Burning pain in chest when coughing. Severe cough and chest pain

A debilitating dry cough accompanied by chest pain is a symptom of many dangerous health problems. Even if they arose due to the usual SARS or flu, such symptoms are a clear reason to seek medical advice. Most often, this is a sign of inflammation of the airways caused by an infection. In rare cases, this can be a sign of serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as well as the nervous system. Most often, pain when coughing is localized to the left or right in the chest. It can be sharp and stabbing, or vice versa blunt, “pulling”.

Causes of cough in the sternum and pain in the chest in the middle

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of these symptoms. If the pain when coughing is accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, you need to seek help immediately.

With a viral infection, it is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Often pain in the sternum is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, sometimes a headache or pain in the hands. In this case, the pain lasts only a few seconds and disappears after a coughing fit. The most dangerous thing is if there is a dry cough, accompanied by pain in the sternum, but there is no high temperature. This can be a sign of serious problems such as:

• pleurisy;
• tuberculosis;
• bronchial asthma;
• foreign body in the airways;
• pulmonary embolism;
• intercostal neuralgia;
• chronic lung diseases;
• renal colic;
• chest injury;
• lungs' cancer;
• diphtheria.

It can also be a chronic "" caused by tobacco smoke. Another important cause is allergic rhinitis, which causes irritation of the respiratory tract.

If a dry cough accompanied by pain in the sternum does not go away longer than 5 days, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Additional symptoms - fever, sore throat, runny nose and headache

A doctor is needed urgently if symptoms such as:

• a sharp rise in temperature, especially above 38 C and a severe headache;
• severe weakness, sweating;
• sore throat;
• coughing fits are getting worse;
• difficulty inhaling or exhaling;
• secretion of mucus with blood;
• pain in the side;
• severe blanching of the face.

These symptoms can mean a threat to life. Therefore, you need to seek help immediately by calling an ambulance.

If a child develops these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

If a dry cough is accompanied by moderate pain and a slight increase in temperature in the evening, this may be a sign of diseases such as:

• tracheitis;
• epiglottitis;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• pleurisy.

All these conditions are often accompanied by severe weakness and fatigue. A slight increase in temperature in this case occurs in the late afternoon.

Each disease causes a characteristic localization of pain. This will make it easier for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

In order to determine the exact cause of the problems, the doctor may prescribe the following types of studies:

• clinical blood test;
• detailed radiograph of the lungs;
• tuberculin test;
• sputum examination;
• analysis for presence;
• analysis for bacterial infection.

A detailed blood test allows you to determine the prevalence and duration of the inflammatory process.

Possible complications of a symptom that has arisen in the chest

Even if the coughing fits and pain in the sternum are minor, and all this is accompanied by a normal temperature, you should not “drag out” with a visit to the doctor. Even if they are caused by a common viral infection, untimely treatment can lead to serious problems such as:

• acute tracheitis;
• bilateral pneumonia;
• dry pleurisy;
• dry pericarditis.

With untimely treatment, the cough can become chronic. In this case, it is difficult to treat. Full recovery can take up to 1 month.

The transition of pulmonary diseases into a chronic form can lead to serious problems in the future.

Another possible complication of an advanced inflammatory process in the airways or lungs is fibrosis. It occurs due to the formation of scar tissue in the lungs. This leads to a decrease in lung elasticity and breathing problems. Depending on the severity of the disease, fibrosis can be unilateral, bilateral or focal.

Prevention of pulmonary fibrosis is the timely treatment of infectious diseases that cause inflammation.

Treatment - what medications will help suppress the symptom

The specific method of treating symptoms such as dry cough, accompanied by pain in the sternum, directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. Even if the cause of the disease is a common viral infection, such as seasonal flu, its improper treatment can lead to serious complications. Only a doctor should prescribe treatment for a dry cough, accompanied by even slight pain in the chest.

The main task in the treatment of infectious diseases of the respiratory tract is to make a dry cough moist and productive. This will make it easier for the sputum to pass away, preventing it from stagnation in the lungs.

