Your lower abdomen covers major parts of your body. Whenever you cough, you might feel pain in your stomach or the lower part of your abdomen. It may be due to a number of reasons, which we will discuss below in this article.
Coughing is a common symptom of most of the diseases. It often accompanies stomach pain, which may be mild or severe. If it is persistent and severe, you need to take note of this, as it can lead to an alarming condition.
What factors can lead to stomach pain while coughing?
There is not a single reason for stomach pain while coughing. It can include many factors, as follows:
Pregnancy
It’s usual to have pain in the stomach when coughing while pregnant. Pain in the round ligament is most likely the cause. Coughing can cause these ligaments, which support your expanding uterus, to stretch, resulting in acute lower abdominal pain. Other potential causes include:
- Constipation
- Reflux of acid
- Hernia
Even though they are usually not dangerous, they can cause disturbing conditions such as:
- Extreme discomfort
- Fever
- Bleeding
- Difficult urination
- Persistent nausea
Normally, it is normal to feel pain in the stomach while coughing during pregnancy. However, if it is severe, you should report it to your doctor right away.
Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are sacs filled with fluid that grow in the ovaries. During menstruation, these cells may burst and, as a result, be eliminated from the body. In this manner, we can say that they do not lead to serious conditions. However, if the ovarian cysts become relatively large, proper treatment must be done to avoid any alarming situation. A few symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
- Sharp pain in the stomach on one side
- Swelling of abdomen
- Bloating
- Mild or severe pain in the stomach
Often, medications are enough to deal with ovarian cysts. However, if they are larger, they need to be removed via surgery.
Gallstones
When considerate amounts of bilirubin, cholesterol, or bile build up in your gallbladder, it can give rise to stone formation. Gallstone’s condition does not feature any obvious symptoms at first. However, as they become larger in size, they can result in a gallbladder attack. Some of the potential symptoms of gallstones are:
- Jaundice
- Chills or fever
- Vomiting or nausea
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain remains for at least 30 minutes
You can get rid of gallstones through surgery. On the other hand, it can also be treated with medications that help dissolve stones in the gallbladder.
Cystitis
It is a type of infection of the urinary tract that is more common in women as compared to men. It is also known as bladder inflammation, and the pain can get worse while coughing.
- Urinating frequently
- Blood in urine
- Disturbance or irritation
- Cloudy or dark urine with a pungent smell
Surgery in cases of cystitis is not recommended, as infections normally go on their own in a few days. A healthy lifestyle and mild medications can handle the condition.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a condition when there is inflammation in your pancreas. It may be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis features severe symptoms, whereas chronic pancreatitis can cause permanent damage to the pancreas. A few of the symptoms are:
- Swelling in abdomen
- Loose stools with a foul smell
- Weight loss
It is important to immediately seek healthcare for pancreatitis. If not treated on time, it can cause life-threatening conditions.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix of the patient is inflamed. It is a critical condition that requires urgent treatment. This condition features severe pain in the abdomen, which further worsens while coughing, exercising, and sneezing.
Other symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Swelling in abdomen
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Fever
The inflammation of the appendix is not limited to any single cause. It is important to diagnose appendicitis before your appendix ruptures. If it happens, toxic contents are released into your abdomen, causing infection and pain. If mild, it can be cured with some antibiotics. However, if severe, surgery should be done to remove it.
Hernia
Normally, our tissue muscles hold our organs and keep them in their place. If an organ pushes through gaps in these muscles, it can cause a condition known as hernia. The most common place for developing hernias is the abdomen and groin area. It can appear as bulges or lumps protruding outside of the skin. The pain in the hernia can worsen with sneezing, coughing, during bowel movements, or while lifting heavy objects.
Normally, it is not serious as the bowel can pass into and out of the gaps. However, if the bowel is stuck, the supply of blood is terminated at that area, resulting in the death of that bowel portion. Major symptoms of hernia are:
- Fever
- Severe pain
- Inhibited bowel movement
- Abdominal bloating or bulging
- Elevated heart rate
- Vomiting or nausea
Surgical removal of the hernia is the only cure for this condition.
Kidney stones
When calcium in your body is deposited in your urine, it can give rise to kidney stones. When a kidney stone passes through the bladder and urethra, it slides by scraping the lining of these organs, resulting in severe pain. Symptoms of kidney stones are:
- Chills or fever
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Blood in the urine
- Vomiting or nausea
- Cloudy urine with a pungent smell
Drinking a lot of water and choosing a healthy lifestyle can help cure the condition. However, if the condition is severe with large kidney stones that are not resolving by themselves, surgery is a good option.
Conclusion
‘Why does my stomach hurt when I cough’ is a frequently asked question. Well, you should not be worried about coughing, as it is a natural symptom of reflux. But if accompanied by stomach pain, it can include an underlying condition. Stomach pain while coughing may be due to a number of reasons, such as pregnancy, ovarian cysts, gallstones, cystitis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, hernia, and kidney stones.
Some conditions can be treated with medications, however, if they are severe, surgery needs to be done to get rid of the pain or other harmful conditions. Therefore, it is good to diagnose the cause of pain, but you should always seek the attention of a doctor if the condition gets worse.
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