Why Coughing Can Make Your Stomach Hurt and How to Find Relief

How Coughing During a Cold Can Upset Your Stomach

It's common when you have a bad cold for your stomach to hurt every time you cough. All that forceful hacking can take its toll on your digestive system. Here's a look at why coughing can cause stomach pain and upset, plus tips to find relief.

The Cough-Digestion Link

There are several reasons coughing can irritate your GI tract and make your stomach hurt:

• The abdominal muscles contract forcefully when you cough. This can cause cramps and spasms.
• Coughing increases pressure inside the abdomen, which can feel painful.
• The diaphragm pushes heavily on the stomach when coughing.
• Coughing may trigger acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting.
• Severe fits of coughing can induce headaches, dizziness, and overall body aches.

Additionally, having a cold or flu often comes with its own set of stomach symptoms - like diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite. The coughing just exacerbates existing GI troubles.

Other Causes of Stomach Pain

While coughing is a common culprit for an aching tummy, other possible causes include:

• Sinus drainage - Post-nasal drip can irritate the stomach lining and induce nausea.
• Medications - Some cold medicines contain ingredients like acetaminophen that may cause stomach upset.
• Dehydration - Vomiting, sweating, and lack of fluid intake can lead to dehydration and abdominal cramping.
• Lack of food - Not eating due to low appetite can cause blood sugar crashes and stomach pain.
• Stomach flu - Some colds come with concurrent norovirus or food poisoning.
• Anxiety - Stress and anxiety can exacerbate digestive issues.

So be aware of any other symptoms aside from coughing that point to potential causes of stomach discomfort.

Tips to Soothe Your Stomach

To help ease an aching belly during a coughing cold, try these evidence-based tips for relief:

Take Over-the-Counter Medications

Drugs like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium can reduce coughing discomforts like headaches, body aches, sore throat pain, and chest congestion. Be sure to follow dosage directions carefully.

Use a Cough Suppressant

Cough syrups containing the active ingredients dextromethorphan or guaifenesin can help suppress the urge to cough. This gives your stomach muscles a break from all that contracting.

Try Honey

Honey has natural cough-soothing properties. Sipping warm tea with honey can coat and calm throat tissues irritated by drainage. This may reduce coughing frequency.

Use Ginger

Ginger root tea, candies, or supplements can ease nausea and relax stomach muscles. Ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties to help settle any inflammation.

Take Antacids

Over-the-counter antacids like Tums, Rolaids, or Mylanta can neutralize stomach acid and relieve acid reflux and heartburn triggered by coughing.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water, juice, or electrolyte-rich sports drinks. Dehydration worsens headache, fatigue, nausea, and cramping. Gradually sipping fluids can help.

Eat Light, Nutritious Foods

Choose simple, bland foods that are easy on your stomach like broth, rice, applesauce, and dry toast. Avoid heavy, rich, or greasy foods. Eat small, frequent meals.

Use Heat

A heating pad or hot water bottle placed on your abdomen can relieve stomach muscle tension, spasms, and cramps.

Get Rest

Get plenty of sleep and rest to help your body recover faster. Fatigue can magnify coughing discomforts.

Try Over-the-Counter Antinausea Medication

If nausea and vomiting are prominent, an OTC drug like Emetrol may provide relief. But avoid this if you have liver disease or certain other conditions.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Stress and anxiety can worsen stomach woes. Try meditating, deep breathing, journaling, stretching, or music therapy to induce relaxation.

Use Cough Drop Lozenges

Cough drops with anesthetic ingredients can temporarily numb throat tissues and suppress the urge to cough. This provides a break for your abdominal muscles.

See Your Doctor if Symptoms Persist

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• No improvement after 7 days
• Inability to keep food or fluids down
• Bloody vomit or stool
• Severe or worsening pain
• Fever over 102°F (39°C)
• Dizziness, confusion, or fainting

These may be signs of a more serious condition requiring medical treatment. It's especially important to see a doctor if you have chronic GI problems that are exacerbated by coughing.

Preventing Coughing Discomforts

You can't always avoid getting a coughing cold. But you can take measures to prevent it, shorten its duration, and minimize miseries like stomach troubles:

• Get your annual flu shot.
• Wash hands frequently and avoid contact with sick people.
• Sanitize commonly touched surfaces.
• Take immunity boosting vitamins like vitamin C and zinc.
• Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet.
• Reduce exposure to coughing triggers like smoke, dust, and chemicals.
• Treat underlying chronic conditions like asthma and acid reflux.
• Get adequate rest and physical activity.
• Manage stress levels through relaxation practices.

Taking preventive steps can help you avoid colds and minimize miserable symptoms like coughing and stomach pain when you do get sick.

The Takeaway

It's common for your stomach to hurt when you have a bad cough. All that muscular contraction and pressure in your abdomen takes a toll. Combine it with other digestive issues that accompany a cold, and significant discomfort can occur.

Fortunately, you have many options to help soothe your stomach when a cough flares up. Over-the-counter meds, natural remedies, home treatments, and preventive health habits can all provide relief. Pay attention to any worrisome symptoms, and see your doctor if stomach issues persist or worsen.

With the right relief strategies, you can keep your digestive system happy even when coughing has you down for the count.

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.