In order for recovery to become quick, it is important to create the right conditions for the body to do so. First of all, the air in the room should be cool and humid. The air temperature should not be higher than 20 - 22 C °, and the optimum humidity should not be less than 60%. This will help keep the mucus from drying out in the airways.

Daily wet cleaning of the house reduces the amount of dust particles in the air. This will help reduce dry cough due to respiratory irritation.

When treating a dry cough, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. This contributes to the effective moistening of the mucosa and liquefaction of sputum. Thinner sputum is much easier to cough up, so it does not stagnate in the lungs. Plentiful warm drink is an important element of treatment even with an unproductive dry cough. This helps to moisturize the mucosa and replenish fluid losses due to elevated temperature in time.

Scheme for the selection of methods of drug treatment of diseases with a cough symptom

How to get rid of pain in the lungs and a strong cough with medication

A common cause of such symptoms is muscle strain after serious physical exertion. In this case, you should seek the help of a surgeon. He will prescribe a warming ointment that reduces muscle pain. If a dry cough is caused by an inflammatory process in the airways, it is important to make it productive.

Do not use any cough medicines on your own, as this can worsen the situation.

Most often, a dry cough is caused by an inflammatory process in the airways, it is important to make it productive. For this, expectorants or combined preparations are used that contribute to easy sputum discharge.

Treatment with expectorants should be accompanied by plenty of fluids. This will not thicken the sputum formed in the bronchi.

If a dry cough is caused by non-communicable diseases such as tuberculosis or asthma, it becomes unproductive. In this case, they are very exhausting, making it difficult to eat and sleep. To alleviate the condition, the doctor will prescribe special drugs that block the cough reflex.

In no case should you use cough medicines for self-medication or give them to children. Not every cough is harmful, which means that only a doctor can prescribe adequate treatment.

Folk remedies

It is possible to use folk remedies for the treatment of dry cough accompanied by pain only if these symptoms are caused by a viral infection. They can serve as an excellent addition to medical treatment prescribed by a specialist. It is best if it is a plentiful warm drink that relieves a dry cough.

Any folk remedies for such symptoms can be used only after consulting with your doctor.

Homemade herbal tea not only effectively moisturizes the mucous membrane, but also improves well-being. The best options for replenishing body fluids may be:

• Tea with lemon;
• raspberry tea;
• dried fruits compote;
• berry juice;
• herbal tea.

An excellent drink for a dry cough can be warmed juice from fruits or berries: orange, apple, currant, grape. This is an excellent source of vitamins for a weakened body.

Do not use aggressive substances, such as mustard, as a warming agent. This can significantly worsen the condition.

Video

This video will tell you about the causes of coughing.

Chest pain when coughing is a symptom of many diseases of both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. As a rule, this symptom occurs due to irritation of the trachea, bronchi, alveoli, pleura and pericardium.

In some situations, coughing pain can be the result of overly intense exercise. This article will discuss the etiology of this symptom and how to get rid of it correctly.

In contact with

What does chest pain indicate when coughing?

The main factor influencing the development of pain behind the sternum, in addition to diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, can also be infectious diseases. They contribute to the development of coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of oxygen and pain in the chest.

The most common causes of pain when coughing include:

• seasonal;
• inflammation of the epiglottis, trachea, bronchi, lungs, diphtheria;
• mucosal damage by a virus tropic to the respiratory tract;
• allergy;
• the presence of a foreign body;
• etc.

All of the above diseases in one way or another contribute to irritation of the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract.

Any inflammatory reaction is accompanied by soft tissue edema and compression of nerve fibers, so cough shocks are a trigger for exacerbating these sensations.

According to the data of practitioners, the main cause of the development of pain when coughing is an overstrain of the intercostal muscles. This sign has nothing to do with the occurrence of pneumonia.

The fact is that an unproductive (dry) cough is accompanied by constant coughing shocks, so the additional respiratory muscles are in constant tension, which can cause pain in the retrosternal region.

In this situation, myositis may develop. The main symptoms of this disease include:

• chest pain when coughing;
• pain during a sudden change in body position;
• pain when lying down on one side of the chest.

However, in this situation, the pain is diffuse and does not concentrate in one area. Therefore, dry cough, chest pain can be manifestations of many diseases.

