Coughing is not a separate disease, but just a symptom of any pathology. The reasons why a cough may occur are so many and often even hard to determine what exactly provoked it. If pain in the ribs, below, above, behind or in the front joins the cough, then this is a “bell” that it is necessary to urgently diagnose, find out the cause and begin treatment.
Most common reason
The most common reason why there is pain when coughing under the ribs includes infectious diseases.
If the diagnosis of bronchitis is established, then in the acute period there is a dry cough. Over time, it should turn into moist, with the simultaneous discharge of sputum. If measures were not taken to eliminate the infection from the body, and the cough turns into a chronic form, then this condition leads to overstrain of the diaphragm and, as a result, pain after coughing.
The second infectious disease that provokes cough pain is pleurisy. With such an ailment, the inflammatory process develops in the pleura, up to a change in its structure. In parallel with coughing, the patient has pain in the lungs, high fever and shortness of breath. This pathology requires immediate treatment in a medical institution.
Injuries and other diseases
As doctors explain, the second reason, after infectious and respiratory diseases, cough pains are injuries. Most often, this occurs against the background of destruction of the costal framework, as a result of which chest mobility is limited and pain appears.
Severe damage can cause the development of pneumothorax, that is, the accumulation of air in the pleural cavity. The condition is accompanied by acute pain in the sternum, shortness of breath.
Titz syndrome can also cause pain after coughing. Pathology is an inflammatory process in the cartilage, and the symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of a cardiological disease.
Pain on the right side
On the right side, a person also has many important organs. If coughing pain on the right under the ribs, then perhaps this is an already begun duodenal ulcer. A decrease in pain can be observed if a person lies on his stomach.
Pain can talk about hepatitis, in this case, the symptoms are supplemented by yellowing of the whites of the eyes. If everything is normal with the eyes, then gallstone disease or cholecystitis can be suspected.
Often, pain under the right rib during coughing can indicate problems with the cardiovascular system, in particular, the onset of myocardial infarction.
If the stomach has inflamed and enteritis has begun, then the pain appears mainly on the right. Chronic appendicitis also has similar symptoms.
Pain on the left side
If after coughing it hurts under the ribs, it is very important for a correct diagnosis to determine which side the unpleasant symptoms appear on. With injuries and the presence of neoplasms, pain can be observed from any side, depending on the lesion focus.
If we are talking about discomfort on the left side, then perhaps there are problems with the heart muscle, for example, insufficiency or prolapse of the mitral valve. Pain can indicate the onset of a heart attack. If the cause is pericarditis, then the pain may intensify when a person is lying down. At the same time, fever and shortness of breath can torment.
Often, pain occurs against a background of disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, namely, with an exacerbation of pancreatitis. If the cough is associated with a stomach ulcer, then the pain can intensify with a deep breath and exhale, with twists of the body. Similar symptoms appear when a tumor forms.
Also, pain under the left rib during coughing can talk about pathology in a separate section of the intestine on the left.
Pyelonephritis in the left kidney can cause pain when coughing.
Pain front and back
Pain in the chest area is also often evidence of heart problems or an onset of an abscess.
If coughing pain under the ribs in the front, then most likely these are heart problems. Perhaps this is confirmation of the shortening of the interpleural ligament, which occurs in the case of inflammatory processes in the pulmonary system.
If coughing hurts in the back under the ribs, then this most likely gives pain in the front, that is, an imaginary sensation. In this case, the discomfort spreads to the back, spine. However, back pain can also indicate disorders in the genitourinary, respiratory and nervous systems. Especially such pains are characteristic in the presence of pathologies with the spine or if there is a history of intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine. In this case, the pain intensifies during breathing.
Pain below
Why does coughing hurt under the ribs? This is due to the fact that the muscles of the diaphragm contract strongly , and when the cough is very frequent, the muscles get tired and begin to hurt. But it is these muscles that are located at the bottom of the ribs and are responsible for the cough reflex.
However, such a symptom cannot occur, as they say "from scratch", this condition must be preceded by certain events.
Diagnostics
If cough is not a consequence of a cold, then you should immediately consult a doctor. In particular, to a therapist who can prescribe an ultrasound of the internal organs, an MRI, CT scan or X-ray.
