What diseases cause a patient to suffocate when coughing and what to do?

Patients suffering from cough while lying down are forced to forget about normal sleep and rest. It is exhausting and deteriorates physical and mental health. A cough reflex that occurs when lying on your back can be a sign of a serious pathology and requires qualified diagnosis and immediate treatment. Timely consultation with a doctor will improve the prognosis of the disease.

Causes of cough while lying down

In a horizontal position, blood flow in the respiratory organs slows down and the drainage function of the bronchopulmonary system is disrupted. Sputum gradually accumulates and causes a cough of varying intensity.

Causes of cough reflex when lying down:

• Bronchial asthma, which is characterized by a paroxysmal cough at night with wheezing, difficult to separate scanty sputum and difficulty exhaling.
• With exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and tracheitis, a short-term cough occurs in a person who is in a horizontal position.
• Unfavorable environment, especially dust and air pollution. The population of large cities, workers of hazardous enterprises and people who spend a lot of time in such conditions often experience intense coughing in a horizontal position. This is due to the fact that fine particles, which are foreign bodies for the body, settle in the respiratory tract.
• Lung diseases - a simple form of pneumonia, emphysema, which is characterized by coughing with mucus in small quantities. It usually begins at night, and is mild during the day.
• Reflux disease - in this case, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus due to ineffective operation of the muscular valve between these sections of the gastrointestinal tract. When a person assumes a horizontal position, the likelihood of food entering the respiratory tract increases, which is accompanied by a protective cough reflex.
• Allergies are common causes of coughing in a lying position and at night; the cause is bronchospasm. The distinctive features of an allergic cough are dry, paroxysmal, without general signs of inflammation, accompanied by itching in the throat and difficulty breathing.

An intense night cough without mucus discharge sometimes begins due to a change in the microclimate in the bedroom. Evening cold, insufficient ventilation, and low humidity in the room can cause a dry cough in adults and children.

Factors influencing worsening cough

There are a number of conditions in which coughing attacks are present during the day and become stronger at night in a horizontal position:

• For babies, this condition is typical with whooping cough. During the day, the cough resembles a cold, and before bedtime and at night it becomes intense with repeated episodes and can cause vomiting in a child.
• Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol have a sharply negative effect on the respiratory tract, irritating cough receptors and causing mucus accumulation.
• Heart failure is a common cause of increased painful coughing at night when lying down at a time when congestion in the lungs increases. The nature of the cough is dry, less often with copious transparent sputum.

A baby’s cough can become an indirect symptom of congenital heart disease and, together with other signs, should alert parents.

Associated symptoms

• With a cough that increases in intensity or appears when lying down, other clinical signs of disease are present.
• For bronchopulmonary inflammatory pathologies and whooping cough:
• 

• weakness, drowsiness;
• chills, fever;
• increased breathing and cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
• heaviness or pain in the chest area;
• puffiness of the face, barrel-shaped chest;
• sputum streaked with blood.

1. In heart failure, the cough reflex is accompanied by shortness of breath during exercise and at rest, swelling of the extremities, cyanosis of peripheral parts of the body (fingers and hands, tip of the nose, ears), and possible fainting.
2. 
3. Reflux disease is characterized by:

• heartburn and sour belching after eating;
• pain and burning behind the sternum radiating to the interscapular region;
• Possible dry throat and hoarseness.

Allergies manifest themselves with specific symptoms: skin rash, swelling of the lips and eyelids, sneezing, itchy nose, numbness of the tongue.

Diagnostics

Includes collection of complaints and anamnesis: allergic, professional, hereditary. The nature of the cough at night is clarified - productive, intense, duration, and what the person associates with its occurrence.

• Physical examination includes physical examination, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of the lungs and heart.
• Analysis of peripheral blood reveals typical signs of inflammation (neutrophilic leukocytosis with a shift to the left, accelerated ESR) during infectious processes.
• 
• Sputum analysis is carried out to determine the pathogen and sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.
• Allergy screening includes:

• identifying the amount of immunoglobulin E;
• prick skin tests;
• consultation with an immunologist.

Instrumental diagnostic methods for cough that occurs in a lying position:

• chest x-ray (if pneumonia and emphysema are suspected);
• bronchoscopy or bronchography (bronchitis);
• FGDS (if reflux disease is suspected);
• ECG (failure and congenital heart defects).

According to indications, a consultation with a pulmonologist or gastroenterologist is prescribed, and it is possible to use computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Fighting cough

Each clinical case of cough that begins in a lying position poses a responsible task for the doctor, which consists of rational therapy. The choice of treatment methods must be justified and aimed at the cause, pathogenesis and elimination of clinical signs.

