Cough when inhaling air. Why do you want to cough when you inhale?

Pathogenesis

The mechanism for the occurrence of a reflex cough during a deep breath is as follows: chest pressure increases, as a result, the muscles of the diaphragm begin to actively contract, the glottis closes, preventing air from penetrating into the bronchi and lungs.

Then it quickly opens and a strong stream of air escapes in the form of a cough.

If there is mucus in the bronchi, then the contractile movement of the muscles is enough to squeeze it out. Then the cough stops until the next portion of sputum accumulates. If it is too viscous or absent, the cough occurs without sputum production and is of a protracted, obsessive nature, without bringing relief.

Cough when exhaling, for example, in asthma, is due to the fact that as a result of narrowing of the bronchi, exhaled heavy carbon dioxide has difficulty passing through the diseased respiratory organ. And when you inhale, oxygen calmly overcomes this barrier without causing a cough, since its composition is lighter than the exhaled flow.

Diagnosis of cough that occurs with strong inspiration

To find out why a cough appears when inhaling, a thorough analysis of the characteristics of the symptom is carried out - its severity, nature, duration. Particular attention is paid to anamnestic indications of the relationship with previous diseases, taking medications, and using tobacco products.

Causes

Causes of cough that occurs when inhaling air:

complications after influenza, ARVI, colds in the form of acute bronchitis, pneumonia, inflammation of the tracheal mucosa;
pharyngitis, pleurisy, tracheitis;
Chronical bronchitis;
long-term smoking;
lung cancer (cough after taking a deep breath);
pathologies of the cardiovascular system: heart failure, ischemic disease, dysfunction of the heart valve;
allergies and false croup, laryngeal edema developing against it;
childhood diseases: whooping cough, diphtheria.

When taking a deep breath, a cough may also appear due to increased allergic sensitivity of the lungs.

Causes of cough when exhaling:

bronchial asthma;
hilar and lobar pneumonia, arising as complications of pneumonia;
lung cancer (cough occurs most often after inhalation and exhalation).

Cough when inhaling in a child

In children, the respiratory system is very vulnerable, so any infectious agent can provoke the development of a serious disease. Children who regularly inhale tobacco smoke are at particular risk. Passive smoking can cause impaired lung development, allergies, chronic cough, and asthma.

If a child feels like coughing when inhaling, this may indicate bronchitis. Cough attacks accompanied by shortness of breath or whistling often signal broncho-obstructive syndrome. This phenomenon requires immediate treatment, since otherwise it can lead to degradation of the bronchial tree.

In this case, you should not prescribe drug therapy yourself. Incorrect treatment can provoke the development of serious complications.

If a cough begins when inhaling, accompanied by wheezing, this may indicate the presence of croup of viral origin. As a rule, the disease develops against the background of an untreated cold. In this case, exposure to pathogenic microorganisms leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea and larynx. Against this background, a narrowing of the airways occurs, significantly complicating the breathing process.

Symptoms

A cough without sputum during a deep breath, accompanied by irritation and swelling of the nasopharynx, trachea, and bronchi most often indicates pathologies of the respiratory organs and tract. An unproductive paroxysmal cough with whistling also occurs with bronchitis or pneumonia if the sputum is difficult to clear, for example, due to its viscosity or horizontal position at night.

In other cases, with bronchitis the cough is wet. In a calm state with shallow breathing, it does not occur, but bothers the patient only with deep breaths.

Lung cancer can be suspected by the following symptoms: dry, hacking, painful cough with severe pain, suffocation, often occurring in paroxysms and at night.

More often, the disease is diagnosed in smokers, workers in hazardous industries and patients with chronic bronchitis.

Then the patient begins to secrete thick mucus when coughing, and as the disease progresses, blood impurities appear in it. In this case, the cough mechanism is “triggered” by a tumor pressing on the lungs.

Coughing smokers experience spasms of the bronchi and lungs, constant accumulation of sputum in them, swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs and tracts. Cough during deep breathing in smokers can be productive (in the morning) and unproductive (in the afternoon).

Chest pain accompanied by general weakness, back pain, and sometimes fainting during physical exertion accompany cough in heart disease. In this case, the cough is not caused by phlegm, but by pressure on the heart muscle, which is transmitted to the diaphragm and leads to the closure of the glottis.

What types of cough are there?

There are two types of cough:

A dry cough
is a sign of a cold (bronchitis, ARVI, tracheitis, pharyngitis). It should be remembered that such a cough signals a disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract. With such a cough, the patient constantly wants to clear his throat. And if it doesn’t work out, it’s better not to do this, because you can harm your throat, which in turn can lead to hoarseness or complete temporary loss of voice. Also, a dry cough can be a residual effect after diseases such as acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections or colds. And it can be easily cured with the help of special medications. Seasonal allergies may be accompanied by such a cough, and it will stop after the use of special antiallergic drugs or after the source of the allergy disappears.
A wet cough
most often develops after a dry cough. It occurs due to the accumulation of sputum in the bronchi, lungs, and trachea. And with the help of such a cough, the body tries to get rid of it. A wet cough causes discomfort and pain when trying to clear your throat. But if this is not done, it can lead to serious consequences, for example, such as pneumonia.