During palpation of the intercostal spaces, patients complain of acute cutting pain.

To refute possible pneumonia, if the patient complains of chest pain and dry cough, patients undergo a diagnostic x-ray of the lung tissue.

If there is no temperature

During coughing shocks, the entire load falls on the intercostal muscles, as a result of which a small amount of lactic acid accumulates in the muscles, which provokes the development of pain.

It is quite simple to identify it during palpation of the intercostal spaces.

However, a condition in which pain occurs only in one side of the chest is much more dangerous.

The absence of temperature indicates that there is no focus of inflammation in the body or that the body is not fighting an infectious agent. Such conditions require urgent diagnosis, since cough and chest pain without other acute symptoms indicate the development of any chronic pathology (cardiac, bronchopulmonary) or persistence of infection (tuberculosis).

The reasons

Pain in the chest during coughing shocks is not the norm and indicates the development of some pathological process. The most common causes of pain are:

1. Inflammation of the pleura. Outside, the lungs are covered with pleura. With inflammation of this membrane, swelling of the soft tissues occurs and each cough push contributes to the overstretching of the pleura, due to which there is pain in the chest after coughing. According to the modern classification of diseases, such symptoms indicate the development of dry pleurisy, which, as a rule, accompanies pneumonia.
2. Excessively short interpleural ligament. This condition is accompanied by constant coughing during a conversation, a deep breath and performing elementary physical exercises (even climbing stairs). During coughing, patients complain of acute pain of a stabbing nature.
3. . When an acute respiratory viral infection or flu occurs, the tracheal mucosa often becomes inflamed. This process contributes to the development of painful sensations that disappear after the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
4. Inflammation of the bronchi. With development, patients tend to complain of chest pain with a dry cough. Elimination of the symptoms of this disease occurs after the systematic use of drugs.
5. Oncological pathologies. Difficulty inhaling or exhaling, prolonged dry cough, and incessant pain are cause for concern. The fact is that in some patients, the formation of tumors in the lung tissue is accompanied by stabbing pain, due to which patients cannot fully inhale. Often these pains are localized.
6. Pulmonary tuberculosis. A prolonged productive cough with the release of greenish or putrid sputum is a reason for undergoing fluorography, since in some situations chest pain may be due to damage to the lung tissue with Koch's wand.
7. Myalgia. Inflammation of the accessory muscles (intercostal muscles) may be indicated by chest pain when a child coughs. In addition, soreness of muscle fibers is possible after excessively intense training due to the accumulation of lactic acid.

The main thing is to remember that with the development of the above symptoms and diseases, the patient is obliged to seek medical help as soon as possible to prevent unwanted complications.

What to do if it hurts in the chest when coughing?

If coughing shocks occur, which provoke the development of pain behind the sternum, you should try to improve the patient's condition. To do this, you can use analgesics, warming ointments, etc. However, all of the above groups of drugs should be used only with the permission of a doctor.

Proper diagnosis is the key to properly selected therapy, therefore, in order to prevent the development of tuberculosis or oncological diseases, you need to contact a specialist in a timely manner.

Useful video

Useful information about the different causes of coughing can be found in the following video:

Conclusion

1. Soreness in the retrosternal region during a cough can be a sign of many diseases that need timely diagnosis and specific treatment.
2. Severe chest pain when coughing will certainly require the consultation of a therapist.

Often, coughing fits, both in a child and in an adult, are accompanied by pain in the chest area. Such symptoms often indicate the presence of inflammation in the pleura or in the lungs, but respiratory diseases are not the only cause of this condition. Often, chest pain when coughing is one of the symptoms of a disease of a completely different nature.

Why does pain occur when coughing? The causes of these symptoms (in the middle, on the left or on the right side of the chest) are very different. The main states are:

• colds;
• cardiovascular disease and heart failure;
• allergy;
• oncological diseases;
• chronic and acute bronchitis;
• asthma;
• epiglottitis;
• pneumonia;
• tracheitis;
• pleurisy.

