Painful cough - causes and treatment

Pain in coughing causes and therapy

Coughing is not a disease, but a symptom of various diseases. Most of these diseases have in common that the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract are irritated. Very often it is a bronchitis - here the mucous membranes of the bronchi are inflamed. Coughing in bronchitis is usually accompanied by chest pain.

contents

• Pain in coughing causes and therapy
• Why does the ribcage hurt??
• Why are we coughing??
• What causes the chest pain?
• Risks in acute bronchitis
• tuberculosis
• Bloody cough - a late symptom
• lung cancer
• Full moon face
• Crooked bones
• The diaphragm
• aching
• The inflammation of the diaphragm
• Cough and diaphragm
• back pain
• Laryngitis
• Laryngitis in infants
• Inflammation of the epiglottis
• Home remedies for laryngitis
• What is the doctor doing??
• Throat and throat pain
• Other diseases
• diphtheria

Why does the ribcage hurt??

Acute bronchitis usually follows the infection with a virus. The main symptom is cough. Initially, the cough remains dry, and the chest hurts when coughing, later the affected cough secretions of bronchial mucous membranes. The infection affects the lower respiratory tract, including the bronchi, bronchioles, branches of the trachea, and sometimes the trachea itself.

Painful cough is usually associated with bronchitis, but can also have many other causes. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

The messengers of the infection irritate the mucous membranes. These react to the stimulus, and this manifests as a cough. At the beginning of the infection, no secretion has formed, and the cough is dry. In the further course, secretion forms to ward off the infection, the cough dissolves.
Other signs of bronchitis include body aches, fever, runny nose, throat and headache. The affected feel also beaten off.

Why are we coughing??

Cough, strictly speaking, is not a symptom of a disease, but the body's attempt to fight a disease. The Hustreflex serves to remove harmful substances such as foreign bodies, mucus or pathogens from the organism. The mucous membranes have sensors that trigger the cough. If they perceive a corresponding stimulus, they pass on the impulse to the brain, and that starts the "command" to cough.

After a deep inhalation, the larynx closes and the respiratory muscles block. This creates a high pressure on the bronchi and larynx. When this pressure is released, we suddenly release air - with the help of the diaphragm, back and abdominal muscles.

What causes the chest pain?

The pressure on the larynx and respiratory muscles, the tension of the back and abdominal muscles and the work of the diaphragm severely strain the body. With occasional cough we can handle such an effort. On the other hand, with bronchitis we cough almost continuously - the muscles are overloaded and this is shown in chest pain.

Bronchitis can cause pneumonia, which is a risk that should not be underestimated and is also accompanied by a painful cough. (Image: artstudio_pro / fotolia.com)

Risks in acute bronchitis

Bronchitis alone is an uncomfortable but not dangerous disease. However, with acute bronchitis, the infection can spread to the lungs and trigger far more dangerous pneumonia. Another danger is hypersensitivity of the bronchial system, which develops as a result of bronchitis.

A special risk of having to suffer from such consequences are infants, the elderly, smokers and people with chronic pre-existing conditions. People with immunodeficiency are at risk of developing pneumonia or chronic bronchitis because their body does not have enough defenses to stop bronchitis before the inflammation expands. Those who belong to these risk groups should seek promptly a doctor in case of an infection of the bronchi. In contrast, people with a stable immune system are a disease that goes away by itself after a few days.

Pay attention to the chest pain. Although these also belong to a "normal" bronchitis. But if they occur unilaterally and at the same time in strong intensity and they also arise when breathing, then this indicates a dry inflammation of the pleura.

tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is hardly common in Germany today. Until a few decades ago, however, "hemoptysis" was one of the most widespread and permanently fatal diseases. The trigger is a mycobacterium, which probably adapted to humans from the beginning of the livestock breeding of livestock, becoming first endemic and finally epidemic. Anyone who suffers from lung tuberculosis spreads these pathogens with moist pronunciation, sneezing or coughing. If a healthy person inhales the bacteria, inflammation in the lungs often develops, but usually heals itself in a few weeks.

However, TBC pathogens are also transmitted via the digestive tract, via open wounds, or in the case of Mycobacterium bovis, even via cow's milk. However, these infections are very rare. Already the ancient physician Hippocrates described a plague, which he called "Dahinsiechen" and called as symptoms cough, bloody sputum and increasing loss of body weight. This was most probably lungs tuberculosis.

Pulmonary tuberculosis used to be a relatively labored condition, with painful, bloody coughing being one of the most obvious symptoms. (Image: Henrie / fotolia.com)

Bloody cough - a late symptom

Pulmonary tuberculosis often progresses without early symptoms. Then the sweat breaks out at night, followed by a slight fever and then a heavy and painful cough with bloody sputum. A hemorrhage can follow. Those affected lose their appetite and weight. This is why tuberculosis was once called consumption, because the patients "disappeared" physically. The tuberculosis sufferer Dentist, alcoholic and gunman Doc Holiday is said to have been so thin that his opponents could not hit him in the duel. The lung TBC runs untreated for years. For a long time the symptoms are gone, then they reappear. Without therapy, this infection often leads to death.

