Nausea when coughing

Respiratory diseases are often associated with a strong cough. It can happen that a Nausea when coughing is triggered.

What characterizes nausea when coughing?

In most cases there is nausea when coughing, if there is a cold or a flu-like infection.

Coughing is part of our body reflexes and is carried out automatically by humans. Very fine sensory cells, which are located in the airways, larynx and throat, have the task of transporting pathogens out of the human body. This happens through the sudden contraction of the diaphragm, back and abdominal muscles. Under certain circumstances, very strong coughing attacks can lead to nausea or vomiting.

causes

In most cases there is nausea when coughing, if there is a cold or a flu-like infection. In such a case, the airways are clogged with mucus, so that a strong and intense coughing attack is often inevitable.

If you have respiratory diseases or pneumonia, you may feel sick when you cough. In the case of whooping cough, this can even last for several weeks. This is one of the main symptoms of this disease. Another cause that is outside the airways is reflux disease. This is usually a congenital weakness of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach.

This leads to a mixture of chyme and stomach acid, which can then flow back into the esophagus. The resulting heartburn in the esophagus can lead to a very unpleasant cough, which is often associated with a very strong nausea.

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➔ Medicines against coughs and colds

Diseases with this symptom

• heartburn
• Foreign body aspiration

• Respiratory diseases
• lung infection

• whooping cough
• Reflux disease

Diagnosis & course of disease

If a cough is so strong that it causes nausea, it is advisable to consult a doctor. The first thing to do is to listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. In this way it is determined whether there are unusual and pathological breathing noises. If the doctor detects such noises, further tests should definitely be carried out. This includes, for example, a bronchoscopy. This allows the respective condition of the lungs and bronchi to be determined very precisely.

In addition, a lung function test can be carried out in order to rule out all eventualities. If no disease is found in the areas mentioned, a gastroscopy is performed, which provides more detailed information about the stomach and esophagus. If there is a reflux disease, this will be recognized at the latest with a gastric mirror. This is usually followed by a blood test.

This can be used to determine various inflammation parameters that could also be the cause of the cough. Various allergy tests can also be carried out. If the result is positive, it is entered in an allergy passport so that targeted action can be taken.

Complications

Nausea when coughing is a symptom and not a disease, so not all possible complications can be listed, as some have to be considered depending on the underlying disease. In general, it can also be said that the symptom of nausea when coughing can also be a complication.

Probably the most serious possible complication is aspiration of vomit. If vomiting actually occurs as a result of the urge to vomit, it is possible to aspirate parts of the vomit. These get into the windpipe. As a result, there is a renewed, usually strong, urge to cough. The cough is used to get the vomit out of the airways. If this does not succeed, there is a risk of suffocation in the worst case. If the vomit gets into the lungs, infections and inflammatory reactions can occur there. If aspiration occurs, it is important to get the vomit out of the airways as quickly as possible.

Other possible complications are shortness of breath, increased coughing and anxiety. If you vomit while coughing, you often experience shortness of breath, which can lead to anxiety and even panic attacks. In general, it is advisable to remain calm as panicking and ill-considered behavior can make the situation worse.

When should you go to the doctor?

Irritant cough with vomiting, even if it feels threatening, is usually the symptom of a harmless cold. Dry cough does not produce mucus, it is dry and therefore very uncomfortable. It is not uncommon for a coughing attack to become so extreme that the person affected becomes short of breath and nausea. Spasmodic coughing fits are not uncommon in children either. If the cough persists, it can be a virus infection, which usually subsides after a few days.

To be on the safe side, a blood test can be carried out on the sick person. If there are elevated levels of inflammation in the blood, the infection is bacterial and suggests several diseases. If the cough is accompanied by symptoms such as pain when breathing, headache and hoarseness, it could be bronchitis. This must be clarified by the specialist.

Depending on the situation, an x-ray of the lungs can provide clarity. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is common in children but can also affect unvaccinated adults. An infection can also come back after a vaccination that was taken some time ago. Here, too, a blood test provides information.