Medication

Drugs should be prescribed taking into account the etiology, mechanism of development and symptoms of the disease.

Table - Drug therapy for cough

Cause of cough	Medicines
Bronchial asthma, allergies	Glucocorticoids - Dexamethasone, Prednisolone, Budesonide; selective β2-adrenergic receptor agonists - Salbutamol, Fenoterol, Salmeterol; methylxanthines - Aminophylline; antihistamines - Loratadine, Diphenhydramine, Suprastin; mucolytics - Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine
Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia	Broad-spectrum antibiotics - cephalosporins, penicillins, carbapenems; expectorants - Bromhexine, Ambrohexal; NSAIDs - Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Nimesulide
Reflux disease	Prokinetics - Motilak, Motilium; antacids - Phosphalugel, Rennie, Maalox, Almagel, Gastal, Gastratsid; proton pump inhibitors - Omeprazole, Omez, Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole, Rabeprazole, Esomeprazole; histamine receptor blockers - Roxatidine, Nizatidine, Famotidine, Ranitidine
Heart failure	Cardiac glycosides - Digoxin, Cordigit, Strophanthin K; aldosterone antagonists - Spironolactone, Veroshpiron, Aldactone; diuretics - Lasix; ACE inhibitors - Enalapril, Captopril; beta blockers - Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol.

The choice of medications for the treatment of severe cough that appears in a lying position depends on the cause, clinical symptoms and individual characteristics of the body.

Traditional medicine

1. Traditional methods of fighting cough are not an alternative to conservative medications and other traditional therapies, but are classified as auxiliary means.
2. 
3. To treat night cough use:

• Tincture of aloe juice, honey, potatoes and black radish. The components (200 ml each) are mixed and left in a dark room for three days. It is recommended to take one tablespoon in the morning after breakfast, at lunch and in the evening. If you are intolerant to honey, use sugar or glucose.
• Freshly squeezed orange juice is mixed with boiled water (or Borjomi) 1:1. Use half a glass in the morning and evening.
• Decoction of plantain leaves. Take three teaspoons of the crushed plant and place it in half a liter of boiling water, stir and leave for three hours. Then you need to strain and drink a third of a glass in the morning, at lunch and before bed.

Despite the relative safety of folk recipes, they should only be used in consultation with a doctor.

Other treatments

Using several methods of cough relief in combination will lead to a quicker recovery.

Physiotherapeutic techniques have limited use. They are useful for coughs that begin in a lying position as a result of respiratory pathology.

Restricted in the acute stage and allowed in the chronic period of the disease:

• Steam and warm-moist inhalations for coughs from the first day of the acute process. The aerosol used is sodium chloride 0.9% or 1–2% soda solution. It is recommended to breathe 3-4 times a day for 6-8 days. For bronchial asthma, bronchodilators are added - Berotek, Berodual.
• For prolonged forms of the disease, ultraviolet radiation and a warm compress on the chest, inductothermy of the region of the roots of the lungs are prescribed.
• Ozokerite and paraffin applications, electrophoresis.

Massage has a therapeutic effect against cough: drainage, acupressure, classic, cupping and segmental. The course lasts about two weeks. Massage before electrophoresis and after alkaline inhalations is effective.

Prevention and recommendations for alleviating the patient’s condition

In order to improve a person’s well-being at least a little, it is necessary to give him a forced position at the time of an attack, depending on the disease, for example, the “coachman” position for bronchial asthma. It is also recommended to do breathing exercises.

To prevent diseases that cause coughing while lying on your back, you must follow simple rules: lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise and exercise. Get timely treatment for colds and other pathological conditions.

Conclusion

The cough reflex is a well-known symptom and common manifestation of respiratory and other diseases.

A cough that begins or worsens while lying down is a sign of quite serious pathologies. In this regard, it should not be ignored.

Modern medical science has many effective methods for diagnosing and treating unpleasant symptoms in adults and children.

Source: https://prikashel.ru/question/kashel-v-polozhenii-lezha.html

I'm choking from coughing: causes and treatment methods

Coughing is a necessary phenomenon that helps cleanse the respiratory system of unnecessary elements - sputum, dust, foreign objects. However, this symptom often indicates various pathologies. If it becomes pronounced, it may seem to a person that I am choking from coughing.

The increase in this symptom indicates that the pathology is becoming serious. It is strictly forbidden to ignore a suffocating cough.

