A cough is a natural reflex that clears the airways of irritants and mucus. Coughing can sometimes lead to significant pain and discomfort in the chest, abdomen, or back. While often temporary, pain when coughing can, in some instances, indicate a more serious underlying health issue.
Common Sources of Pain When Coughing
The forceful nature of a cough can strain the chest, abdominal, and back muscles. These muscles contract powerfully, leading to soreness and discomfort, which may feel like a dull ache or sharp pain.
Airway irritation is another common reason for pain during coughing. Infections like the common cold, flu, or allergic reactions can inflame the airways. This inflammation makes tissues sensitive, resulting in a raw or burning sensation when coughing.
Inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone, costochondritis, can also cause pain that worsens with coughing. This pain is often sharp and localized at the front of the chest, sometimes radiating to the back or stomach. It can intensify with deep breaths or movement.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Beyond common irritations, several medical conditions can cause pain when coughing. Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, inflame the airways and lungs, leading to chest pain and soreness. Pleurisy, an inflammation of the tissue lining the lungs and chest cavity, causes sharp or stabbing chest pain that intensifies with deep breaths or coughing due to inflamed layers rubbing against each other.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) can cause cough-related pain. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, it can irritate the throat and airways, leading to a chronic cough and chest pain that may worsen with coughing. This irritation may feel like heartburn or a burning sensation.
Conditions like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can cause significant chest tightness and pain during severe coughing fits. These conditions involve narrowed or inflamed airways, making coughing strenuous and painful.
Less common, but more serious, causes of cough-related pain include a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) or a pulmonary embolism. A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing pressure on the lung and leading to sudden, sharp chest pain worsened by breathing or coughing. A pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lung’s blood vessels, can cause sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain worsened by exertion or deep breaths, and sometimes bloody mucus.
Relief and Self-Care Measures
For cough-related pain, several self-care measures can provide relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can manage muscle soreness and discomfort. Warm compresses or heating pads may also soothe strained muscles.
Cough suppressants can reduce the frequency of painful, dry coughs, while expectorants can thin mucus, making productive coughs more effective and less strenuous. It is important to choose the appropriate type of medication based on the cough characteristics.
Throat soothers are beneficial for irritated airways. Drinking warm liquids like tea with honey, using throat lozenges, or inhaling steam from a humidifier can help soothe a raw throat and loosen mucus. Honey is effective in soothing coughs.
Adequate rest and hydration are important for recovery. Hydration thins mucus and prevents throat dryness; rest allows the body to heal. Elevating the head with pillows while sleeping can ease coughing and pain.
When to Consult a Doctor
It is important to seek medical attention if cough-related pain is severe, worsening, or persists for more than a few days without improvement. A cough lasting over three weeks warrants a medical evaluation.
Specific associated symptoms are red flags for professional assessment. These include fever, chills, shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing up blood or discolored phlegm. Sharp, localized chest pain, especially if it worsens with deep breaths or movement, should also prompt medical consultation. Individuals with pre-existing lung or heart conditions should consult a doctor promptly if they experience new or worsening cough-related pain. If the pain significantly interferes with daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working, seek medical advice.