Particularly at risk are AIDS patients who have no defenses. Not only does Mycobacterium easily become implanted in them, they also die frequently from the onset of TB. Patients taking medication that suppress their immune system, prisoners in prison, the elderly, the homeless and the dysfunctional, infants whose defense systems are not yet fully developed, and people living in Third World slums, slums in the Balkans, have similar problems and especially war refugees in camps.

lung cancer

Lung cancer in the early stages often causes no or barely perceptible symptoms. In addition, these symptoms include a wide and unspecific spectrum - they also occur in other diseases. The signs of lung cancer vary depending on the location, size and spread of the tumor in the lungs and thorax.

A primary tumor in the lungs manifests itself with the following symptoms: painful, recurrent cough, associated with the coughing and vomiting of blood-borne secretions. Complaints of swallowing, sore throat and hoarseness. Weakness in the arms and water retention in the pleura. Coughing comes with shortness of breath, which can lead to fainting due to lack of oxygen, as well as a hissing sound when breathing.

It would be downright fatal to regard the absence of a painful coughing as the all-clear. The cough does not develop until the tumor has already grown - it may even be absent. Other symptoms, on the other hand, link very few people with lung cancer. Particularly vulnerable people are therefore well advised to undergo a check-up without already suffering from symptoms. The main risk groups are smokers over 40 and people who have been exposed to carcinogens.

Painful cough can also occur in connection with lung cancer, but this is usually only in the later stages of the disease. (Image: blueringmedia / fotolia.com)

Full moon face

Other signs of lung cancer usually do not recognize those affected, because they have no obvious connection to the lungs. Hormones, for example, cause cancerous changes in the entire body, before a tumor can be localized by X-ray imaging. For example, the body produces more glucocorticoids, and sufferers "fatigue" in the face and trunk, they get a "full moon face" and her upper body ufert.

Those affected may question their lifestyle, change their diet, reduce alcohol intake, do more exercise, or even think that "obesity" goes hand in hand with age. While a healthy lifestyle in overweight as a result of lack of exercise, sugar and high-fat diet and sedentary work makes sense, it costs valuable time in lung cancer: namely, the carcinoma, it is "does not matter", if I drive an hour in the morning bicycle.

Crooked bones

Tumors also form the hormone vasopressin. The result: The blood gets too little sodium, which can lead to brain edema. Affected suffer from dizziness and feel disoriented. We also do not associate such confusion with lung cancer because there are countless other physical and mental illnesses that manifest themselves in a similar way - from circulatory problems to thyroid problems and stress.

Tumors sometimes alter the skeleton, and the finger tips swell. While we quickly think of lung cancer when we have a bloody cough, we would expect rheumatism or gout to be more common in those problems with the bones.

The diaphragm

The diaphragm is our most important respiratory muscle and reserved for mammals. It is about four millimeters thick plate of muscles and tendons, which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. In the center of this organ runs a tendon base. The muscle contraction of the diaphragm creates a negative pressure that compresses the abdominal organs and thus creates a free space for the inhaled air. That's why the diaphragm is always in work. The diaphragm supports the lungs, providing the body with the necessary oxygen.

aching

Diaphragm pains can have serious causes and even endanger life if the diaphragm fails. Often, however, it is a simple sore muscle. Especially when inhaling, we use the diaphragm. For example, we overburden it when we talk for a long time without breaks, when we have a laugh attack or when we sing extensively.

Nevertheless, we should not take pain in the diaphragm when coughing lightly. For example, if the diaphragm hurts from constant coughing during bronchitis, it can be a sore muscle. The pain we feel like inhaling when coughing is then comparable to the pain of getting out of bed in the morning after a long canoe ride without previous training. It may also have inflamed the diaphragm itself, or, worse, a fracture of the diaphragm present.

The inflammation of the diaphragm

The diaphragm can catch fire. Usually the pain associated with coughing attacks disappears when the coughing disease is over. But a sore muscle consists of the smallest injuries in the muscle tissue. If this injured tissue is now inflamed, it causes a diaphragmatic inflammation.

However, an infection of the diaphragm can also have completely different causes: If the stomach moves into the chest, and the diaphragm comes into contact with gastric acid, the stimulus from the acid is the cause of the inflammation. The main symptoms of diaphragmatic inflammation are breathing difficulties as the main symptom, while painful coughing as a result of bronchitis puts less of a focus on respiratory problems. Also typical are: fever, body aches, general malaise, pressure on the lower ribs while breathing, talking or laughing. The pain in coughing is especially evident in these lower ribs.