The main causes of symptoms include the following:

• Chronic bronchitis associated with smoking;
• ENT pathologies – influenza, ARVI, tonsillitis;
• Heart failure;
• Malignant formations in the respiratory system;
• Allergy;
• Bronchial asthma;
• Tuberculosis;
• Pneumonia;
• Whooping cough;
• Penetration of a foreign object into the organs of the respiratory system;
• Illnesses associated with the specifics of work.

If an intense cough appears, this may be a consequence of a foreign object entering the respiratory system. In such situations, the cough is spastic in nature, and therefore special treatment is not required. To cope with the problem, you need to cleanse the respiratory system in different ways - coughing or rinsing.

Sometimes this symptom is indicated by damage to the heart and digestive system.

It is important to consider that in some situations, self-diagnosis does not provide the required results . In this case, you need to consult a doctor who will determine the causes of the cough and select therapy.

Types of cough

Depending on the duration, the following types of cough are distinguished:

1. Acute – characteristic of viral infections and colds. In this case, weakness, fever, and rhinitis are observed. An attack of such cough can be observed for 3 hours.
2. Protracted – present for at least 2 weeks. In some cases, it never goes away on its own.
3. Recurrent - repeats every month and is accompanied by bouts of vomiting.
4. Chronic – present all the time. It cannot be eliminated without eliminating the provoking factor.

If a person says “I’m coughing and choking,” the clinical picture of the disorder should be analyzed - this will help make an accurate diagnosis:

1. A suffocating cough often occurs in experienced smokers. In such a situation, it is necessary to give up the bad habit.
2. With chronic bronchitis, adults and children suffer from a suffocating cough in the morning.
3. Laryngitis is characterized by a dry, persistent cough, which is characterized by the synthesis of sputum and an increase in temperature.
4. Intense attacks of coughing suffocation are characteristic of bronchial asthma. In such a situation, a person experiences shortness of breath and chest pain. A small amount of sputum is often produced.
5. Tumor lesions of the lungs and bronchi are characterized by severe suffocating coughing attacks. The patient may feel as if his lungs are bursting.

If a severe cough occurs, take the medicine strictly according to the instructions. The attending physician must prescribe a specific drug. Mild forms of pathologies can be treated at home.

To achieve good results, you need to follow these recommendations:

1. Clearly identify the causes of cough.
2. Provide the patient with comfortable conditions - normal humidity and temperature.
3. Minimize exposure to irritating factors - dust, allergens, smoke.
4. Organize therapy that is aimed at combating the underlying pathology.
5. During the treatment period, stressful situations and physical activity should be avoided.
6. If the patient's condition worsens, an urgent need to go to the hospital.

Cough therapy depending on the cause

If a person does not have enough air during a coughing attack, it is very important to determine the causes of this symptom.

Bronchial asthma

In this case, inhalations are prescribed, which can stop attacks and prevent the occurrence of spasms. In some situations, expectorants and antibiotics may be used.

Heart failure

In addition to basic therapy, medications are used to thin sputum and eliminate spasms. Substances are also required to dilate blood vessels. Antitussives are often prescribed.

If cardiac problems have led to fluid accumulation in the respiratory system, it must first be pumped out. This will help relieve your cough.

Malignant tumors

In this case, the cough is characterized by suffocating spasms. The condition of such patients is severe, so they must be treated under the supervision of a doctor.

Smoker's bronchitis

It will be possible to eliminate the problem only some time after completely getting rid of nicotine addiction.

ARVI

This is one of the most common causes of cough. There are many medications that can help cope with the problem. Treatment may also include compresses and massage.

Allergy

If the causes of the allergic reaction cannot be identified on your own, you need to go to the nearest clinic, get tested and eliminate the allergen. The cough will go away immediately after the interaction with the pathogen is eliminated.

Foreign object

After inhaling a foreign object, a person may develop a severe cough. In such a situation, you need to immediately call an ambulance. In the hospital, the foreign object will be carefully removed from the respiratory system.

Drug therapy

The following categories of drugs are used to treat the disorder:

The following means can be used to perform inhalation:

1. Wet coughs are well eliminated by Lazolvan, Fluimucil, Ambrobene. They must be mixed with saline solution.
2. To combat dry cough, use Berodual, Salbutamol, Berotek.
3. Mineral waters and a mixture of essential oils with saline help to achieve good results.