A cardiologist can also help, he will definitely prescribe an echocardiography. In any case, you will have to pass a number of tests.
An analysis of sputum and pleural contents will be required. Be sure to assign general tests: blood and urine.
For the period of the examination, it will be recommended to limit yourself from physical exertion and conduct a series of measures to mitigate coughing attacks.
Classical drug therapy
Traditional treatment is mainly aimed at improving the function of peripheral circulation. As a rule, are assigned:
- analgesics;
- drugs with a slight diuretic effect;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors.
Treatment is often supplemented by a course of vitamins and minerals to improve the body's defenses.
Along with taking medications, you should revise your diet and include to its maximum fruits, vegetables, dairy products and protein foods. We’ll have to give up carbonated drinks, fried foods and other “harmful” foods for a while.
Folk recipes
If there are pains when coughing under the ribs, and the doctor did not prescribe any medications for the duration of the diagnostic measures, then you can mitigate the symptoms with folk remedies.
Honey is considered the best cough syrup. Moreover, this beekeeping product can help with a cold. The simplest recipe: mix a small amount of honey with lemon juice and add the resulting mixture to warm milk. You should not just drink up to 3 years old with such a remedy and naturally you should not use honey if you are allergic to it.
You can mix honey with pepper, which actively stimulates blood circulation, thereby improving the flow of mucus. Two tablespoons will require 1 teaspoon of pepper, the mixture is poured with boiled hot water and infused for 10 minutes. After the tool is filtered and drunk.
An excellent remedy is tea with thyme and thyme. By the way, thyme in Germany is even approved and recommended for use in official medicine. These herbs relax the trachea and reduce the inflammatory process. Tea is very simple to prepare, you can take the raw materials of both plants in equal parts and steam with boiling water, leave for about 7 minutes and drink like an ordinary warm drink.
Black radish juice is considered a good remedy . It is suitable for use with dry and wet cough. Radish has a large amount of essential oils, so even one spoonful of juice, maximum 4 times a day, relieves bronchospasm well.
Warming and rubbing
For grinding, you can use a mixture of goose (duck) fat and grated onion. The proportion in this case is 1: 2. The ingredients mix well and apply to the back and chest.
You can make compresses from potato juice. The potatoes are rubbed on a fine grater, the resulting juice is mixed with pepper and applied to the ribs and chest. However, you can not apply a compress directly to bare heat, previously thin tissue is applied to the skin.
If the compress is made from black radish juice, then in the juice you can generally soak gauze and put it on your back.
Manual therapy
If coughing pains under the ribs are associated with problems with the musculoskeletal system, since manual therapy and massage cannot be better suited. These procedures will help to get rid and alleviate the condition, not only in the case of cough, but also to solve a number of problems with the spine.
It should be remembered that massage and manual therapy are not performed if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, with malignant neoplasms and pathology of the spinal cord.
What else can be done?
If there are no problems with the heart and vascular system, then you can take a hot shower or bath. After the body has steamed well, it will immediately feel that it has become easier to breathe and the cough has receded. This technique is ideal if the cough is intrusive and dry.
If you suffer from pain when coughing under the ribs, then you should not forget about warm drinking and in general during such periods you should drink plenty of fluids. Even if there are no herbs or honey at hand, you can use ordinary tea.
Despite the skepticism of most doctors about mustard plasters, they cope well with coughing. However, if cough pain is present on the left under the ribs, care should be taken. Mustard must not be used in case of problems with the cardiovascular system, in the presence of temperature.
Rinses also allow you to get rid of cough, therefore, and from pain under the ribs. In particular, this method helps if the cough is dry. The technique allows you to cleanse the tonsils from mucus as much as possible, however, the procedure will have to be carried out at least 10 times a day.
The simplest composition of the rinse: soda and salt, 1 teaspoon plus 3-4 drops of iodine. Everything is mixed in a glass of warm water and rinsed. You can use herbal decoctions or lemon juice.
Do not forget that you can always use an inhaler. You can add potato juice, herbal mixtures and even medicines to it. You can also use a nebulizer. The appropriate doctor will tell the suitable drugs for him.