# Why do heart palpitations sometimes cause a cough? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-heart-palpitations-sometimes-cause-a-cough/77961 "2001-08-24T18:15:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-heart-palpitations-sometimes-cause-a-cough/77961/1 "2001-08-24T18:15:52Z")
Ya know? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-heart-palpitations-sometimes-cause-a-cough/77961/2 "2001-08-24T18:32:03Z")
WAEG (wild-ass educated guess): Palpitations irritate the phrenic nerve, causing a cough. Which is fortunate, because coughing stimulates the vagus nerve, which often stops palpitations. Sorry, no cites, I’m operating from recollections from my readings. Qadgop, MD ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-heart-palpitations-sometimes-cause-a-cough/77961/3 "2001-08-24T22:50:49Z")
I get this too & I wondered this exact thing; but Im a guy & too lazy to ask the doctor in person…thanks QM-- you know how it is when you are deaf & have to visit the doctor–it’s a communication nitemare.