Folk recipes

One of the most effective means of eliminating cough is steam inhalation and other folk recipes. To improve the condition, use the following:

1. Herbal decoctions. To prepare them, you can use anise, mallow, elecampane, wild rosemary. To get an effective remedy, you need to take 1-2 tablespoons of dry herb and mix with a glass of boiling water. The composition must be infused for 24 hours. Take 50 ml of the product at least 3-5 times a day.
2. Black radish juice with honey. This product effectively copes with any type of cough. To make the composition, you need to mix the ingredients in equal parts. It is recommended to take the medicine three times a day, half a large spoon.
3. Steam inhalations. This procedure is permissible only if the patient does not have a fever. It is best to inhale the fumes from potatoes boiled in their skins. It is necessary to add 1-2 drops of essential oils to the composition. The procedure is carried out 10-20 minutes before bedtime.

Preventive actions

To prevent coughing, it is very important to eliminate provoking factors. These include:

• Mold;
• Dust;
• Tobacco smoke;
• Animal fur.

Systematic ventilation of the room, wet cleaning, and drinking liquids are of great importance.

A severe cough can indicate a variety of pathologies.

Source: https://GorloVrach.ru/simptomy/zadyhayushhijsya-kashel/

Causes of cough and difficulty breathing - We treat the heart

Every person in life has experienced this feeling in different situations. But in what cases is this normal, and in what cases is it a consequence of a developed pathology?

• expiratory (occurs on exhalation);
• inspiratory (during inspiration).

Reasons why it's hard to breathe

Rapid and heavy breathing is normal during heavy physical exertion, which causes the body to lack air. Compensation occurs by increasing the depth and frequency of respiratory movements. If there is a feeling “as if there is not enough air”, this may be the body’s reaction to an external influence or a consequence of the development of the disease.

In a calm state

It can be difficult to breathe if you have diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, or blood disorders (anemia). Obesity and diabetes can also cause breathing difficulties.

When it’s hard to breathe in a calm state, this is not the norm!

In a state of nervous tension, it is difficult to breathe as a result of a panic attack.

After meal

Due to disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, the balanced functioning of the gastrointestinal tract may be disrupted, which leads to non-closure of the gastric valves after eating and the reflux of the contents of the stomach and duodenum into the esophagus (part of the contents enters the bronchi and their spasm occurs in the patient there is a feeling “as if there is not enough air”).

In this situation, there is a redistribution of blood in the systemic and pulmonary circulation, provoking congestion in the lungs, which affects breathing in pathology.

It becomes difficult to breathe when the diaphragm is high, characteristic of ascites and an enlarged liver and impaired airway patency. Shortness of breath while lying down is usually accompanied by a “cordial” cough and it becomes difficult to breathe when turning to one side.

In severe condition, the patient cannot fall asleep in a lying position and sleeps on pillows while sitting.

During sleep, sleep apnea syndrome often occurs due to the collapse of the walls of the upper respiratory tract, which makes it difficult for a person to breathe.

At night, it is as if there is not enough air during attacks of cardiac asthma due to circulatory failure in the pulmonary circle and pulmonary edema.

After alcohol

When taking alcoholic beverages, the reasons for those who drink regularly and those who drank once on a holiday may differ significantly. It’s hard to breathe after a one-time hangover due to a sharp rise in blood pressure.

Ethanol, entering the body, affects the walls of blood vessels, causing them to expand. After drinking alcohol, the body strives to limit the spread of poison throughout the body.

Long-term alcohol abuse leads to alcoholic cardiomyopathy and bronchospastic syndrome - diseases that cause shortness of breath and suffocation.

After smoking a cigarette

In addition to shortness of breath, smokers also experience coughing. Tobacco smoke disrupts metabolic processes in the lung, causing an inflammatory reaction and obstruction.

Smoking causes chronic bronchitis, leading to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). With chronic obstruction in the morning, patients have difficulty breathing and lack air.

The most serious disease with a fatal outcome is the development of a malignant tumor. Diagnosis of education is difficult due to inattention to health, therefore, at the time the disease is detected, it may already be too late to take any action.

What diseases does it occur with?

An organism is a structure in which all systems are interconnected. Violations in one lead to failures in the other. Therefore, we can identify several main diseases in different body systems that make it difficult to breathe.

Osteochondrosis

With osteochondrosis, due to displacement of the vertebrae, pinching of nerves and blood vessels occurs, resulting in ischemia of the spinal cord and brain. This leads to insufficient oxygen supply, and hypoxia of nerve cells develops.

After this, the development of diencephalic syndrome (a complex of vegetative, endocrine and metabolic disorders) is possible, leading to difficulty breathing and even suffocation.

In addition, a person experiences pain in the chest area, and therefore breathing is rare and shallow.

When it is difficult to breathe during VSD, this is not a serious symptom and can manifest itself with great psycho-emotional overload. A panic attack often accompanies a patient with dystonia, and when it becomes difficult to breathe, the feeling of fear covers the person even more. The symptom appears suddenly, regardless of the load.