It is necessary to consider in more detail certain diseases that are characterized not only by chest pain when coughing, but also by other additional symptoms. From them and the localization of pain, it is sometimes possible to determine why such unpleasant sensations arise.

Colds

If chest pains appear due to a cold that has developed against the background of exposure to bacteria or viruses, then most likely the doctor will make the patient one of these diagnoses:

1. SARS;
2. tracheitis;
3. whooping cough;
4. seasonal flu;
5. swine flu.

These conditions are characterized by the following symptoms:

• dry cough that does not pass for a long time and is accompanied by pain;
• fever and chills;
• sore throat;
• severe fatigue.

With these diseases, chest pains disappear when the virus is eliminated.

Cardiovascular diseases

Basically, discomfort in the chest area when coughing, which are caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system, are symptoms of one of the following conditions:

1. heart failure;
2. violations of the valvular apparatus;
3. cardiac ischemia;
4. heart disease.

Chest pain when coughing in such cases is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• shortness of breath and lack of air;
• palpitations during coughing fits;
• discharge, often in the form of sputum with blood.

With these pathologies, pain in the chest is tingling.

It should be noted that only an experienced cardiologist is able to make an accurate diagnosis and offer an effective method of treatment.

Pleurisy

The inside of the chest and lungs are covered by a membrane called the pleura. When it becomes inflamed, a pathology such as pleurisy occurs, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• dry cough;
• excessive sweating, particularly during sleep;
• dyspnea;
• pain in the chest.

An important symptom of pleurisy is also a decrease in pain when turning the patient to the affected side. Thus, it limits the respiratory movements, which relieves pain.

Pneumonia

The main symptom of the disease is a strong increase in temperature from the very first days. Pain during coughing is also accompanied by sputum, which gradually acquires a rusty hue. There may be red spots on the face and a rapid heartbeat. As a rule, the symptoms of pneumonia increase for two weeks, after which, with proper treatment, the crisis will pass.

Acute tracheitis

Such a disease can appear both independently and as a complication of a respiratory tract infection. It is accompanied by fever, dry cough and nasal congestion. Pain during coughing is combined with a burning sensation in the chest.

Renal colic

This pathology is accompanied by both back pain and pain in the right side of the chest when coughing. This disease is provoked by disorders in the functioning of the kidneys and urinary tract. The main symptoms are the following conditions:

• pain in the abdomen;
• pain in the stomach;
• pain in the right forearm or right under the shoulder blade.

Intercostal neuralgia

With this disease, the pain that accompanies a cough is often simply unbearable and resembles shots in the chest. During deep breaths, they tend to noticeably increase.

It is important to immediately be examined by a doctor, since this disease is similar in its symptoms to angina attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

chest injury

This list includes primarily fractures and bruises of the ribs. Pain during coughing can be on the right or left (depending on the affected side) and pronounced. Pain is aggravated not only during coughing, but also with any movement.

It is necessary not to confuse these symptoms with unpleasant sensations in osteochondrosis. Therefore, in such situations, you should undergo a chest x-ray before starting to treat the disease.

With various chest injuries, pneumothorax can occur, which is characterized by the penetration of air into the peripulmonary space and squeezing the lung. The main signs of this disease can be called excruciating pain on the left or right side of the chest, which intensify during coughing attacks.

Lungs' cancer

Chest pain when coughing can also be triggered by a tumor process, in which there is an increase in metastases inside the lung. Pain in such cases is sharp and tingling. They occur in the middle of the chest or on one side, often give into the arm, neck or shoulder blade.

According to statistics, 85% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers.

Short interpleural ligament

Everyone has an interpleural ligament in the bronchial region, which serves to stabilize the functioning of the respiratory system. It can be short due to congenital pathology or inflammation of the pleura. In such cases, there is pain in the chest when coughing and burning in this area.

Osteochondrosis

This disease occurs against the background of various posture disorders and injuries. As you know, it is useless to treat it, but doctors are able to alleviate the condition by eliminating some of its symptoms in the form of pain when coughing and sudden movements.

Diagnosis of chest pain

To identify the cause of pain during a cough, the doctor can use the following diagnostic methods:

• complete blood count;
• blood test for viruses and bacteria;
• sputum culture;
• radiography of the lungs in various projections;
• tuberculin test.

