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Interventional Cardiology (Expert Forum)
Passing Out while coughing
Answered by
Mukesh Garg, MD - Cardiology, Internal Medicine
Truman Medical Center
Kansas City - MO
Questions in the Interventional Cardiology forum are answered by medical professionals affiliated with the Truman Medical Center. Topics covered include acute coronary syndrome, angina, atrial fibrillation, cardiac catheterization, cardiomyopathy, drug abuse & cardiac disease, echocardiography, heart failure, hypertension & heart disease, lipid management, minorities and heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, prevention, valvular heart disease, women’s heart health, and the warning signs of a heart attack.
Passing Out while coughing
by RBJONES, Oct 19, 2007 12:26PM
Well, I'm really not sure which topic my question falls under. My brother is a 36 yr old black male and he has a cold, so we thought. His cough has been very deep but also when he coughs alot he passes out for about 10 to 15 sec.. I don't know what the problem is and he has seen his family doctor which gave him medicine and has scheduled several test for him. Is there anything we should be concerned about and is there anything that you can help us with to know what's going on?
Thanks in Advance
Thanks in Advance
Doctor's Answer
by Mukesh Garg, MD, Nov 13, 2007 02:00PM
, Nov 13, 2007 02:00PM
Member Comments (2)
by caregiver222, Oct 19, 2007 03:48PM
A syncopal episode after a cough is common. It is called a vasovagal syncopal episode. The vagus nerve, when stimulated, drops the heart rate. The heart rate drop a lot. The vagal nerve meanders through the body. One of the places it wanders near is affected by a cough. This causes a biological messenger to be sent to the atrial pacemaker site reducing the heartrate. lowers the amount of blood pumped to the brain momentarily and causes light-headness or sometimes unconsciousness. That's what's going on. This is not necessarily a cause for undue concern. Many people have extremely sensitive vagal nerves. The late Jackie Kennedy had this condition. It can cause a problem while driving. As a mater of trivia (Hey, you might getnon cash cab) the vagus nerve is also close to the anus. When you strain on the toilet you drop the heart-rate. This is why many cardiac patients are found dead on the toilet.
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