an infection in the body, but the causes of stomach pain like coughing , muscle strain, or gas have nothing to do with the infection. Therefore, you can experience stomach ache even without any fever.
What should I do if the pain is severe or persistent?
Acute or persistent pain may be a sign of something more serious. In case of severe, persistent or other alarming symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor. You can always consult a doctor, in case you are worried.
Can stomach pain from coughing be a sign of something serious?
Although it is simply caused by muscle strain most of the time, pain in the stomach because of coughing can be a symptom of a serious health issue like appendicitis, kidney stones or a hernia in very rare cases. Other symptoms should be noted and you should consult a doctor in case of any uncertainties.
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