Laughter and Excitement induced coughs

[CBA]

Please help. I have been suffering from this laughter (and excitement) induced coughs for about four weeks. At times the coughs could last for several minutes before I am able to stop. I start coughing as someone says something funny and also when I am exited during conversation. There is no phlegm in the cough. I wonder what is causing it and how to cure it.

[pinkglad]

A related discussion, Cough induced by laughter was started.

[raglakl]

I'm so glad to hear of other people with this problem.  I used to only have EIA, but the laughter- or cough-induced attacks started about two years ago.  And they are much worse than any of my EIA attacks.  The first night, I had to use my nebulizer every two hours the rest of the night.  Eventually I went to my lifetime allergist, who told me a bunch of mess and gave me a painful cortisone shot in my butt.  It didn't happen again for a month or so, but it has been happening ever since.  The coughing progresses to a dry, painful, barking cough that gets progressively worse, forcing me to use my inhaler.  As the inhaler starts to work, I cough up tons of phlegm for about a half hour afterwards.  No doctor yet can explain it.  Does anybody know if there is something I could take?

[Miss Pickles]

I have a similar problem.  When I laugh hard, I start coughing uncontrollably where I sound like a seal barking.  It's so embarassing!  Also, for the past year I have had a chronic dry cough, just short coughs, 3 or 4 at a time, several times a day that don't SEEM to be triggered by anything in particular. They are not like any coughs I have had in the past.  I haven't been sick with any colds or flu and have no problem with sinus drainage or acid reflux (that I know of).  My doctor thought maybe it could be mild asthma and gave me an Albuteral inhaler, but that just made the cough worse.  Are these two types of coughs related?  The laughing cough started 10 years ago, the other cough one year ago.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.  P.S. Chest xray was normal.

[National Jewish]

Your laughter induced cough is probably due to an increased level of irritability in the small airways of your lung.  A virus can cause it.  Sometimes it can be caused by an exposure to a lung irritant, such as lots of smoke.  Usually it is transient in nature.  However, in some it is the precursor of more involvement of the airways and progresses to become coughing with activity etc.  This is a form of mild asthma.  If it persists, I would suggest speaking to your family doctor.  Certain inhalers can relieve this problem in a few days.