Diaphragritis is basically an inflammation of muscles in the area of the diaphragm. The inflammation of the muscles usually assumes a localized extent.
What is diaphragritis?
In modern medicine, the diaphragm is given a particularly high degree of importance. For this reason, diaphragmatitis can sometimes assume life-threatening proportions. Anatomically, the diaphragm consists of both muscles and tendons. The appearance of the diaphragm resembles that of a flat plate. This plate separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. In addition, the diaphragm is largely responsible for the breathing process. In the context of diaphragmatitis, the breathing of the affected person can be significantly impaired. It is not uncommon for diaphragmatitis to be accompanied by a diaphragmatic hernia.
Causes
Diaphragmatitis occurs relatively rarely these days. Nevertheless, a particularly high level of attention is given to research into possible causes. According to leading experts, both infectious diseases and mental illnesses are considered a possible cause of the occurrence of diaphragmatitis. For example, infectious trichinosis can cause significant damage to the diaphragm. Provided there is an underlying psychological cause, the nerves in the diaphragm may be irritated to a particularly high degree. In the first stage of the disease, this irritation leads to more or less severe hiccups. In most cases, diaphragmatitis appears as a result of organic deficiencies. For example, if the stomach has become severely dislocated, gastric acid may leak out and irritate the diaphragm to a particularly high degree. Determining the underlying causes is fundamentally essential. This is the only way to treat diaphragmatitis as reliably as possible.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Diaphragmatitis is characterized by very characteristic symptoms. The main symptom manifests as severe pain when breathing. This may progress to shortness of breath. Furthermore, there is an unpleasant feeling of pressure on the costal arch. This pressure increases when coughing, talking or laughing. The pain may also radiate to the shoulders. If the mobility of the diaphragm is restricted, the pressure on the abdominal organs increases. As a result, upper abdominal pain and bloating may be added to the diaphragmatic pain. In addition, fever and further coughing fits are often observed. Sometimes a full-blown diaphragmatitis is also preceded by hiccups. In these cases, there are many indications that the inflammation of the diaphragm is caused by infection with trichinae (threadworms). Cough is also one of the typical symptoms of diaphragmatitis. This can occur both as a trigger and as a consequence of the disease. Chronic coughing caused by smoking or during a persistent cold often irritates the diaphragm to the point that it becomes inflamed. However, inflammation of the diaphragm caused by other causes also often produces a cough. Chronic coughing from diaphragritis puts additional stress on the diaphragm. This is because it tightens with each coughing attack. This makes the pain even worse. However, in addition to the diaphragm muscles, the respiratory muscles are also affected.
Diagnosis and course
Provided that there is an initial suspicion of diaphragmatitis, an expert physician should be consulted as soon as possible. First of all, the patient’s specific symptoms are determined during an initial interview. Following the initial medical interview, the patient’s body is thoroughly examined. A special focus is placed on the chest during the examination. Among other things, the lungs are listened to and the chest is palpated in detail. In order to be able to substantiate an initial suspicion, an X-ray image is ordered following the initial examination. The use of further imaging procedures can concretize an initial suspicion of diaphragmatitis. To be able to clearly determine the extent of the inflammation, a blood sample must be taken from the patient.Extensive determination of the leukocytes present in the blood provides an initial indication of the extent of the diaphragmatic inflammation.
Complications
A typical complication of diaphragmatitis is thickening of the pleural sheets due to the inflammatory processes. This so-called pleural rash usually results in restricted lung development and, consequently, reduced respiratory volume. In addition, there is a risk of suppuration of the pleura, which can lead to pneumonia. If this remains untreated, it can lead to death in the worst case. Furthermore, the typical accompanying symptoms – i.e. irritable cough, sputum and pain – can develop into serious complications. If irritable cough is not treated promptly, it can lead to further irritation of the lungs and occasionally to serious injury. Sputum is generally not problematic, but it represents a focus of illness and thus increases the risk of droplet infection. Treatment of diaphragmitis is usually relatively risk-free. The antibiotics prescribed may cause side effects under certain circumstances and lead, for example, to prolonged headaches, gastrointestinal complaints and skin irritations. Painkillers and antitussive medications pose similar risks. If a chest tube is placed, there is a risk of arterial, venous and nerve injury. This can cause permanent discomfort in the affected skin area. Infections and serious muscle injuries also cannot be ruled out with such a procedure.
