Pain in the diaphragm

The diaphragm (diaphragm) is our most important respiratory auxiliary muscle and mainly supports inhalation (inspiration), since exhalation (expiration) is largely passive and does not require muscle support. Since the diaphragm also separates the abdomen (abdomen) with the complete digestive tract (gastrointestinal tract) from our chest (thorax), pain in the area of the diaphragm must always be taken seriously. In most cases, the pain has harmless causes.

Untrained singers may have overstrained their diaphragm due to an incorrect load, since the muscles of the diaphragm are used especially when singing. Even long-lasting laughing fits can possibly lead to pain in the diaphragm the next day. However, the pain should only occur for a short time and should be experienced as unpleasant rather than really painful.

If the pain in the diaphragm is more severe, it may be an inflammation of the diaphragm. Although this disease is extremely rare, it can occur as a result of an infection, due to a (partial) shifting of the stomach into the thorax and the resulting leakage of stomach acid in the area of the diaphragm, or due to psychological stress. In the latter case, it is usually the nerves that supply the diaphragm that are affected, leading to severe pain in the diaphragm area.

If the inflammation of the diaphragm is infectious, the pain in the diaphragm is usually accompanied by shortness of breath and problems with laughing and walking, fever, aching limbs and general malaise. Since the shortness of breath makes the patient very vulnerable, diaphragmatic inflammation in the late stage is a life-threatening disease. To contain the infection, the administration of antibiotics is usually recommended.

If the pain is very severe and restricts breathing, the patient should also take painkillers. In addition to diaphragmatic inflammation, however, a diaphragmatic hernia can also cause pain in the diaphragm. A diaphragmatic hernia is a weakness in the muscles or tendons of the diaphragm through which the digestive organs (usually the esophagus or intestines) are displaced into the chest.

This can lead to severe pain, shortness of breath, malaise, nausea and vomiting. Particularly in patients in whom the esophagus and stomach move further and further into the chest area, heartburn and frequent nausea occur. In most cases a diaphragmatic hernia does not need to be treated. Only if the problems become too severe, medication against heartburn (antacids, proton pump inhibitors etc) or, in case of doubt, surgery is recommended.