# Bit of a Coughing Fit **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384 "2008-07-05T15:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/1 "2008-07-05T15:51:30Z")
Not a medical question, more like anatomy. I feel like doggy dirt. I am flying out next week and under a bit of stress. I have not been eating well. I have been sleeping quite well, although my sleep pattern is disrupted. I am a little sick. Not to worry, I will be fine. So I have a couple of coughing spells. No biggy, I don’t want to worry anyone. But the coughing is accompanied by feeling faint. It passes within seconds. \*\*By what mechanism is this happening? \*\* A mild form of apnea from missing a few breaths? Some sort of blood pressure thing? It is a bear getting older. Still, I do feel bad. I will put on my footed pajamas and go to bed early. I will be fine in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/2 "2008-07-05T15:55:40Z")
IANAD, but [cough syncope](http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/medical/cough_syncope.htm) can indicate pulmonary hypertension. Are you under treatment for hypertension or is this a previously unknown possibility? I’d see a doctor soon. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/3 "2008-07-05T16:02:50Z")
I am fifty, and I take my hypertension meds. I just checked my BP the other day and I was fine. On the other hand, in some indescribable way, it felt like a BP thing. I just checked. 101/70. I seem to be dead, but still warm. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/4 "2008-07-06T01:52:36Z")
Thanks to **JayJay** , and everyone else who stopped by. Thanks also to the Mods. This thread skated close to the “medical question” rule, and I appreciate the indulgence. I am feeling better this morning. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/5 "2008-07-06T01:59:04Z")
Hey, Paul, that’s good to hear. I’ve been in the position of “hey, why the hell do I feel like I’m about to pass out?” (as well as, “why am I on the floor, and why won’t you people leave me alone?”), and it is a condition that definitely begs for an answer. (My issue turned out to be reactive hypoglycemia + low blood pressure. Good times.) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/6 "2008-07-06T02:58:30Z")
Getting old is not for sissies. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/7 "2008-07-06T04:28:19Z")
Yeah, but it’s better than the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-of-a-coughing-fit/455384/8 "2008-07-06T05:10:42Z")
Some hypertension meds cause coughing spells. I coughed for years, before mentioning it to my doctor. He changed one of my meds, and the coughing stopped.