Cough and diaphragm

If muscle pain in the diaphragm occurs in the course of a coughing disease, this is not a cause for concern, but an almost inevitable consequence of the overloading of the muscle fibers. However, if no coughing secretion occurs and if cracks in the muscle fibers can be ruled out, there may be a serious cause. Please go to the internist promptly! For example, it could be a systemic muscle disease, sarcoidosis, or inclusion body myositis - all three symptoms are not joking.

As a result of the stress on the muscles during coughing, there is often also pain in the back area. (Image: blackday / fotolia.com)

back pain

A strong cough for a long time can also lead to back pain, because the back muscles become tense. As with muscle soreness in the diaphragm, these symptoms also go back when the coughing laps.

Laryngitis

The common term laryngitis is a bit misleading, as it is usually an acute or chronic inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. These mucous membranes often become infected in the context of a cold. Pathogens such as viruses penetrate from the nose and throat, sometimes also from the bronchi or trachea to the larynx. Typical symptoms are hoarseness, a dry feeling in the throat and coughing.

The cause is mostly viruses, sometimes associated with a bacterial infection. But also very cold, very warm or dry air and an excessive load of the voice (screaming) can lead to such an inflammation, just as strong smoking.

An acute laryngitis causes the mucous membrane of the larynx to swell up. Those affected are barely able to breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath or even fainting are the result. The vocal folds can move only a little, and this leads to hoarseness. There are also sore throats, swallowing symptoms and a typical cough that is perceived as "barking". This cough becomes painful, above all, because it exerts pressure on the hypersensitive mucous membranes due to the inflammation.

Highest alert is required if they permanently cough up green mucus and blood and / or stay hoarse for three weeks or longer. Be sure to go to the doctor! It could be throat cancer.

Painful cough is also found in laryngitis, which can be dangerous especially for small children. (Image: Henrie / fotolia.com)

Laryngitis in infants

Laryngitis in young children is more dramatic than in adults: their larynx is still small, and because of this, the swelling quickly causes respiratory distress. If there is a viral infection, we speak of pseudo-group in children under three years old. At night, the children are shaken in a laryngitis of cough cramps, which usually lead to sore muscles in the chest area. This coughing aggravates when the children suffering from respiratory distress panic.

The best thing is to instantly put the child into a damp environment, for example, in the bathroom, and then turn on the shower or prepare a steam bath - the humidified airways then calm the cough.

Inflammation of the epiglottis

The lack of painful coughing may also indicate a disease, namely a rare but severe inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis). The affected children have high fever and severe pain when swallowing, the saliva runs out of the mouth and they speak as if they have "a frog in their throat".

From pseudo-squat, such an epiglottitis can be differentiated above all because the affected are neither cough nor hoarse. But the mucous membrane on the epiglottis often swells so much that breathing is not possible. So you have to go immediately to the doctor with your child. It can ensure free breathing through cortisone.

Home remedies for laryngitis

For viral infections, home remedies are generally only useful to relieve symptoms. In laryngitis, this means:
1) Save her voice. Stress during inflammation can even cause her voice to irreversibly be damaged.

2) Drink a lot, whether water or tea does not matter. It is about keeping the mucous membranes moist and thus stopping the coughing.

3) Be sure to stop smoking during the inflammation.

4) Avoid particularly cold, warm or dry air. Instead, make sure your home is well-ventilated. For example, put water bowls on the running heater, hang wet towels in the room, run a nebulizer, or sprinkle your houseplants with a compressed air water pump.

What is the doctor doing??

If the symptoms are so severe that you need to go to the doctor, they will presumably give you cortisone for a short time so that the mucous membranes can subside and the air flow can flow again. In acute respiratory distress, they may need to be artificially ventilated via a tube that leads into the trachea. For the painful cough, the doctor often prescribes a cough suppressant and expectorant medicines to improve coughing.

In an inflammation in the throat and throat, any cough is usually pain. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Throat and throat pain

An inflammation of the tonsils, a reddened throat, a cold that causes a sore throat - all this can be accompanied by a painful cough. A pharyngitis shows with a scratch in the throat, problems with swallowing, a painful cough and especially a foul bad breath.

Almond inflammation is usually a double infection - the virus infection is followed by an infection with bacteria. The main symptoms are the severe sore throat, which can extend to the ears. These are often associated with high fever. Every touch of the neck and tonsils, every swallow, even pressure to breathe causes great pain in the infected areas. That's why coughing is especially painful in this disease.

Other diseases

The list of diseases associated with painful cough is long. These include flu in various variants, various lung diseases, glandular fever, scarlet fever or even diphtheria.

diphtheria

Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Its poison causes pain in the throat and difficulty swallowing, weakness and fever. Typical is a bad breath that reminds of decaying corpses. The bacteria can attack the larynx. Then barking coughing, hoarseness and breathlessness are the result. Diphteria vaccines are the norm in Germany. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)