Why Your Abdominal Muscles Hurt When Coughing

Reasons Your Abs May Hurt When You Cough

Coughing fits can leave even the strongest abs feeling tender and sore. But what causes abdominal muscles to hurt when you cough? The answer lies in understanding how the upper and lower abs get utilized during forceful expectoration.

While frustrating, this type of cramping or spasming is typically more annoyance than serious problem. Learning what makes the abs hurt from coughing guides you toward the right remedies to ease discomfort.

Anatomy of the Abdominal Muscles

Your abdominal muscles span from just below your ribs all the way down past the belly button. This complex group of muscles consists of:

• Rectus abdominis - long, vertical muscle lining the center of your stomach
• External obliques - outer diagonal ab muscles running down your sides
• Internal obliques - inner diagonal muscles beneath external obliques
• Transversus abdominis - deepest layer running horizontally around torso

These muscles play key roles in movement, breathing and supporting proper organ positioning. During forceful coughs, several abdominal layers leap into action.

Upper Abs - Supporting Coughs and Breathing

The upper rectus abdominis closest to your rib cage contracts strongly when you cough. This allows your diaphragm and intercostal muscles between ribs to work efficiently in expelling air, mucus or irritants from lung airways.

Repeated explosive coughs leave these upper abs feeling painfully strained, like doing too many forceful sit ups. Any resulting soreness should disappear after coughing subsides.

Lower Abs - Stabilizing and Guarding

Lower abdominal muscles also kick into gear, but for stabilization rather than airway clearance. The lower rectus abdominis, obliques and deep transversus abdominis tense up reflexively to guard and support abdominal organs.

This protective stiffening gives organs an unyielding surface to brace against during intense abdominal pressure rises from coughing. By remaining taut, the lower abdominal layers prevent soft tissues from being forced through muscle separation points.

Intense Abdominal Muscle Spasms

The abdominal muscle layers contain a dense network of nerve fibers. During a bout of heavy coughing, these nerve cells fire intensely, causing stiffness and painful spasming of the abdominal wall muscles.

Involuntary contraction and painful cramping serve as signaling mechanisms indicating potential injury from overexertion. Thankfully this ache and seizing typically resolves shortly after coughing ceases without any serious damage.

Underlying Reasons for Painful Coughing

While abdominal muscle involvement explains the mechanics behind painful coughs, the root cause lies in the conditions triggering excessive coughing in the first place, such as:

Respiratory Infections

Colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinus infections irritate airway nerves, provoking frequent coughing fits to clear mucus and germs. The heavy abdominal workout from persistent coughs leaves muscles extremely sore.

Allergies

Allergic reactions cause airway inflammation, spasms and swelling. Trying to expel irritating particles like pollen or pet dander through coughing strains abdominal muscles.

Asthma

Asthma flare ups from environmental triggers make airways hypersensitive. Violent asthmatic coughs post excessive force on abdominal muscles, inflicting soreness.

ACE Inhibitors

This blood pressure medication class can trigger chronic dry coughs by affecting airway nerves. The heavy coughing overworks the abs.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Acid reflux causes burning airway irritation, sparking coughing fits. Having a hiatal hernia or weak esophageal sphincter muscle worsens reflux.

Smoking

Chemical fumes directly irritate airway lining to produce hacking coughs. Both first and second-hand smoke drive painful coughing.

Treatments to Ease Abdominal Discomfort from Coughing

Focusing treatment on calming your cough helps automatically ease associated abdominal muscle pains. Always address any underlying lung health conditions fueling chronic coughs. Additionally, try these tips:

Use Cough Suppressants

Over-the-counter cough syrups contain active ingredients like dextromethorphan and guaifenesin to dampen airway nerves that trigger cough reflex. This gives abdominal muscles a break.

Try Honey

Honey’s viscous consistency and antimicrobial properties helps coat and soothe irritated airway linings to minimize coughing intensity and frequency.

Run a Humidifier

Keeping indoor air moist prevents dry airways that provoke coughs. This avoids excessive strain on abdominal muscles.

Gargle Salt Water

Gently rinsing your throat with warm salty water pulls mucus out of the back of the throat to temporarily suppress coughing.

Avoid Triggers

Prevent coughing fits by steering clear of chemical fumes, smoke, heavily fragranced products and known allergens whenever possible.

Take Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs temporarily alleviate abdominal muscle soreness resulting from repeated coughs.

Try Heat and Cold Therapy

Alternate applying heating pads or cold packs to tender abdominal areas to encourage muscle relaxation between coughs.

Massage Tight Muscles

Lightly massaging and stretching contracted, spasming abdominal muscles brings relief from cramping and pain.

Adjust Your Diet

Avoid foods that trigger reflux like acidic, spicy or fried fare. Instead focus your diet on smooth, cooling foods that soothe airway and throat irritation.

When to See Your Doctor

Schedule a medical evaluation if you experience:

• Cough lasting over 3 weeks
• Cough producing blood-tinged mucus
• Wheezing, fever or breathlessness with coughing
• Weight loss or night sweats along with chronic cough

Seeing your doctor helps diagnose and treat any lung problems or medical conditions responsible for debilitating coughs. Proper management of underlying causes is crucial to preventing painful abdominal symptoms.

Know When It's Serious

Seek emergency care if accompanied by:

• Difficulty breathing or chest tightness
• Cough producing green, brown or red phlegm
• Dizziness, high fever, confusion
• Sharp pains in chest, ribs or abdomen

While typically harmless, hard coughs very rarely can cause more serious damage like hernias, fractured ribs, or dangerous rises in blood pressure. Severe abdominal pain with coughing warrants prompt evaluation.

Preventing Recurrence

Work on lifestyle changes focused on enhancing respiratory health and avoiding chronic cough triggers:

• Quit smoking tobacco products
• Minimize exposure to secondhand smoke or irritating fumes
• Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet high in fruits and vegetables
• Exercise regularly to support lung capacity
• Ask your doctor about allergy testing
• Consider probiotics to boost immunity and digestive health

Pay attention to early signs of respiratory infection like runny nose or sore throat and begin supportive cold care immediately. Being proactive wards off painful coughing fits and keeps your abdominals feeling strong.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.