When such a cough occurs in people who smoke for a long time, it is accompanied first by the release of thick, odorless mucus, and then by the release of mucus mixed with blood.
This cough also appears in people who have recently quit smoking. With its help, the body is freed from harmful substances that have settled in the respiratory tract. Very often, people who smoke do not pay attention to a slight cough when inhaling and exhaling, and this cough can be a symptom of a more serious disease, such as cancer. Cough when inhaling has three forms:

Coughing
, which occurs with laryngitis, tracheobronchitis, the initial stage of tuberculosis, in people who smoke for a long time;
Cough sounds
coming one after another;
Cough in the form of an attack
. Occurs when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, causing whooping cough, bronchial asthma, or affecting the bronchial lymph nodes.

One of the signs of the initial stage of influenza is a dry cough.
By the way, influenza is a highly contagious disease. With one cough, millions of bacteria are released into the air and can thus infect other people. It is worth knowing that a frequent cough for no apparent reason occurs in a nervous person. And it can be cured through self-control. Treat yourself the way you would like others to treat you. Boost your self-esteem.

You should not treat a cough yourself if you do not know the true cause of such a symptom as a cough, as you can only make it worse. Consult your doctor to help you.

Treatment

Treatment of cough when inhaling and exhaling air is mainly medicinal and aimed at eliminating its cause and relieving symptoms. If the cough is only a residual phenomenon after the flu or cold and goes away quickly, no special treatment is required.

If you have a fever or symptoms of toxicosis (weakness, aches), you need to stay in bed. In severe cases, the patient may need to stay in hospital.

Bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as other infectious diseases, are treated with appropriate antibiotics, antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial sulfonamide drugs (for example, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxiclav). The course of therapy is about a week.

For a dry cough, expectorants and mucolytics are indicated to transform a non-productive cough into a wet one (ACC, Ascoril, Libexin, Bromhexin). If there is shortness of breath, Eufillin is prescribed.

In case of severe symptoms of obstructive bronchitis (difficulty breathing with whistling, wheezing), on the recommendation of a doctor, you can temporarily use inhalations with hormonal drugs (Salbutamon, Berodual).

Hilar or lobar pneumonia is treated with antibiotics and antitussives.

If the cough reflex is associated with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the cardiologist will prescribe appropriate medication and oxygen therapy, a special complex of gymnastics, after which the dry cough will disappear. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

Chemotherapy is used for lung cancer.

For allergy symptoms, you need to take antihistamines: Ketotifen, Ketoprofen, Suprastin, Tavegin, Diazolin, Claritin.

Ways to deal with the problem

A cough does not always need to be eliminated when it appears, as it helps clear the respiratory system of mucus and dust particles. Treatment is carried out carefully. For mild symptoms in a child, you can use traditional medicine:

taking warm milk with butter and honey;
drinking chamomile tea;
steam inhalations.

These measures help improve the patient’s condition, and sometimes completely eliminate ARVI.

For a dry cough, doctors prescribe drugs that suppress the reflex - Stoptussin, Sinekod, Codeine. Drugs are prescribed only in extreme cases, when spasms interfere with normal rest at night. Medicines should not be taken unless prescribed by a specialist, as they contribute to the stagnation of mucus in the lungs. For tickling in the throat, lozenges with eucalyptus or sage are added to antitussive medications. The effect of the lollipops lasts for 2-3 hours.

Chamomile tea is used to treat cough

Spasms with phlegm are treated with mucus-thinning drugs - Lazolvan, Bromhexine. Mucolytics are prescribed to remove viscous masses - Mucaltin, Halixol. If the disease is complicated by pneumonia or bronchitis, then antibacterial drugs must be included in the treatment regimen. It should be remembered that remedies that help with wet coughs do not cope with dry ones. Medications should be selected with extreme caution for children and pregnant women.

A person who is sick must remain completely at rest, since a cold suffered “on the feet” is most likely complicated by bacterial diseases.

Emergency care and prevention

It is not recommended to treat the pathology on your own, but the following measures will help relieve attacks:

Warm drink to prevent coughing when inhaling

before contacting a doctor or calling an ambulance, you can inhale with mineral water or saline;
open windows or take them to fresh air;
do wet cleaning or use a humidifier;
offer a warm drink.

These measures are at the same time preventive. For those suffering from allergies and cough, contact with the source of the problem should be avoided. Only a doctor should treat the pathology after making a diagnosis. For prevention purposes, contrast baths for the feet and hands, vitamin nutrition, moderate physical activity, and breathing exercises are recommended.

general information

Cough is not an independent form of manifestation of pathology. It is included in the symptoms of colds, bacterial and other diseases. Therapy is based on taking anti-inflammatory or antiviral medications, as well as drugs that have a positive effect on the general condition of the body and immunity. A mandatory condition for treatment is bed rest.

Bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis are the most common causes of cough. Other symptoms: increased body temperature, chest pain, difficulty breathing. A specialist will tell you how to treat such diseases based on research and the individual characteristics of the patient.

The problem often appears due to an allergic reaction of the body. This disease is not accompanied by rhinitis, fever or other signs of a cold. Additional symptoms of allergies are discomfort in the throat, tearing.

If a cough or other signs of illness occur, you should consult a doctor to determine the causes and get a prescription for treatment. Self-diagnosis and therapy threatens unpredictable and sad consequences.