In cases of suspicion of a malignant tumor, a histological examination is necessary, for which a puncture of the lung tissue is required.

With ARVI and symptoms of respiratory diseases, both in a child and in an adult patient, a detailed x-ray of the lungs, sputum analysis and often a general blood test should be performed to identify the degree of danger of inflammatory processes in the respiratory system.

Treatment

Of course, before treating the pain itself during coughing fits, it is necessary to identify its underlying cause. Often, such symptoms can be relieved with a warming ointment, which should be applied to the affected area and rubbed thoroughly into the skin.

With a strong cough, you can also use antitussive drugs, which significantly reduce the number of attacks and, therefore, reduce pain.

When pain when coughing is provoked by a bacterial or viral infection, the doctor usually prescribes antibacterial and antiviral drugs that effectively cope with diseases of this nature. However, if the child has symptoms, it is better not to abuse the drugs and give him plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially drinks with a weak alkaline reaction.

If pain occurs with a dry cough without sputum, self-medication should not be done either. Such signs may indicate the presence of a serious illness that requires the help of a specialist.

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons for the occurrence of chest pain during a cough. And for effective treatment, first of all, an accurate diagnosis is needed, which can only be made by an experienced doctor.

Cough does not pose a serious threat to human life, but can serve as an indicator of a complex disease. What to do if it hurts in the chest when coughing?

The process of coughing

Cough itself is a protective function of the body, which is activated when irritants enter the cough receptors - pungent odors, viruses, bacteria, foreign bodies, dust, animal hair and other things. During the coughing act, the human brain receives a signal from irritated receptors and sends a message to the muscles of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, back, neck and abdominal cavity to go into active action. The muscles contract, there is a short deep breath, narrowing of the trachea and a sharp quick exhalation of the air flow, with which the irritant that caused the cough should come out.

What can cause pain?

The synchronous interaction of such a large number of muscles can provoke small contractions in related areas of the body. And if they have a pathology, then a person has a chest pain after coughing. However, if the pain is one-time and does not recur, then there is most likely nothing to worry about, since a single spasm can be caused by incorrect body position, weight lifting, and active sports.

A possible etiology why the chest hurts when coughing can be diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, spine, various neuralgia, tumor processes and neoplasms of the chest, including in the mammary glands in women, inflammatory processes in the muscles .

Determining the etiology of pain

When, with a strong cough, the chest hurts for more than 5 days (7 days after a cold and SARS), or the pain is very sharp, stabbing, unbearable, you should immediately consult a specialist to exclude dangerous diseases that pose a threat to life.

Doctors prescribe diagnostic procedures for the heart muscle and blood vessels, then the lungs and stomach and other internal organs in the chest area for neoplasms.

After a thorough study of the functional state of the internal organs, specialists will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a comprehensive treatment for the pathology. How to treat a patient who has a chest pain from coughing for a long time, the doctor must definitely decide, self-medication can lead to negative health consequences. The most positive and rapid results are obtained in the treatment of early stages and initial forms of diseases.

Attention! With great concern, you should treat the situation if the child has a chest pain when coughing - immediately contact the pediatrician.

Clinical analyzes of biomaterials

At the first visit to a general practitioner or family doctor, a specialist prescribes a clinical and detailed biochemical blood test. We need indicators such as expanded leukocyte formula, bilirubin, ALT, AST, antistreptolysin O, rheumatoid factor; urinalysis and cardiac electrocardiography. After receiving the results, the doctor will have a working hypothesis and the direction of further procedures for making a diagnosis.

Diagnostics of the state of the heart

Suspecting heart problems (when it hurts under the right chest when coughing), the cardiologist conducts an ultrasound examination of the heart and a “stress test” - a cardiogram of the heart after a sports load in the form of running on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike, and compares the results with the lines of the cardiogram at rest . By checking the human heart for the condition of the vessels, valves, wall thickness and volume of the cavities, as well as the response to cardio loads, one can say with confidence whether the pain is related to the heart and whether the patient has anything to worry about.

