Blackouts after a cough

[tige2]

I have emphysema & polysythemia.
Recently I have had a cough and in the last few days, the cough has made me faint.
Is it due to the thickening of the blood, or the progressive state of th emphysema.
I await for your reply
Thank you
Trevor


This discussion is related to Coughing Fits causing temporary blackouts.

[anooprungta]

Over the last 2 weeks, my father  have had 5 attacks of blacking out after coughing. These blackouts last for just seconds( 20 secs)
and seem to be increasing in frequency.  sometimes vommiting also.
Admitted in hospital for 5 days, doctors did all the testings till ct scan  but they did not find anything.
still its the same condition.


I checked you also got that problem?
please help and mail at ***@****, anooprungta at gmail *******

[lillyobrien]

My husband has been having blackouts over the last 2 weeks eveytime he goes into a fit of coughing, his chest has been getting worse and his breathing wouldnt be great but no way can i get him to the doctor, i fear he could have a heart attack with all the coughing would it bring on one hi is 48 years old

[pritchtom]

I already supplied a comment but I was not registered yet.  I had a series of serious coughing fits thirteen years ago that caused me to briefly faint.  I had a laryngoscopy and the physician performing the procedure said he saw nothing.  I think might have inhaled a popcorn shell or a nut skin that they removed without knowing that they had because afterward I no longer coughed to the point of blacking out.  In the past two years I have been diagnosed twice with bronchitis and have been treated with antibiotics and an Albuterol Suffate inhaler (generic name Ventolin HFA 90MCG) both of which have provided relief.  I am reluctant to take antibiotics but sometimes you just have to.

[pritchtom]

It's a tiring experience,  Glad I wasn't driving or riding my motorcycle when I had one of those coughing fits  I could not stop.

[caregiver222]

The vagus nerve, known as the tenth (of twelve) cranial nerves is sometimes known as the pneumogastric nerve or simply the "wanderer". It meanders about the body. When stimulated it secretes a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This substance drops the heart rate from twenty to forty beats per minute.  Excessive stimulation of this nerve can lead to bradycardia (a low heart rate). Coughing, especially bouts of heavy coughing, activates this nerve.

Some people have a more sensitive vagus nerve than others. This is a genetic trait.

A perfectly normal person with the flu, who coughs heavily, may experience moments where they "black out".

The co-factor is a cause of some concern. A physician would generally like to know why the blood pressure is low? It could be as simple as dehydration or represent a problem with the pacemaker site.

[caregiver222]

It is due to irritation of a branch of the vagus nerve, which then reduces the heart rate. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the blood or the emphysema. Usually there is a co-factor, which is low blood pressure. The technical term for what took place is a "vasovagal syncopal episode".

It's nothing to be overly concerned about.

You might want to have your blood pressure checked.

[pritchtom]

Except gagging to death on your phlegm.