Therapy

The therapy of cough and also of pain when coughing depends on the underlying cause. If cough and pain are caused by an inflammation of lung tissue, antibiotics are administered. Inhaling can also provide relief. Cough-relieving medication, on the other hand, has no effect on the cause of the cough, but centrally suppresses the coughing irritation. They should only be taken after consultation with the doctor and only in the case of a dry, irritable cough.

Prophylaxis

Smoking is an important reason for chronic cough. For the prevention of coughing, it is particularly advisable not to start or stop smoking in the first place. Too dry room air can also promote the occurrence of coughs. A balanced lifestyle with a healthy diet and regular exercise strengthens the body’s own defense system and thus protects against colds and coughs.

Forms of pain

Pain in the area of the ribs can be attributed to a variety of causes. Even a pronounced and prolonged cough can lead to rib pain as a result of strain on the rib muscles and respiratory muscles. In the event of very severe pain in the rib area, a possible rib contusion and rib fracture should be ruled out.

Rib fractures due to a pronounced cough are rather rare.Therefore, in the case of a cough-related rib fracture, it should be examined whether the fractured rib was previously intact, or whether the rib was previously affected by a bone disease or bone metastasis and was therefore unstable. Pain in the area of the ribs caused by coughing and caused by muscular tension does not require special treatment. Home remedies, such as the application of arnica oil or warming compresses can provide relief from the agonizing pain.

In addition, it is important to take care to prevent pain-related respiration, as this increases the risk of pneumonia. If there is a cough-related rib contusion or even a broken rib, painkillers such as ibuprofen must be used because of the usually severe pain. In addition, respiratory therapy is recommended in order to counteract pain-related respiration as best as possible.

Respiratory pain in the thorax and also when coughing can also be caused by pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura), the duration of which can vary greatly depending on its severity. However, coughing is not the cause of the pain, but rather the rubbing together of the two inflamed pleura (pleura and lung). In addition to the pain during inhalation and exhalation, a “leather creaking” can be heard when the examining doctor listens to the cough.

Other non-specific symptoms that indicate pleurisy inflammation are fever, shortness of breath and cough. In the course of a humid form of pleurisy (pleuritis exsudativa), the pain may also be absent. and pain at the costal arch due to coughingIf right-sided pain occurs when coughing, this can be triggered by various causes.

The pain can be caused by an injury to the ribs (contusion or fracture) or by a disease of organs in the area of the right rib cage or the upper abdomen. Examples include right-sided pneumonia (pneumonia), possibly accompanied by inflammation of the pleura, or isolated pleuritis. In addition to right-sided pain when coughing, patients with pneumonia complain of other complaints such as increased body temperature, fatigue, aching limbs and coughing, possibly with sputum.

A rare cause of unilateral pain when coughing is an obstruction of a pulmonary vessel, a so-called pulmonary artery embolism (LAE). In many cases, however, this too is accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnoea), haemoptysis, tachycardia or even unconsciousness. However, pulmonary artery embolism usually results in deep vein thrombosis of the leg.

In addition to these diseases, right-sided pain is mainly caused by diseases of the liver, gall bladder or colon. Depending on the diseased organ, the affected person may experience further symptoms. For example, an acute inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) causes colicky pain, fever, possibly with accompanying chills and nausea and vomiting.

If the large intestine is involved, those affected also complain about changes in stool behaviour or a feeling of flatulence. In the case of acute, pronounced and/or persistent right-sided pain when coughing, a doctor should be consulted who should exclude the above-mentioned reasons as a cause of pain, depending on the further symptoms. If there is pain on the left side when coughing, this can be caused by various factors.

The pain can be caused by an injury to the ribs (contusion or even a fracture) or by a disease of organs in the area of the left rib cage or the upper abdomen. These include, for example, left-sided pneumonia, possibly with an accompanying inflammation of the pleura, or isolated pleuritis. In addition to left-sided pain when coughing, patients with pneumonia complain of other complaints such as increased body temperature, fatigue, aching limbs and coughing, possibly with sputum.

A rare cause of unilateral pain when coughing is an obstruction of a pulmonary vessel, a so-called pulmonary artery embolism (LAE).In many cases, however, this too is accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnoea), coughing up blood (haemoptysis), tachycardia or even unconsciousness. However, pulmonary artery embolism usually results in deep vein thrombosis of the leg. The spleen, an organ in the left upper abdomen below the diaphragm, can also cause left-sided pain when coughing.

Various infections or diseases can cause the organ to become enlarged, which is called splenomegaly in medical jargon. This enlargement causes a stretching of the spleen capsule, which can then cause pain below the left costal arch. In addition, an occlusion of a blood vessel in the spleen (splenic infarction) leads to considerable pain during breathing or even during coughing.

Other organs such as the heart, the pancreas or the stomach can cause left-sided pain in rare cases. A doctor should also be consulted in the case of pronounced and/or persistent left-sided pain when coughing, who should exclude the above-mentioned reasons as a cause of pain, depending on the further symptoms. Otherwise, complications such as pleurisy, pneumonia, pulmonary artery embolism or diseases of other organs can occur.

In humans, the upper abdomen (epigastrium) is located between the costal arches and the navel. The following organs are located in the upper abdomen: stomach, pancreas, liver and gall bladder, duodenum, spleen, aorta and, depending on their location, parts of the small and large intestine. Due to this large number of organs in the upper abdomen, it is understandable that pain in the upper abdomen can be caused by a wide variety of diseases and that careful clarification of the symptoms is therefore indicated.

Typically, pain in the upper abdomen is caused by inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). However, the pain is not related to the cough. If coughing causes pain in the upper abdomen, it can also be caused by pneumonia.

Pneumonia is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath and aching limbs. Frequently an inflammation of the lung tissue develops from a previous infection. The term abdomen is a colloquial term for the pelvic organs.

The pelvic organs include the rectum and the bladder (Vesica urinaria). In women, the ovaries (ovaries), the uterus and the vagina are also included. In men, the prostate gland is one of the organs in the abdomen.

Due to this anatomical difference, abdominal pain can have different causes in men and women. The pain caused by a so-called hernia, i.e. a hernia of the intestine, is typically associated with coughing. A hernia involves the passage of abdominal viscera through an opening, which is usually located in the abdominal wall.

The most common site of a hernia is in the groin, where it can usually be felt well with the hands. The pain symptoms vary, so that some patients have no complaints at all, while others complain of severe pain. Inflammation of the urinary tract is also a common cause of abdominal pain.

An inflammation of the urinary tract can also cause an increase in body temperature in addition to the pain. Pain in the lower abdomen occurs mainly when urinating and can be aggravated by coughing. Diseases of other organs located in the abdomen can also cause pain in this region.

In most cases, coughing is not the cause of the pain, but it can increase the pain symptoms. A medical consultation for abdominal cough pain is especially advisable if the pain is severe and/or persists over a long period of time. A visit to a doctor is also advisable for other symptoms such as fever.