Hard coughing causes blackout/passingout

[TacomaTom]

I have had a cough now for about 3 weeks. It started off very mild but 2 weeks ago got more serious. I was sitting down and started to cough really hard and the next thing i knew i was picking myself up off the floor. I had passed out. I went to the emergency room and they told me i had bronchitis and that i had passed out from  agitating that nerve in the back of my neck, at least thats what they think and didnt seem to worried about it. I have a couple of prescriptions for coughing ect but they are not working very well and i have since had 2 more hard coughing episodes where i blacked out if not all the way passed out.
What i want to know is does this sound normal for bronchitis or hard coughing? Should i be worried more? Can passing out or blacking out cause any damage from repeted episodes?
What else can i do?

[Sandro_Lee]

I see this was posted in 2008. Can you tell me what came from your episodes? Were you diagnosed with anything? It is the same scenario that is happening now to my relative and trying to gain some knowledge about it.

[MacRRT]

it's a Vasovagal reflex.

[AmyBrownEyes]

I have had a bad cough for year and tried everything.  Then my doctor wanted to test me for Asthma.  I told him I am 50 years old and I don't have Asthma.  Sure enough... I have Asthma.   Now anytime I get a head cold... I will start coughing and I will start using my inhaler.  

[Strongasicanbe]

I've had this happen to me recently but also had blood come out of my nose. I went to the ER was dehydrated some and had recently had the flu. I already have a rare blood disorder called Cryoglobulinemia where if I get too cold my blood vessels will gel or clot and sometimes explode causing serious damage to my legs, arms, feet and hips. But the Dr explained it to me that wgere I wasn't completely over the flu and started the coughing episode that I wasn't getting enough oxygen an that brought on the black out. This started at 8am that I blacked out an my bf found me at 1:58pm where he was able to bring me to with a lot of pain in my body where I'd lain in that position for too long. I am being prescribed Life Alert to get help if I feel it happening again cause this isn't my first time. He said the lack of oxygen made me go out and I was lucky to have come back to an was out for so long because my body was trying to build oxygen back up. If this has happened more then once I suggest getting a help system too cause its very scary an I was told it can cause death if there's no one around to help. He'd said it started with a C, but I can't remember the name of it. I also had a bit of an infection so with the IV fluids they also gave me a breathing treatment and IV antibiotics of a high dose. I was sent home with a prescription of more antibiotics. The coughing had slowed down by the time I was released and I've tried staying calm since an took the meds. I am doing better, but had noticed strong smells or odors was making it worse an I couldn't be aroubd my dogs till I got better. I also had a pup that was coughing at this time said to have kennel cough. I feel it may have had a little to do with being near their cage an unable to keep it clean as usual where I was fighting the flu for 2 months. I'd got it from one kid then another after recovering the first time. First one I had bronchial infection and double ear infection. The 2nd time I had a slight urinary tract or blockage possibly from my cryo in my kidneys. I'm also on chemo once a month an got the flue the 2nd time around the very day I had chemo. I was running to high a fever of 103.6 to be able to get it when it came up for time the next round of chemo. This caused my Cryoglobulinemia to act up on my arms. I am hoping they were right when they said the black out was lack of oxygen since I'd done it the first time of the flu too. Sometimes so many things are going on at once it's hard to give a specific diagnosis. I've seen remarks on here of people saying they can go out into the cold though an get a burning sensation in legs etc once they start warming up it can get worse an leave rash like symptoms or redness an bad itching. If that continues I really suggest getting tested for Cryoglobulinemia. This is a rare life threatening blood disorder I've been dealing with for 6yrs now going on 7 and found out my body was trying to fight multiple myeloma (bone cancer) but got confused for some unknown reason an began building up Cryoglobulins instead of white blood cells. There is no cure, but some, like myself have had to go through plasmapheresis. I'm allergic to steroids which can help others keep it calm and it can also flare up if you stay to upset at times or have something else go wrong such as the flu, urinary tract or any other infections. You must try to keep warm at all times to prevent the rash like places which is really purpura or blood that has leaked out into the skin after the clotted vessel.exploded! The surrounding skin tissue can die an leave sores or open wounds. I found a place on Facebook that was the first one started by a very caring set of people an woman named Diane Dike that was on mystery diagnosis. It's the CVO sight. There is a lot of support there, information and people who've gone through this too. I'd joined another once that was started after, but in my biggest opinion for wrong reasons. I'd had information taken from me and shared without my permission. Information given to one of the women who was once part of the CVO sight. I know everyone has a right to their beliefs especially religious ones, but on the 2nd sight I was told I wasn't allowed to express concern for others by saying I'd pray for them. I have a close friend who doesn't know what to believe in this situation, but is never unkind or asks me not to say I'll pray for tgem. We all have a way of seeking, searching and giving comfort and concern to one another.