Since whooping cough is caused by bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. So that the affected bronchial tubes can calm down again, cough suppressants containing codeine are often part of the therapy. Whooping cough is a reportable infection.

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Treatment & Therapy

If it is a very protracted and dry cough, it is recommended to take a stronger cough syrup. Although this can prevent the annoying urge to cough, it cannot banish the pathogens from the throat. A home remedy that can help very well in many cases is inhaling healing herbs. This can have a very calming effect on the airways and prevent coughing and nausea.

If the mucus is very tough and stuck, an expectorant drug should be administered. In many cases, the mucus is the trigger for the actual nausea, as the mucus cannot be coughed up properly. In the case of whooping cough, on the other hand, expectorant drugs tend to be ineffective. In particularly severe cases, antibiotics can also be given. If necessary, in-patient treatment can also be provided.

If the trigger is an allergy, the first thing to do is to find the trigger. In many cases that is enough. However, if the cause of the nausea is asthma, additional medication that has anti-inflammatory effects must be administered. If it is a serious disease of the heart or the lungs, then appropriate medication must be administered that corresponds to the respective stage of the disease.

In such cases, inpatient treatment or an operation can usually no longer be avoided. If the above-mentioned reflux disease is present, the person affected must pay attention to a few things with regard to their diet. Highly acidic foods should be avoided completely. Even large meals with a very high percentage of fat should not be consumed regularly. If there is still no clear improvement afterwards, so-called acid inhibitors can be prescribed. However, this should not be a permanent solution, because the human body can get used to this substance, which is anything but healthy in the long term.

Outlook & forecast

In many cases, nausea when coughing is a common symptom that occurs during the flu or cold. No treatment by the doctor is necessary here, because the symptom disappears by itself and does not lead to any further complications. The nausea when coughing is often accompanied by strange-sounding breathing noises. As a rule, the doctor can use some means of diagnosis that can determine the cause of the symptom relatively well.

The patient's everyday life is severely restricted by the symptom, since activities can no longer be carried out without further ado. It can happen that the vomit is inhaled again and swallowed. In the worst case, this can lead to death or an infection of the respiratory tract. Many patients also experience anxiety and panic during the symptom.

In most cases, treatment is carried out with the help of antibiotics (for infections) and leads to a positive course of the disease relatively quickly. Operations are not necessary. However, it is helpful to avoid panic and avoid acidic products so that as little stomach acid as possible builds up due to the nausea when coughing.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against coughs and colds

prevention

Targeted prevention against coughing and the nausea associated with it is very difficult, as it is an automated protective reflex. Preventing a cold or a flu-like infection is almost impossible. However, our immune system offers good protection. So that this remains one hundred percent intact and is maintained, a healthy and varied diet is of great importance.

If the first signs of whooping cough are visible, a doctor should be consulted as quickly as possible. The earlier the disease is treated, the better it can be treated. Otherwise there is a risk of worsening symptoms, which can lead to severe inflammation of the lungs.

You can do that yourself

There are not only medicinal ways to prevent nausea when coughing. Home remedies can also be effective. The most obvious thing to do is to refrain from eating so that nothing can be vomited. However, this is not advisable. The stomach contents are not responsible for the nausea. This remains in the stomach and the affected person spits out bile.

It is more effective to combat the urge to cough. The best way to do this is to keep the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat moist. Drinking plenty is the best tip. But broths or soups can also help. Anything that keeps the mucous membranes moist is good. Inhaling, for example with hot water and thyme, is also recommended. Honey can also work wonders, as it protects the mucous membranes.

In addition to these active countermeasures, there are also passive aids. For example, a damp towel in the bedroom keeps the humidity constant, which relieves the airways. A sliced ​​onion in the bedroom should also have a similar effect. Finally, a trip to the sea is also recommended. The salty, moist air helps with all kinds of breathing difficulties and symptoms of colds. Smokers should reduce their tobacco consumption as much as possible.