Train diaphragm

The diaphragm (diaphragm) is needed when we speak, especially when we speak louder or scream. The diaphragm is also very important for singers, but also for flute players or wind players in general. These use the diaphragm constantly in the form of abdominal breathing and therefore need a well-trained diaphragm.

To train the diaphragm it is therefore most important to train abdominal breathing. Especially during stress, many patients forget to pay attention to a steady and calm d, instead they only breathe into the thorax. However, it is important to train abdominal breathing and thus the diaphragm, as this prevents constipation and can also prevent diaphragmatic hernia.

A very good exercise is to lie flat on your back, relax completely and put your hands on your stomach. Now you should breathe in and out deeply into the abdomen. This can be controlled with the hands lying on the stomach. When exhaling, the abdomen should become a little flatter, when inhaling the abdomen should bulge outwards. In order to be able to train the diaphragm in the office without lying flat on the floor in front of your colleague, you can also put your hands on your abdomen while sitting, with a straight back and a straight head, and try to breathe into the abdomen again, following the breathing movements.These two exercises should help to train the diaphragm and are especially important for musicians and singers.

Diaphragm inflammation

An infection, but also high psychological stress, can lead to diaphragmatitis. In general, diaphragmatitis is extremely rare, but since it is associated with severe pain and consequently severe limitations, it should not be underestimated. It is important to remember above all that diaphragmatitis rarely occurs as a primary disease, but is usually preceded by an infection or discomfort in the digestive tract (stomach and intestines).

Particularly in the case of the well-known heartburn (reflux esophagitis), the acidic stomach acid, which may come into contact with the diaphragm, can cause diaphragmatic irritation. This irritation makes the diaphragm much easier to be attacked by infectious pathogens and thus diaphragmatic inflammation can occur more quickly. Another, but extremely rare cause is the infestation with trichinae.

Trichinae are threadworms that enter the body, for example by eating raw meat, enter the diaphragm via the bloodstream and can cause diaphragmatic inflammation. The symptoms of diaphragmatic inflammation are characteristically always associated with severe diaphragmatic pain. Since the diaphragm is particularly needed for inhalation (inspiration), this is particularly painful.

In addition, laughing, coughing or even talking loudly can lead to stronger pain, so that the patients on the one hand breathe more shallowly and on the other hand often adopt a gentle position (slightly bent forward) to relieve the diaphragm. In addition to the pain, a fever can also rise, especially in the case of infection by parasites. Diaphragmatic inflammation can be diagnosed by imaging techniques, and it is also possible to take blood samples from the patient to determine the type of pathogens and the extent of the diaphragmatic infection. Depending on the cause of the infection, specific medication (anti-infectives) can be administered and, if necessary, painkillers so that the patient can breathe again without complaints and can also laugh and, above all, cough again without any problems, since the latter is a reflex that is sometimes vital.