Respiratory examination

If it hurts when coughing under the left breast (or in both), and heart tests showed a normal state, pulmonologists take up the studies. X-ray of the lungs is prescribed with the study of the pattern of lung tissue, vessels and ducts. Often, these studies end with a diagnosis of bronchospasm after an illness with severe coughing attacks. In such cases, clinic patients complain that the cough has passed, and the chest hurts. After the appointment of antispasmodics and sometimes bronchodilators, the pain disappears within a few days. Untreated bronchitis and an obstructive cough can also cause mild, burning pain in the chest when coughing. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalations with bronchodilators and the use of mucolytic agents in combination.

The situation is worse if at any slightest cough under the chest it hurts so much that a person cannot swallow and breathe, and wheezing and shortness of breath accompany inhalation and exhalation. Another alarming symptom is the release of blood with sputum when coughing, and at the same time it hurts very much in the chest. This symptom is often characteristic of tuberculosis and requires early diagnosis by doctors. In such cases, after the results of radiography and according to indications, pulmonologists prescribe a bacteriological examination of mucus (smear from the throat) with the determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics, bronchoscopy, less often spirometry and plethysmography. Bronchoscopy allows the doctor to see the condition of the bronchi, examine the trachea and ducts for physiological changes and the presence of neoplasms, take biological material to study the condition of the mucosa and sputum clots.

On a note! In medical practice, there are cases when allergic swelling of the bronchial mucosa during coughing caused severe acute pain in the chest area, and less than an hour after taking antihistamines, the pain went away.

The study of the state of the stomach

A coughing act that causes a sharp sharp pain in the center of the chest under the ribs (closer to the solar plexus) may be a symptom of exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the intestine and duodenum.

People who suffer from chronic gastric reflux (spitting up part of the food they eat) often experience chest pain when they cough. Reflux itself is the norm of the digestive process in children, in adults it is more common with spasms of the pharynx with psychosomatics and anorexia and is treated by a psychotherapist using ataractic medications.

Breast diseases in women

Pain in the chest in women when coughing can be observed in the initial stages of cancer or the presence of neoplasms. If you suspect symptoms of breast disease, palpate the chest and armpits for nodules and lumps. If detected, contact a gynecologist or mammologist to prescribe examinations (ultrasound of the breast, mammography)

neuralgia

Prolonged exposure to stressful situations and mental stress in combination with a long stay in an unchanged sitting position, disruption of sleep and wakefulness, unbalanced nutrition and oxygen starvation lead to neuralgic consequences:

• damage to individual nerves;
• pinching of the nerve plexuses and roots;
• spasm of the chest muscles.

A normal cough act, involving a certain group of muscles, provokes an increase in the tone of neighboring muscles and nerve endings - this causes pain. At the same time, it hurts inside the chest under the right chest from coughing, it is often impossible to take a sharp breath. The condition is similar to the pain of a heart attack, intercostal colic. But with neuralgia, there are no violations of the heart, and after an echo and electrocardiogram, the patient is sent to a neurologist. Therapy of such diseases of the nervous system is as follows:

• the appointment of B vitamins and magnesium (for example, Neuromultivit, Magnesium B6, Magnelis B6);
• the appointment of drugs based on the plant component of ginkgo biloba, which stimulates the work of the central nervous system;
• courses of massage, reflexology to relieve hypertonicity of the muscles (in more severe cases - sessions of osteopathy);
• local pain relief by rubbing in ointments and gels based on NSAIDs (indomethacin, diclofenac, nimesulide);
• normalization of the mode of work and rest, a balanced diet.

Traumatology and Neurosurgery

Pain in the chest when coughing, playing sports, sudden movements can sometimes be associated with previous injuries of the spine or ribs, as well as with an inflammatory process in the paravertebral tissues. Ointments from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethocin, diclofenac, nimesulide) help to quickly reduce pain and spasms. This group of medicines is also available in the form of tablets, rectal suppositories. But in the presence of diseases of the digestive tract, you should refrain from taking them without consulting a doctor. Warm compresses are also not recommended. Thermal exposure provokes the growth of neoplasm cells and the progression of the inflammatory process, and this can lead to serious complications.

