Get to know the diaphragm, a muscle with an important function in breathing

Did you know that how humans breathe is also regulated by the work of the diaphragm? The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that lies beneath the lungs, right at the base of the chest cavity. Well, apart from helping the breathing process, it turns out that there are many other diaphragm functions that are no less important. So, if this one muscle has a problem, then your body's performance may be affected.

What are the functions of the diaphragm?

The diaphragm is a skeletal muscle (striated muscle) that stretches to separate the organs in the stomach (intestines, stomach, spleen, and liver) from the chest organs, such as the lungs and heart. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, the diaphragm plays an important role in the breathing process.

Here are the functions of the diaphragm in your body:

• When you inhale, the diaphragm will tighten to make it bigger to make it easier for oxygen to flow into the lungs
• When you exhale, relaxing the diaphragm will increase the pressure of the air in the chest cavity to push the air out
• Regulate muscle movements when coughing and vomiting, to straining when defecating or giving birth
• Increases the pressure in the abdominal cavity to induce a cough, vomiting, and straining reflex.
• Helps prevent stomach acid from flowing back up into the esophagus, a condition called acid reflex that causes ulcers and GERD.

What are the health problems that can interfere with the diaphragm?

Some of the medical conditions that may cause problems with the diaphragm are:

1. Hiccups

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm goes into temporary spasm. This muscle spasm causes the flow of incoming breath to stop suddenly at the closure of the vocal cords (glottis). As a result, you are unconsciously making sounds like “Hic!When hiccups.

The most common causes of hiccups are eating too fast, eating full, and sipping soft drinks too quickly. Generally, hiccups go away quickly on their own without having to use any medication. However, this condition may make you feel uncomfortable if it continues to drag on.

You can get rid of hiccups by drinking cold water in small batches or holding your breath for a while. For example, by drinking cold water slowly, holding your breath for a while, or biting into a lemon. You can also pull your legs toward your chest and lean forward to compress your chest.

2. Hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernia is a condition when the upper part of the stomach is pushed up into the opening of the diaphragm. This condition is usually triggered by increased pressure in the stomach due to obesity or pregnancy. In addition, hiatal hernias can also be caused by the habit of pushing too hard when lifting heavy objects or coughing.

Hiatal hernias make it easier for stomach acid to rise. Leaking acid from the stomach into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If left without proper treatment, a hiatal hernia can cause complications in the stomach and throat.

3. Diaphragmatic hernia

Diaphragmatic hernia is a disorder characterized by a hole in the diaphragm. This unnecessary hole can cause the abdominal organs to pass into the chest cavity.

Diaphragmatic hernias can be caused due to a congenital (genetic) disorder or the result of physical trauma such as a traffic accident, blunt force blow, or gunshot.

In the case of congenital disorders, this condition is very life-threatening because it causes the baby's lungs, heart, kidneys, and digestive system not to develop properly.

Diaphragmatic hernias can also be caused by complications of damage to the diaphragm after surgery to the abdomen or chest

4. Diaphragm paralysis

The diaphragm muscle can be partially or completely paralyzed. This paralysis is caused by damage to the nerves that regulate the respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm.

When only one side of the muscle is paralyzed, the breathing process will be hampered, which can cause the sufferer to experience respiratory failure.

There are many conditions that can cause the respiratory muscles to become paralyzed and prevent them from functioning properly. Some of these include:

• Phrenic nerve damage due to heart bypass surgery, esophageal surgery, etc.
• Injury to the thoracic cavity or spinal cord nerves
• Have a history of diabetic neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and muscular dystrophy
• Have viral / bacterial infections such as HIV, polio, and Lyme disease

Various disorders of the respiratory muscles can actually be diagnosed early. Some of the most characteristic symptoms that lead to diaphragmatic disorders are shortness of breath accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

However, because shortness of breath can be a sign of many other symptoms of ailments, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor if you have trouble breathing. Consulting a doctor is the only best way you can do to find out the cause and how to treat it.

How do you keep your diaphragm healthy?

The diaphragm is one of the organs in the body that supports the breathing process. Therefore, it is important for you to maintain the health of this one organ in order to avoid damage that can interfere with its function.

There are easy steps you can take on a routine starting today to maintain a healthy diaphragm, including:

• Avoid eating foods that are spicy, acidic, and high in fat as they can all trigger them heartburn and acid reflux.
• Avoid eating in large portions immediately. Try to eat small, frequent meals.
• Always warm up before and cool down after exercising so that your muscles are not stiff.
• Know your body's tolerance limits when exercising or engaging in strenuous physical activity. Never force yourself to continue physical activity that is actually beyond your body's capabilities.

Apart from that, you can also do abdominal breathing exercises. Similar to the muscles in other parts of the body, these breathing muscles must often be trained with special exercises so they are not tense and stiff. You can try learning to do belly breathing.

Abdominal breathing helps your lungs expand, so they can supply more air. Apart from strengthening the diaphragm muscles, abdominal breathing can also help reduce stress and lower blood pressure.