When should you see a doctor?
Pain or irregularity in breathing should always be presented to a physician. These are warning signals from the body that should be followed up immediately. If states of anxiety, insomnia or inner turmoil set in due to the difficulty of breathing, the affected person needs medical attention. A doctor must be consulted to make a diagnosis, as only through various medical tests can the cause of the condition be found. In case of recurrent or prolonged hiccups, a doctor should also be consulted. Hiccups are a characteristic signal of an existing inflammation of the diaphragm. Fever, a feeling of pressure in the chest or pain in the upper abdomen should also be presented to a physician. If existing health impairments when talking, laughing or coughing increase to an immense extent, a doctor is needed. If there are behavioral abnormalities, a refusal to eat and apathy, there is cause for concern. A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible if pain occurs during respiratory activity. Do not take any analgesic medication until you have consulted a doctor. There is a risk of secondary diseases or complications developing. These should be avoided if possible. A feeling of fullness, loss of appetite, and impaired locomotion are among the other complaints that should be presented to a physician.
Treatment and therapy
In terms of therapy for diaphragritis, various antibiotics have proven to be extremely effective. However, because diaphragritis is accompanied in most cases by a more or less severe cough], it is not uncommon for a cough syrup to be used to relieve symptoms. To relieve pain, patients are advised to take a prescription pain reliever at regular intervals. As part of treatment, patients should always allow themselves a high degree of rest. If a patient is resistant to the antibiotics used, enzyme therapy is considered as another therapeutic procedure. This naturopathic treatment method uses certain proteins to treat diaphragmatitis. In addition, the use of the individual proteins can be particularly effective in supporting the patient’s metabolism. Enzyme therapy can also be used as a supplement to therapy with antibiotics. Despite the numerous therapeutic procedures, potentially at-risk individuals in particular should actively prevent diaphragmatitis.
Prevention
To prevent diaphragmatitis, leading physicians recommend consistent performance of regular checkups. Possible psychological causes, which often result in irritation of the nerves, can not infrequently be treated within the framework of extensive psychotherapy.With regard to a possible infection with bacterial pathogens, there are no effective protective mechanisms to date. Strong defenses can nevertheless strengthen the body’s own protective mechanisms.
Follow-up
Follow-up care proves relatively difficult in most cases of diaphragmitis. For this reason, the person affected by this disease should see a doctor as early as possible and, in doing so, also initiate treatment so that complications or other complaints do not arise in the person affected in the further course of the disease. The sooner treatment is initiated, the better the further course of this disease often is. As a rule, diaphragmatitis cannot heal itself. Most sufferers are dependent on taking various medications to alleviate the symptoms. The affected person should always ensure that the medication is taken regularly and in the correct dosage in order to counteract the symptoms properly. If there are any uncertainties or questions, a doctor should be contacted. Likewise, when taking antibiotics, it should be noted that they should not be taken together with alcohol. After treatment of diaphragmatitis, regular check-ups by a doctor continue to be necessary to detect other damage at an early stage. If the disease is detected early, it does not reduce the patient’s life expectancy in most cases.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Medical treatment of diaphragmatitis can be supported by bed rest and a gentle diet. Against the pain, for example, warm compresses or cooling compresses are recommended. Herbal teas alleviate the symptoms and improve well-being. In addition, those affected should rest and watch out for unusual symptoms. Sports should be avoided until the inflammation has subsided. The diaphragmatitis should have largely subsided within a few days. The doctor must then be consulted again. The patient should make notes about any symptoms beforehand and inform the physician extensively about the current constitution. This will facilitate the prognosis and further treatment steps. If the course is positive, no further self-help measures are necessary. The patient only needs to take it easy for a few more days until the inflammation has completely subsided. If the symptoms recur, regular check-ups are indicated. If necessary, psychotherapy is also useful to prevent irritation of the nerves. General measures that strengthen the body’s defenses also help. These include exercise and a healthy diet. In addition, harmful stimuli such as cold drafts or rapid changes between cold and heat should be avoided. In consultation with the doctor, alternative treatment methods such as a visit to the sauna or remedies from Chinese medicine can be tried.