Due to panic attacks before bedtime, arrhythmia may occur, and the person feels dizzy, the heart is beating strongly and there is not enough air.

Pulmonary diseases

Often, when the lungs are affected, it is difficult for a person to breathe. Bronchial asthma is characterized by a specific type of difficulty breathing - expiratory. During an attack, a person cannot exhale air normally, while inhalation is possible without problems.

You should not avoid regular fluorography. Tuberculosis in our time, even among prosperous sections of the population, is not uncommon, and when shortness of breath and coughing up blood appears, this is already an advanced and severe stage.

Difficulty breathing appears in children during acute stenotic laryngotracheitis. This is due to anatomical and physiological characteristics. The disease manifests itself as a rough barking cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. For a small child, acute stenosing laryngotracheitis is extremely dangerous due to severe swelling of the larynx, leading to suffocation.

Respiratory failure accompanies a disease such as pneumonia.

For acute pneumonia, a person does not have enough air, severe wheezing and coughing occur. Treatment of pneumonia helps to completely get rid of respiratory failure and return to normal life.

Allergy

Exposure to an allergen is the main reason why it is difficult to breathe with allergies. A constant reaction to an irritant provokes inflammatory processes in the lungs, leading to chronicity of the process. The simplest and most effective way to avoid this is to remove the foreign agent. Long-term neglect will lead to the development of bronchial asthma.

If, in the event of an allergic reaction, it suddenly becomes difficult to breathe (an attack of suffocation), then you should urgently call an ambulance due to the high likelihood of developing Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Heart pathologies

Redistribution and stagnation occurs in the pulmonary circulation, which leads to shortness of breath and suffocation. It becomes difficult to breathe due to pulmonary edema that occurs with left ventricular heart failure. Moist rales also appear. In severe cases, shortness of breath occurs at rest.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels, manifested by shortness of breath:

• IHD;
• angina pectoris;
• TELA;
• heart failure;
• cardiac asthma;
• arrhythmias.

Depending on the stage of development of the disease, shortness of breath can be mild (manifests itself with little physical exertion) and severe (it is difficult to breathe at rest). With cardiac pathologies, breathing problems are not the only symptom. Patients experience pain in the chest area, a feeling as if the heart is beating strongly, a “cordial” cough, and others.

What to do?

If there was one single episode of shortness of breath, and even during physical activity, then there is no reason to worry. You should react differently if you have regular breathing difficulties.

A person with shortness of breath needs to undergo a thorough examination of his body for the development of the disease. With the results obtained, it is better to come to your doctor for consultation.

If no pathology is detected, then you should carefully take care of your psycho-emotional state.

Hard work that causes overexertion or an overly meticulous attitude towards oneself can cause difficulty breathing.

Let's consider what to do first at home if there is not enough air. It is best to free yourself from oppressive clothing (unbutton the collar that is squeezing your throat or put on a loose T-shirt) and go out into the fresh air.

Try to get distracted and do something interesting, and then check your condition (just not with heavy physical activity, because it will trigger the development of a physiological increase in the frequency and depth of breathing movements).

A sharp, sudden appearance of shortness of breath and suffocation is a good reason to urgently call an ambulance.

Each disease has its own recommendations for prevention and treatment, following which you can achieve improvement or complete disappearance of shortness of breath.

Source: https://serdce-help.ru/kashel-i-trudno-dyshat-prichiny/

Cardiac cough: symptoms, treatment

Many people believe that cough is a symptom of only respiratory diseases, but this is not true. The lungs are closely interconnected with the heart and blood vessels.

That is why disturbances in blood circulation can affect the functioning of the respiratory organs, and a person will develop a cardiac cough. This symptom of many diseases of the cardiovascular system may appear before or because of treatment.

A cardiac cough resembles the cough of ordinary bronchitis, but is not accompanied by sputum production. In severe cases, streaks of blood may appear in the coughed-up contents.

In this article we will look at the main causes of the appearance, mechanism of development, symptoms and treatment methods for cardiac cough. This knowledge will help you suspect the onset of the disease in time and take the necessary measures to eliminate it, which will prevent the development of serious complications.

Causes

The main cause of cardiac cough is stagnation of blood in the lungs, which occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood normally. Such congestion, which decompresses the activity of the heart, leads to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, causing irritation of the bronchi and the cough itself. Heart failure can be provoked by many acute and chronic pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, such as:

Also, causes of cardiac cough can be diseases of the endocrine system, alcohol abuse, smoking, severe forms of anemia, taking certain medications for the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies, and frequent and severe stress.

