Right upper abdominal pain when coughing
Upper abdominal pain, which is right-sided and occurs exclusively when coughing, is usually muscular. If organic causes were at work, the pain would usually be permanent.Since numerous muscles are stretched between the ribs, coughing can lead to a kind of muscle strain, in this case in the area of the right upper abdomen, which then causes pain, especially when coughing. It would be important to pay attention to accompanying symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, etc., which would then rather speak against a muscular cause.
Nausea
Upper abdominal pain on the right side can be accompanied by nausea. The nausea is a negative sensation, which expresses itself with discomfort and the feeling of vomiting. Depending on the type of underlying disease, the nausea can be accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, headache, eye pain, dizziness, fever and cough.
After ingesting poisonous or spoiled food, nausea serves as a protective function of the body to get rid of the harmful food and is then often accompanied by vomiting and upper abdominal pain. However, nausea can also occur as a symptom of pathological processes. These include diseases of the abdominal organs (stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder and liver), infectious diseases, diseases or injuries of the brain (concussion, sunstroke or migraine), diseases of the inner ear and mental illness.
In addition, medication, food intolerances and food allergies, as well as excessive consumption of alcohol, can be triggers for nausea with or without vomiting. In women, nausea is also possible during the early stages of pregnancy. First of all, a detailed interview is conducted by the doctor.
Important questions are when exactly the nausea occurs, whether it occurs in connection with eating, which complaints accompany the nausea (vomiting, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, fever) and whether illnesses that lead to nausea have been diagnosed earlier. This is followed by a physical examination in which the abdomen is listened to and palpated. Often the diagnosis can then be made.
In addition, an ultrasound examination of the abdomen, an examination of the blood and urine of the affected person, a gastroscopy and a computer tomography (CT) of the head can be performed. There are various measures that can be considered for the treatment of nausea. In the foreground is the treatment of the underlying disease.
If the nausea is due to food intolerances or excessive consumption of food and beverages, in most cases a change in diet, a dietary break, and the avoidance of stimulants (alcohol) are sufficient. Medicines against nausea Medicines against nausea are also called antiemetics. In the case of nausea with severe vomiting, hospital admission may be necessary to compensate for the severe salt and water loss through infusions.
If upper abdominal pain occurs after eating, there are numerous possible causes. Firstly, diseases of the stomach, small intestine and gall bladder (see above on main page) can lead to upper abdominal pain after eating. On the other hand, post-meal upper abdominal pain is often caused by incorrect nutrition, food intolerances and allergies.
Foods that frequently cause upper abdominal pain after eating are flatulent foods, such as pulses, onions and cabbage. These foods lead to increased gas formation in the stomach or intestines, which can cause upper abdominal pain after eating. Even very fatty foods can cause pain in the upper abdomen immediately after eating.
But not only the food itself, but also the way in which the food is supplied plays a role in the development of upper abdominal pain. Always take care not to consume too large quantities in a hectic rush. Furthermore, it is important to drink enough to avoid constipation and an unpleasant feeling of fullness with pain in the upper abdomen after eating.
Some foods can cause intolerance reactions in some people, which in addition to upper abdominal pain after eating the food, often manifest themselves in complaints such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Examples are lactose intolerance, where lactose is not tolerated due to an enzyme deficiency, or fructose intolerance, where fruit sugar is not tolerated due to the lack of a transporter in the intestinal wall.If an intolerance reaction takes place after ingestion of a poisonous food (poisonous plants, bacterial toxins in raw food), this is called food poisoning. Food poisoning can cause severe pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as seizures and hallucinations.
Food allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to certain foods and thus a special form of food intolerance. After ingestion of the food, an allergic reaction occurs with symptoms such as itching and swelling of the skin and mucous membranes, possibly resulting in narrowing of the bronchi with shortness of breath, and severe upper abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. For example, an allergy to peanuts is widespread. In these cases, the best therapy is to avoid the food that causes the intolerance or allergic reaction. If diseases of the stomach, small intestine and gallbladder cause pain in the upper abdomen after eating, the treatment of these is the main focus.
