Feeling like throwing up when you cough can be an unsettling experience. This sensation is a physiological response involving the body’s intricate connections. Understanding the underlying reasons can help demystify this common occurrence.
The Body’s Reflexive Connection
The link between coughing and nausea or vomiting primarily involves the vagus nerve. This major pathway connects the brain to various organs, including the respiratory and digestive systems, playing a role in involuntary actions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion. An intense cough can overstimulate this nerve.
Vagus nerve stimulation can activate the gag reflex or the vomiting center in the brainstem. These shared neural pathways mean a strong cough can inadvertently trigger a digestive system response.
Coughing also creates significant pressure changes within the abdomen and chest. Forceful contractions of these muscles, while expelling air, can contribute to nausea. Increased intra-abdominal pressure can affect the stomach, leading to unease or even expelling its contents.
Common Health Conditions
Several medical conditions can cause coughing to trigger nausea or vomiting, often due to irritation, excessive mucus, or cough intensity.
Post-nasal drip is a common cause, where excess mucus from the nose and sinuses drips down the throat. This continuous irritation leads to persistent coughing spells, which can induce gagging or nausea.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is another factor. Stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus irritates the lining, often triggering a chronic cough. This reflux can cause nausea, and forceful coughing fits further contribute to vomiting.
Asthma, characterized by inflamed and narrowed airways, can lead to severe coughing fits. These intense episodes can induce vomiting due to the effort and airway constriction. Some individuals experience cough-variant asthma, where a cough is the primary symptom and can be severe enough to cause vomiting.
Acute bronchitis and severe colds often involve intense coughing and significant mucus production. The effort of coughing up phlegm can lead to gagging and nausea. Throat irritation and the force of these coughs can overwhelm reflexes, resulting in vomiting.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is known for its violent, uncontrollable coughing fits that often end in vomiting. These intense episodes can make it difficult to breathe, leading to a distinctive “whooping” sound and often causing vomiting.
Direct irritation of the pharynx or larynx can also trigger a strong gag reflex and subsequent vomiting. This localized irritation directly stimulates the nerves involved in the gag reflex.
When to Seek Professional Medical Guidance
While coughing that leads to nausea or vomiting is common, certain signs indicate medical attention is necessary. If nausea or vomiting accompanying a cough becomes persistent or worsens, consult a healthcare provider.
Additional symptoms warranting medical evaluation include a cough with fever, chills, body aches, or difficulty breathing. Coughing up blood or blood-tinged mucus is a serious symptom requiring immediate medical attention.
Unexplained weight loss or symptoms significantly interfering with daily life or sleep also warrant professional guidance. Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, reduced urination, or extreme tiredness, also warrant a medical visit.
Consult a healthcare professional if these symptoms are new in an infant or elderly person, as these age groups are more susceptible to severe complications. A cough lasting several weeks or not improving with self-care measures requires evaluation.