Why does a cardiac cough occur?

Blood supply to the lungs is provided by the pulmonary circulation, and its effectiveness largely depends on the full functioning of the left ventricle and atrium. The development of cardiac cough goes through several stages. The mechanism of respiratory depression is as follows:

1. Pathological processes occurring in the left ventricle cause a decrease in its contractility, and it cannot effectively pump blood coming from the pulmonary arteries to the aorta. Such changes in the functioning of the heart lead to an increase in pressure in the lungs and a slowdown in blood microcirculation.
2. Slow blood flow causes increased venous pressure and oxygen starvation of tissues.
3. Due to hypoxia, collagen fibers are deposited on the interalveolar septa and walls of small vessels, which cause the development of pneumosclerosis.
4. The small vessels of the lungs gradually become sclerotic and completely obliterated (overgrown with connective tissue). Such pathological processes lead to a decrease in blood flow in the lungs and an even greater increase in pressure in the pulmonary vessels.
5. Increased pressure in the pulmonary artery leads to increased load on the left ventricle, and it hypertrophies.
6. Then dilatation (expansion of the boundaries) of the right half of the heart occurs, which causes stagnation of the systemic circulation. The liquid part of the blood seeps into the lung tissue and irritates the bronchial receptors. The patient develops a cardiac cough, which is chronic, appears when trying to take a horizontal position and worsens in the evening or at night.
7. With severe complication of the pathological process in the heart (for example, the development of a new attack of heart attack, arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, etc.), acute left ventricular failure develops, and its rapid progression can cause attacks of cardiac asthma or pulmonary edema.

Symptoms

Having collected complete information about the nature of the cough, the doctor determines the tactics for further examination of the patient.

A cardiac cough has a number of characteristic features that distinguish it from a cold or bronchial cough:

1. Cardiac cough is dry. During a cough, the patient does not produce sputum, mucus or pus. During acute attacks, bloody discharge may appear.
2. The cough is accompanied by cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the lips, nasolabial triangle, earlobes or fingertips.
3. When coughing, the patient experiences rapid breathing. At first, shortness of breath and cough appear only during physical activity, but as the disease progresses, even a long conversation can cause a suffocating dry cough and rapid breathing.
4. The cough is accompanied by pain in the heart and palpitations, which are caused by an overload of blood in the heart.
5. A cough may be accompanied by lightheadedness or vomiting, which is provoked by an increase in chest pressure and a decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the heart.
6. During coughing attacks, the veins in the patient's neck swell.
7. A cough appears or intensifies when trying to lie down, because in this position of the body the left ventricle is even more overloaded. Some patients even have to sleep in a half-sitting position. The same symptom can be observed in bronchial asthma, and therefore this patient’s condition requires differential diagnosis.
8. At the onset of the disease, the cough is accompanied by severe weakness, sweating and dizziness. Next, the patient develops ankle swelling in the evening. In the later stages, swelling becomes denser, more stable and does not disappear by morning.

The above features of cardiac cough can manifest themselves to varying degrees. Their severity depends on the cause of the cough and the severity of the underlying heart disease.

A cardiac cough can be:

• irritating and dry - in the initial stages of the disease, when stagnation in the systemic circulation has not yet developed;
• sharp, short and dry, combined with pain in the heart - often observed with rheumatism, which was complicated by pericarditis;
• dry and paroxysmal, accompanied by difficulty breathing - often observed with mitral stenosis;
• evening or night, loud and debilitating, appearing in a lying position or when trying to take a horizontal position - characteristic of chronic left ventricular failure;
• cough with hemoptysis - appears with severe congestion in the lungs due to atrial fibrillation and right ventricular failure, may indicate the development of thromboembolism.

When the first episodes of cardiac cough appear, the patient must consult a doctor and undergo an examination that will identify the cause of abnormalities in the heart. Timely treatment of the detected disease will quickly get rid of the cough and slow down the progression of the underlying disease.

Diagnostics

A survey X-ray of the chest organs allows the doctor to identify congestive changes in the lungs and conduct a differential diagnosis with various diseases that are accompanied by cough.

Symptoms of a cardiac cough may be similar to those of many diseases of the heart and respiratory system. To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is prescribed the following diagnostic methods:

• ECG – to detect myocardial ischemia and hypertrophy;
• Echo-CG - to study and evaluate the contractility of the ventricles and a more detailed study of the structures of the heart;
• radiography - to identify congestion in the lungs;
• tomography – for a detailed study of the state of the myocardium.

