The loss of consciousness (syncope), following an episode of coughing is called cough syncope. It occurs for a brief period and recovery is within seconds to minutes.
This can occur in any individual suffering from cough due to multiple reasons.
Why does this happen?
There have been various proposed mechanisms used to describe the cause of cough syncope. These mechanism can occur alone or in combination.
Coughing generates changes in the pressure in the chest and abdominal cavity and stimulates certain sensors (baroreceptors) in our body. The end result is a decrease in blood pressure leading to syncope. Another mechanism is a rise in pressure of the the fluid around the brain (CSF), causing increase in the pressure in the brain resulting in reduced perfusion of the brain, leading to syncope.
Is it dangerous?
Cough syncope can b life threatening. As it occurs suddenly and unexpectedly it can lead to trauma due to fall or accident while driving, leading to bodily injuries.
How can I prevent it?
There is no way to prevent from having cough syncope. But those who are suffering from severe/intense cough or have experienced cough syncope before, should take precautions when having cough. Precautions include stopping the car on the roadside while driving , sitting down or find a support, make sure no food or water is in the mouth when cough is starting. These measure can help from getting injured or aspirating food content respectively.
What is the treatment?
Treatment of cough syncope is to treat the cause that’s causing the cough. Your physician after gathering information from the history, detailed physical examination and investigation, will determine the cause of cough and proceed with the treatment. Meanwhile symptomatic treatment like cough suppressant can be used.