[MacRRT]

might be a good idea to have oxygen at home during such times.

[Concretepete]

I was chewing gum and I swallowed a lot of salvIA and the juice I will call it from the gum. I started coughing already bad and blacked out for about 20 seconds and I was still coughing while I was pasted out. This information came from the passenger in the car with me. Any answers or solution.  Thano you

[MacRRT]

have a swallow test done if this continues, though I'd guess it was chocking incident that led to a vasovagal response. /the uvula may not have completely closed off.

[LRC70]

The passing out is a combination of Hyperventilation & Adrenaline. When you start coughing very hard, you will start to hyperventilate and your Adrenaline kicks in. You can pass out just from hyperventilation and when your Adrenaline kicks in it will constrict your blood vessels on top of everything else. You may not completely pass out and only end up with the shakes. The shakes are your body's way of trying to get rid of the Adrenaline. Watch for it the next time you start to cough really hard. Your mind will be saying something like " I'm coughing really hard" or "The last time I coughed this hard, I passed out". Anxiety takes over and here comes the Adrenaline and down you go. (1) try to mentally catch it before it gets that far. Mentally slow your coughing down to help prevent hyperventilating. (2) Get on the floor if you feel comfortable doing so. The fear of falling will be eased and your anxiety level should be eased. (3) If you panic, you are just inviting Adrenaline to the party. (4) Stay as calm as you can and ride it out. (5) Learn to recognize the onset of it so you can control it. I know, because I deal with it every day myself. I'm not sure what ailment is causing you to cough so hard because I am NOT an MD. An Ear, Nose & Throat MD. may be of some help.Visit the 2 links below for more insight. www.reference.com/health/pass-out-hyperventilate-10e04d0b4bcdee97 http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/tremors
Good Luck & stay positive.

[MacRRT]

this is not in reference to the sever cough associated with acute/chronic bronchitis. "cough syncope" is a vasovagal reflex.

[teisha53]

I have been going through this myself I am in yours but I also just left my Physician's office the other day because nurses should not try to heal themselves. After time I'm trying to do my own thing I went in and he listened to my lungs and told me that I had bronchitis I know that when you call her you can lose your breath and blackout because you are blowing off too much CO2 or the bad air from your lungs that is not oxygenated and not taking in enough to compensate so you're coughing and coughing and not taking anything in eventually blackout for brief periods of time or feel like you're going to blackout. My physician gave me a shot of cortisone prednisone tablets and an antibiotic to take because I know that the alveoli or the air sacs that make up your lungs exchange oxygenated blood or deoxygenated blood were there oxygen in blood connected to your brain that causes a temporary blackout. If you have ever looked at a tree in the south that has Moss hanging from it imagine that there is your lungs and this mucus is hanging on your lungs obstructing like a vacuum cleaner bag that is obstructed with dust and can no longer clean what can no longer clean the air in your lungs. So it's gotten to the point where something has to be done it takes a while to heal from it so I would keep a good strong band of cough drops in your pocket as well to alleviate some of the symptoms when you feel the coughing starting to trigger try not to aspirate a cough drop. If you are having these episodes it is better for you not to be driving you could kill yourself or someone else take care and feel better go see your doctor again don't go to the ER just go to your regular doctor

[MacRRT]

the SaO2 vs the PaO2 wouldn't react that quickly, one would have to have a LONG none stop coughing spell with no inspiration and that can't happen what do you think we're using to force the cough out? go back and remember the vasovagal reflex. If you're blowing off CO2 , that's a good thing, we are always blowing off CO2, thus respiration occurs... no CO2 narcosis right ? if you can cough.. you're breathing.. simple as that. (abc's)
Trauma TEAM / ICU , EMT-RRT, BC-HIS, FEMA-ESF8