Treatment

To eliminate cardiac cough, the patient is prescribed a course of treatment for the underlying disease that caused it. Self-medication of this unpleasant symptom is unacceptable, because...

attempts to suppress it can lead to undesirable consequences. During a cardiac cough, the bronchi are cleared, and inhibition of these processes will cause an accumulation of discharge from the lungs.

That is why the course of therapy should be prescribed only by a cardiologist.

To get rid of cardiac cough, in addition to treating the underlying disease, the doctor will recommend a whole range of measures.

Daily regime

Compliance with the work and rest regime for pathologies of the cardiovascular system allows you to avoid overload and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart. Such patients are recommended to sleep at least 8 hours a day.

Rejection of bad habits

Smoking and alcohol put a serious strain on the heart, and quitting them should happen as soon as possible.

Stress prevention

Stressful situations pose a serious threat to people with heart pathologies, and the patient should learn to cope with them correctly and not get upset over trifles. If necessary, your doctor may recommend taking sedatives.

Frequent walks in the fresh air

With a cardiac cough, tissues are starved of oxygen, and walking in the fresh air will help saturate them with oxygen. This oxygen therapy will not only help eliminate palpitations and shortness of breath, but also normalize mood and sleep.

Healthy eating

For diseases of the cardiovascular system, the doctor may prescribe a special diet or recommend reducing the amount of salt consumed and giving up unhealthy foods (fatty meat, fast food, smoked meats, pickles, soda, strong tea and coffee). All patients are advised not to overeat and monitor their weight, as these factors can provoke and aggravate cardiac cough. Patients should not drink large amounts of liquid (the amount of liquid consumed is determined individually).

Physical activity

Sufficient physical activity helps normalize blood circulation and eliminate congestion. Their intensity should be individual and determined only by the general condition of the patient. At first they should be minimal, and as the condition improves, they should gradually increase.

Drug therapy

To eliminate cardiac cough, the following drugs may be prescribed:

• diuretics: Indapamide, Trifas, Veroshpiron, etc.;
• vasodilators: Atacand, Losartan, Candecor;
• antitussives with an anesthetic effect: prescribed only in cases where coughing attacks significantly aggravate the patient’s condition, causing fainting and severe weakness.

The choice of drugs to eliminate cardiac cough, their dosage and duration of use are determined only by the doctor. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor can adjust the treatment regimen.

Folk remedies

Most cardiologists do not recommend using folk remedies to eliminate cardiac cough. You can use some folk recipes only after consulting a doctor and diagnosing the underlying disease that caused the appearance of this unpleasant symptom.

A cardiac cough is the “first warning sign” of many pathologies of the cardiovascular system and a good reason to consult a cardiologist. Not all people who are not involved in medicine can recognize it on their own.

Our article will help you suspect the appearance of a cardiac cough in time and take correct and timely measures. Do not self-medicate this alarming and unpleasant symptom and do not put off visiting a doctor, because...

it can be caused by many dangerous diseases and complicated by cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema. Remember this and be healthy!

Channel One, the program “Live Healthy” with Elena Malysheva on the topic “Why do we cough? Unusual causes of cough" (for cardiac cough see 11:17):

Source: https://doctor-cardiologist.ru/serdechnyj-kashel-simptomy-lechenie

I’m choking from coughing: what to do if I can’t breathe when I cough

Symptoms of various colds are cough. But the most severe clinical picture is a suffocating and continuous cough, sometimes leading to vomiting.

Every person has experienced coughing attacks at least once in their life. It can be a symptom of pneumonia, bronchial asthma, obstructive syndrome and other diseases of the respiratory system.

However, a normal cough or when the patient says that I am choking when coughing and cannot breathe are completely different things. The second option makes you think about the seriousness and danger of the disease.

What to do in such a situation when an attack does not allow you to breathe air for a long time? What are the reasons for this condition, and what disease is on the way?

Causes and diseases

The causes of choking when coughing can be different and in addition aggravated by negative factors:

• Penetration of infection into the body.
• Viral diseases.
• A foreign object that has entered the respiratory tract.
• Allergens and toxins.

Attacks of suffocating cough most often occur at night. These symptoms may accompany the following diseases:

1. Bronchial asthma.
2. COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
3. Pneumonia, chronic bronchitis.
4. Pulmonary tuberculosis, laryngitis.
5. Heart failure, neoplasms in the trachea and bronchi.
6. Diphtheria of the larynx, pharynx, swelling of the larynx and lung.

A suffocating cough can also torment an experienced smoker. In this case, only one thing will help - give up the bad habit.