Important! If the pain does not go away for more than 2 months after the injury or turns into pain in the legs and arms, then clinical studies are needed.

A number of serious diseases of the vertebrae that cause pain are not diagnosed on x-rays. For example, hemangioma of the vertebral body is a genetic disease that requires urgent surgical treatment in case of exacerbation and its increase in size. To obtain a complete picture of the state of the bone tissue, the method of computer or magnetic resonance imaging is used.

Content

The occurrence of a cough is usually associated with colds or the penetration of an infection into the body, but this is not always the correct conclusion. Sometimes the patient feels pain of varying intensity when coughing in the chest, back, under the ribs, there is an increase in temperature - this may be a manifestation or consequence of serious diseases of the internal organs.

What is cough pain

The occurrence of an unpleasant symptom - pain when coughing - must be taken responsibly. Cough is distinguished between wet and dry (barking), paroxysmal, with sputum, with shortness of breath. Sometimes the cough reflex is accompanied by pain, which is localized in:

• sternum;
• left or right side;
• back
• stomach
• temples, head;
• under the ribs on the right or left.

The reasons

Often the condition when it hurts to cough is supplemented by one or a set of symptoms: fever, chills, shortness of breath, sputum production, runny nose, weakness. By the presence of other manifestations, by the localization and nature of painful sensations, the causes of discomfort are determined. The patient's condition may be the result of serious pathologies:

• organs of the chest;
• abdominal organs;
• musculoskeletal system.

Diseases that are accompanied by pain, cough reflex and other symptoms include:

1. Pneumonia. In the period of pneumonia, an elevated temperature is observed, tingling in the chest is felt.
2. Pleurisy. After pneumonia, the inflammatory process can spread to the lining of the bronchi or chest cavity, which can cause inflammation of the pleura. For a long period there is a constant hacking cough in combination with respiratory disorders, subfebrile (37-38 degrees) temperature, weakness, sweating. When lying on the right side, the pain may decrease. Chest breathing disorders are more noticeable on the side of the lesion.
3. Chronic or acute bronchitis. Occurs after a complication of SARS. Manifested by fever, weakness, low chest cough with sputum. In chronic bronchitis, the cough reflex increases at night, the acute form is characterized by coughing fits, wheezing.
4. Pulmonary tuberculosis. The lungs hurt when coughing, there is an increase in temperature, sputum with blood impurities.
5. Colds, infectious diseases (ARVI, influenza). Pain syndrome occurs against the background of a cold due to the accumulation of lactic acid in the intercostal muscles with their frequent sharp contraction when coughing. There is an increase in temperature, weakness. Scratching in the throat is a sign of tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea).
6. Pneumothorax. Patients experience intense pain when coughing or taking a deep breath of air, the reason for this may be: fractures of the ribs, gunshot wounds. Air leaves the damaged lungs, accumulates around them and puts pressure on the respiratory organs.
7. Pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart). It becomes painful to cough due to squeezing the heart muscle. With dry pericarditis, an increase in the intensity of pain during a cough reflex, inhalation, sneezing, or pressure on the chest is characteristic. These symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath.
8. Tumors. A symptom of lung cancer are bouts of acute pain: cutting, stabbing, girdle. Due to the presence of a tumor, lesions of the spine, coughing becomes more painful.
9. Violation of the mobility of the rib cage or thoracic spine. The disease occurs due to spinal injury or tumors of the pleura.
10. Chest or shoulder injury. Due to injury to the ribs or damage to the shoulder, the chest may hurt during movement and coughing.
11. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In the presence of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, it becomes painful to cough.
12. Neuralgia. By the presence of excruciating shooting pain in the chest, which increases with a cough reflex and inhalation, intercostal neuralgia can be diagnosed.
13. Shortening of the interpleural ligament. It is the result of inflammatory processes. Causes limitation of diaphragm movement. When the ligament is shortened, there is a slight coughing and tingling. Symptoms are aggravated when they increase physical activity, inhale air, talk.
14. Diseases of the urinary system. In the presence of renal colic, the patient feels a sharp pain in the lower back, under the ribs, in the abdomen, under the spoon and in the chest when coughing, sometimes it can be given under the shoulder blade or forearm.

