Pain in the costal arch due to coughing during pregnancy
Pain in the costal arch due to coughing usually occurs in the second half of the pregnancy. The reason for this is that the baby is getting bigger and bigger and the abdominal muscles, which often originate at the costal arch, are stretched extremely. This results in pain due to musculoskeletal problems in the form of tension and stretching pain in the region of the costal arch.
In addition, internal organs can cause pain due to tension and pressure, since on the one hand there is generally less space in the abdominal cavity and on the other hand the little space becomes even narrower due to severe coughing and the resulting contraction.Especially during pregnancy, one should be careful and pay attention to signals from the body, such as pain in the costal arch. If the pain persists or increases during coughing, it is essential to consult a gynecologist. On the one hand, a cough often indicates a bacterial or viral infection, which should be treated accordingly during pregnancy, and on the other hand possible complications during pregnancy must be excluded.
This includes for example the so-called “HELLP syndrome“. Typical here is an enlarged liver, which causes tension pain under the right costal arch. Further characteristics of the HELLP syndrome are elevated liver values and reduced platelet levels.
Pain in the costal arch due to coughing and sneezing
Whether the pain occurs when coughing or sneezing has little power to distinguish what is ultimately the cause of the pain. Coughing and sneezing both have the effect of contracting (contracting) the trunk muscles. This compresses the soft tissue, causing pain when certain organs become inflamed, injured or enlarged. Fractures that hurt less at rest can also irritate surrounding nerves when the muscles contract, causing severe pain. In both cases, there is evidence that musculoskeletal causes are considered to be the trigger for pain in the costal arch.