If the patient has a history of chronic bronchitis, attacks of suffocation usually begin in the morning, immediately after sleep. In the absence of proper treatment, the disease can develop into pulmonary tuberculosis.

Neoplasms in the lungs and bronchi, as a rule, are always caused by severe attacks of cough syndrome.

It seems to the patient that the cough is simply tearing his lungs apart and sending strong and sharp pains into the sternum.

Chronical bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a disease characterized by progressive inflammatory processes of the bronchioles and the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree. Due to the formation of foci of inflammation, hypersecretion of sputum is detected and the functioning of the bronchi is disrupted.

Causes:

• Smoking (active and passive).
• Deviation of the nasal septum.
• Colds and viral diseases.
• Allergic reaction.
• Heart failure, arrhythmia and others.

The key symptom of the disease is a debilitating and suffocating cough that continues for a long time. The main complaint of patients is that they cannot breathe, air is not inhaled, oxygen does not enter the lungs. Additional symptoms:

1. General ill health, weakness.
2. Slight increase in body temperature.
3. Sweating.
4. Irritability, nervousness.

The disease can occur with isolated exacerbations, but perhaps with frequent ones. With bronchial obstruction, dry wheezing, heavy breathing with whistling, and shortness of breath occur.

Treatment is prescribed only comprehensively. When choosing a treatment regimen and methods, the following factors are taken into account:

• Features of the inflammatory process, are there any functional changes.
• Personal characteristics of the patient's medical history.
• Stage of the disease, are there any complications.

The main focus of treatment is to overcome the infection and eliminate symptoms. After examination and establishment of an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes antibacterial, expectorant, desensitizing, antihistamines, as well as corticosteroids. Physiological procedures and physical therapy are prescribed.

During periods of remission, treatment of chronic bronchitis includes taking depot sulfamides, broad-spectrum antibiotics, special gymnastics and hardening measures.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary syndrome

• The disease is the result of the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs or a consequence of working in heavy industries (cement, coal).
• The most dangerous and severe occupational risk factors that provoke obstruction include silicon and cadmium dust.
• Also, reasons include:

1. Diet, its balance and amount of vitamin elements.
2. Socio-economic level.
3. Frequent passive smoking in childhood.
4. Heredity.

The first symptom of obstructive syndrome is a cough, which intensifies over time, followed by sputum. Depending on the stage of the disease, it can be mucous or purulent in nature. Then shortness of breath begins and in the chronic stage - suffocation.

During the period of exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms become pronounced. The patient begins to choke, air does not enter the lungs, shortness of breath intensifies, and sputum is produced profusely.

During the course of the disease, pathological disorders and changes occur in the body:

• Increased mucus secretion.
• Bronchial obstruction and hyperventilation occur.
• Pulmonary gas exchange is disrupted, pulmonary hypertension, emphysema and parenchymal destruction occur.

If nothing is done, complications can lead to irreversible consequences, and death is not excluded. The main complaint of patients is that they cannot breathe air, so treatment is primarily focused on relieving cough and relieving shortness of breath.

A treatment regimen is prescribed that reduces periods of exacerbation of the disease and improves the patient’s quality of life.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious disease that causes inflammation in the lungs. Inflammatory processes affect the alveoli, which are necessary for saturating the blood with oxygen.

The culprits of the disease are fungi, viruses, microbes and intracellular parasites. Each person experiences pneumonia differently and with individual specifics. May occur as a result of aggravation after bronchitis, flu or a common cold.

Main symptoms:

1. High body temperature.
2. Severe suffocating cough with purulent sputum.
3. Shortness of breath, sweating, impotence.
4. Lethargy, apathy, headaches.

When interviewing a doctor, the patient says - I can’t breathe in air, my chest hurts, after a coughing attack I can’t catch my breath for a long time.

If you have an intense and debilitating cough, the first thing you need to do is go to the doctor, who will prescribe an x-ray examination. Using it, you can establish the localization and size of the inflammation. Afterwards, a treatment regimen is prescribed.

Basically, since the disease is microbial in nature, antibiotic drugs or combinations thereof are prescribed. Mucolytics and bronchodilators are prescribed for expectoration of sputum. To stop attacks of shortness of breath - bronchodilators.

A severe debilitating cough that turns into an attack of suffocation is a signal from the body that serious inflammatory processes are occurring inside it. In such a situation, you only need to do one thing - go to see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you start fighting the disease, the greater the chances of success in recovery. The video in this article discusses the issue of getting rid of a severe cough.

Source: https://stopgripp.ru/simptom/kashel/zadyhayus-pri-kashle-ne-mogu-vdohnut-vozduh-prichiny.html