Pain associated with alcohol
Alcohol has no direct influence on the diaphragm. Therefore, chronic consumption of alcohol does not cause primary damage to the diaphragm in the long term. However, other diseases and symptoms associated with pain in the diaphragm can be favored by a high consumption of alcohol.
As is generally known, alcohol mainly damages the liver, which can lead to so-called cirrhosis of the liver, resulting in an enlarged liver. Enlargement of the liver carries an increased risk of diaphragmatic hypertension, which can be accompanied by pain. In addition, if you have a reflux disease or a diaphragmatic hernia, in which there is frequent passage of stomach contents in addition to the passage of the intestine, you should avoid alcohol consumption if possible. This is because alcohol increases the production of gastric acid, so that symptoms such as heartburn become worse.
Pain in the diaphragm during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the uterus expands upwards due to the growth of the child, which means that the abdominal cavity becomes larger at the expense of the chest cavity. As a consequence, the diaphragm can no longer expand and move completely. This can lead to symptoms such as pain in the area of the diaphragm and also the back, as well as a feeling of fullness.
In addition, a slight breathing disorder may occur because the diaphragm can no longer support breathing to the usual extent and the lungs may not be able to expand completely. Furthermore, during pregnancy there is an increased risk of diaphragmatic hernia (= diaphragmatic hernia) and diaphragmatic hypertension due to the increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. Both can cause severe pain.
What to do?
Often, in order to treat diaphragmatic pain, an underlying disease or accompanying circumstances such as pregnancy or liver disease must be taken into account. Thus, in the case of diaphragmatic hypertension, for example, it can take longer before the pain can be reduced. In the case of diaphragmatic inflammation, antibiotics are usually used because the inflammation is often caused by a bacterial infection.
For the symptomatic treatment of diaphragmatic pain, light painkillers, which are freely available without prescription in pharmacies, can be used. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are particularly suitable for this. However, the doctor often prescribes a specific painkiller.
In the case of a psychological cause, psychotherapy has proven to be helpful. Therapy for a diaphragmatic hernia depends on whether the stomach has also been traversed through the hernial orifice in sections. In this case, a surgical repositioning is sometimes necessary. Otherwise, a purely symptomatic therapy and a prevention of the resulting reflux (backflow of gastric acid into the esophagus) is usually sufficient.