Right side under ribs hurts when coughing

The appearance of sharp pain on the right under the ribs, nausea, vomiting or belching - these symptoms are typical for:

• ulcers of the stomach or duodenum;
• pancreatitis;
• cholecystitis.

It can be excruciatingly ill with neuralgia or lung tumors. Painful sensations in the form of tingling, accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing are characteristic of:

• pneumonia;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• bronchitis.

Left side

A condition when the left side under the ribs hurts when coughing can be the result of diseases: pancreas, heart, kidneys, lungs, stomach, spine, nerve tissues. Pain in the form of tingling may indicate the development of pneumonia, bronchitis; in the form of severity - about the pre-infarction state. The side hurts unbearably with intercostal neuralgia.

Chest pain when coughing

The resulting pain in the chest when coughing may indicate the presence of one of the diseases:

• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• bronchitis;
• pleurisy;
• intercostal neuralgia;
• peritonitis;
• colds or flu;
• pericarditis;
• injury to the ribs or shoulder joint;
• tumors of organs and tissues of the chest.

Dull pain or in the form of tingling is characteristic of pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, colds. It is very painful to cough when:

• peritonitis;
• neuralgia;
• tumors of the lungs and spine.

Chest pain with dry cough

Often, pain, accompanied by a dry cough and shortness of breath, is disturbing with pericarditis. Without sputum, patients cough with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, intercostal neuralgia, injuries of the ribs and shoulder joint, tumors of the lungs and pleura. These diseases are accompanied by severe chest pain during the cough reflex.

Backache

Tingling in the back can signal pneumonia. The occurrence of sharp pain in the spinal region indicates the presence of other diseases:

• renal colic (it hurts below);
• intercostal neuralgia;
• osteochondrosis;
• pleurisy (pain between the shoulder blades);
• malignant tumors of organs and tissues of the chest cavity (lungs, pleura, spine).

Ribs hurt

The most common cause of these manifestations are colds. Ribs can hurt in the presence of pleurisy, pneumonia, influenza. Sharp pain sensations are observed in a patient with rib fractures. For bruises or stretching of the intercostal muscles, pain of lesser intensity is characteristic. It can be very painful in the costal region in patients with intercostal myalgia.

headache when coughing

This condition is characteristic of those suffering from allergic reactions to external pathogens, asthma. People can get headaches while inhaling tobacco smoke. Nicotine affects the constriction of blood vessels and causes an increase in pressure. During changes in weather conditions, pain during the cough reflex occurs in weather-dependent people.

Why does my stomach hurt when I cough?

Prolonged colds, pneumonia, pleurisy can cause pain in the abdomen due to muscle strain during the cough reflex. The lower abdomen may hurt due to inflammation of the ovaries. Pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, belching may indicate the presence of:

• increased acidity;
• gastritis;
• peptic ulcer.

Pain diagnostics

In the presence of the described manifestations, you need to contact a specialist: a therapist, pulmonologist, neurologist, surgeon, traumatologist or pediatrician if the child is sick. To make a diagnosis after a preliminary examination, measurement of pressure and questioning of the patient, the doctor prescribes further examinations:

• complete blood count to determine the presence of inflammation;
• blood test for infection;
• sputum culture;
• tuberculin test in case of suspected tuberculosis;
• a chest x-ray to examine the lungs, spine, and ribs;
• lung puncture in case of suspected tumor;
• an electrocardiogram to check the work of the heart;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• endoscopy to examine the intestines and stomach.

Treatment

The rate of recovery depends on the stage of the disease and the correct course of treatment. After determining the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes:

1. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs for patients with pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis.
2. Antibiotics of selective action in case of determining the source of infection.
3. Antispasmodic drugs and antibiotics for patients with cholecystitis.
4. Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, a set of measures to restore the functions of the spine in case of osteochondrosis.
5. Bed rest, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs for patients with pericarditis.
6. Determination of a patient with pneumothorax in the surgical department, puncture of the pleural cavity to remove air.

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Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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