Nervous cough

We tend to think that coughing is a symptom associated with respiratory diseases or viral conditions such as the flu , but this is not always the case. Although coughing is a defense mechanism that the human body exerts to eliminate phlegm or any other foreign agent that is stuck in the airways, we do not always cough with phlegm and the cough is not always caused by some bronchial condition or pulmonary.

Therefore, it is necessary to know that many times that persistent and annoying cough that does not respond to treatment is due to an emotional imbalance that we are going through and it is known by the name of nervous cough .

What is a nervous cough?

Nervous cough is not a disease , nor is it a dangerous symptom for our health, but it does represent a persistent discomfort that we must attend to to prevent, for example, throat irritation and other major complications that can take place if the nervous cough arrives to coincide with some diseases.

Many people cough when they are nervous , when they are speaking in public, or who begin to have “no-cause” coughing episodes just when they are experiencing some emotional problem or their daily stress level has risen considerably. If you are one of them, we invite you to know what a nervous cough consists of : causes, symptoms and treatment.

Causes of nervous cough

Nervous cough is not caused by a specific disease or infection, it is a symptom that is caused by a problem that is affecting the correct functioning of  the central nervous system . Among the conditions that can most cause a nervous cough we must highlight anxiety , depression or excessive worries .

Traumas acquired by an emotional situation can also alter the functioning of the nervous system and cause a nervous cough.

It is also common for a cough to appear when work has suddenly increased or we have new responsibilities, since this scenario triggers a greater amount of stress and we must remember that stress, like other emotional factors, is capable of depressing the functioning of the immune system and alter our mood in a negative way, which can influence the nervous system.

Do I have a psychological or emotional cough?

The nervous cough, therefore, is the result of a bad management of our emotions that prevents us from protecting the health of the nervous system and instead we alter its functions with sadness, anguish, fear, despair, nerves, anxiety, melancholy and bad mood .

Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to get back the well-being we need and find the balance that allows us to permanently dismiss the nervous cough.

Symptoms of a nervous cough

Nervous cough is a symptom, therefore, to explain how it manifests, it is enough to describe it. If it were accompanied by other symptoms such as fever , runny nose , pharyngeal pain , shortness of breath and phlegm, then we would not be talking about a nervous cough, but a general malaise caused by some disease.

To know and understand the symptoms of nervous cough we can say that:

• It is a cough that is not constant , that is, it can appear and disappear unexpectedly. Some people experience it more at night than during the day.
• The nervous cough usually appears when the person relaxes and lets the stress flow, as it is there when the body assimilates and responds to all the time that it was subjected to anguish or emotional tension. For this reason some people get sick after an important exam or interview presentation.
• Nervous cough is a dry cough , lacking mucus or phlegm. It is a cough similar to the dry cough of smokers, but without being hoarse.
• The nervous cough is not accompanied by other respiratory complaints such as wheezing, weakness, shortness of breath.
• Nervous coughing can usually stop when the person goes through periods of excessive relaxation, such as when they go on vacation or stop waiting for something important to happen.
• Nervous coughing is more common at night .
• Nervous coughing can irritate the respiratory tract, especially the throat.

Treatment of nervous cough

Although a nervous cough is not a disease, it is important to keep in mind that any persistent cough for more than a month should be examined by a doctor to discover its cause and verify that everything is working correctly.

Having said this, we must emphasize that since nervous coughing is caused by purely emotional problems that affect the balance of the central nervous system, the solution or treatment will consist of looking for relaxation alternatives that allow combating negative emotions and recovering emotional stability.

Therefore, the first thing you have to do is identify what is happening to you that may be triggering your nervous cough. If you have no idea then we remind you that this symptom is associated with conditions such as stress , anxiety , depression , nerves , fear , worries , emotional trauma and any other negative event.

Causes of dry cough

If you know what is happening to you and you think you cannot handle it alone, then go ahead and make an appointment with a psychotherapist so that you can find the necessary tools to overcome this obstacle.

Many people refuse to go to therapy out of fear or prejudice, but it is important to remember this question that invites so much reflection :

If you go to the gastroenterologist when your stomach hurts, why don’t you go to the psychologist when your soul hurts?

It is never too late to seek help and overcome whatever is getting in the way of your health and well-being.

It is likely that if you go to the doctor with a nervous cough they will prescribe the use of anti-allergy drugs. A dry, phlegm-free cough will not respond positively to inhalers , cough drops, or bronchodilators, as there is no phlegm to expel or airway obstruction to suggest airway dilation.

If you are emotionally going through a period of great stress , anxiety or pressure, your doctor may prescribe drugs to control these conditions. Being consistent with treatment is vital to recovering and fighting a nervous cough.

Emotional meaning of cough

Learning to control your mind in order to relax inside and out is helpful as a treatment for a nervous cough. Here, we share with you some effective relaxation ways to combat negative emotions.

• Learn to breathe : did you know that if you inhale slowly through your nose and exhale even more slowly through your mouth for 20 minutes, you will be able to overcome an anxiety attack? Now you know! Conscious breathing helps us to deeply relax the nervous system to put aside any emotion that is disturbing us and it also helps us to relax the whole body. This is why it is so important to breathe consciously when you practice yoga or some styles of meditation.
• Rest : it is important that you sleep 8 hours a day to be emotionally stable, because during night sleep our nervous system goes through a kind of reset, that is, it relaxes and puts aside everything that disturbs it. If you have insomnia , try meditating before going to bed or listening to a relaxing recording such as the sound of birds or the rain falling.
• Exercise . Exercise is the best way to combat negative emotions, as it increases the body’s production of well-being hormones such as serotonin . Half an hour of exercise a day will make a difference.
• Yoga or tai chi : both disciplines offer to connect the body, mind and spirit and, in addition to their physical benefits, help enrich the soul and combat harmful conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Improve a nervous cough with home remedies

Overcoming a negative emotion or learning to manage emotions well can take a little time, however, there are some natural solutions that can help you improve the symptom of a nervous cough while reaching the emotional balance that you are looking for. Know some home remedies for a nervous cough :

• Thyme : thyme is much more than a delicious spice to flavor our meals. When a cough is irritating, persistent and dry, thyme is one of the best natural remedies to calm it immediately . If you want to take advantage of thyme to eliminate a nervous cough, we recommend making an infusion with a little fresh thyme and taking it twice a day, in the morning and at night. If you prefer, you can add a little honey to relieve throat irritation and to improve the taste of the preparation.
• Eucalyptus vapor : eucalyptus is excellent for coughs with phlegm due to its expectorant power, but that is not the property that will help us cure a nervous cough. Breathing the steam from boiling eucalyptus water is extremely effective in sedating the throat and reducing the urge to cough. You can steam eucalyptus once a day before going to bed to get a proper rest and get rid of the urge to cough.
• Mallow : nervous coughing significantly irritates the respiratory tract and, especially, the pharynx. To combat this consequence you can the analgesic properties of mallow that will help relieve discomfort in the vocal cords . To take advantage of mallow you can go to a herbalist and buy mauve envelopes for infusion. Have a cup every night before you go to bed.