Many are interested in whether there can be a nervous cough in an adult, how it manifests itself and how treatment is carried out. This worries those who develop a cough reflex with great excitement. Often a cough is considered the main sign of respiratory diseases, but there are cases when the cause of its occurrence is not a virus, but a psychosomatic disorder.
A nervous cough in adults does not allow a person to live normally, and also has a bad effect on his general well-being. This disorder is treated not only with the help of drug therapy, therefore, it is important to know exactly how to cope with such a disease in order to prevent complications.
Causes of occurrence
Cough of nervous origin in adults can occur for a variety of reasons, in particular, disorders of the nervous system, as well as depression, hysteria. In people with an unstable psyche, with strong excitement, the cough center located in the brain begins to be irritated. Man, thereby, tries to arouse pity and draw attention to himself.
Nervous cough in adults occurs mainly in a turbulent environment, controversy, emotional experience. Excessive physical exertion or psycho-emotional overstrain can provoke a strong coughing attack. The cause of this pathology can be childhood injuries, as well as difficulties in communication. At the same time, a similar problem arises in childhood and remains in adults.
One of the causes of the pathology is prolonged inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. After a full recovery, a person coughs rather out of habit during a psycho-emotional overstrain. This occurs as a result of consolidation of the cough reflex.
Often, an adult neurosis, manifested in the form of a cough, can be observed in people who experience emotional overstrain. This phenomenon is called hyperventilation of the lungs. The causes of nervous cough in adults can be:
- tense atmosphere at home or at work;
- the need to do what you love;
- stress, conflict, loneliness.
Determining the cause of the problem is quite difficult. If this is not done, then the correct timely treatment cannot be prescribed.
Main symptoms
For timely treatment, it is important to correctly recognize the symptoms of nervous coughing in adults. The psychogenic cough is very loud and sounds like a car siren or a cry of geese. The attack is accompanied by discharge from the nose, a slight increase in temperature. It begins under the influence of provoking factors and ends if the person is distracted.
With severe mental disorder, symptoms of a nervous cough in adults manifest themselves in the form of:
- frequent and severe coughing attacks;
- heart palpitations;
- feelings of fear;
- heartache;
- shortness of breath
- redness of the skin;
- increased sweating.
Psychogenic cough is very resistant to treatment. It lasts for several years and limits performance. To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor must exclude possible problems and diseases with the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. In addition, a neurological examination is required.
Basically, a cough that appeared on a nervous basis, barking, dry and quite sonorous. He appears at the moments of the highest psychological stress. The main sign by which it can be understood that it is a nervous cough that is observed is the absence of a cough reflex in a calm state.
It is worth noting that a nervous cough in adults does not have any effect on overall well-being, does not impair appetite, and also causes only minor discomfort. Such a problem may appear on the eve of an important event, since a person, waiting for him, experiences very strong excitement.
Features of the violation in the child
Due to the very high susceptibility, the child's body is much more prone to emotional experiences and shocks. The reason for this may be hormonal changes that occur in the body in adolescence. Provoking a nervous cough in a child can be triggering factors such as:
- conflicts in the family or with peers;
- intense study;
- upcoming public appearance;
- sudden fright;
- exams.
If a child or teenager has a nervous cough, then it is recommended to treat it with:
- classes with a psychotherapist;
- communication with animals;
- stabilization of overall well-being.
Psychotherapy sessions will help to cope with existing problems and to be liberated. It is important that the child attends classes at will, you can not force him to force. Coercion can only exacerbate the problem and lead to apathy and the development of mistrust.
A good result is hippotherapy. It is carried out in courses, and if necessary, you need to repeat several times. Stabilize the condition of the child will help normalize the regime of the day. He should eat balanced and fully, rest during the day and sleep at least 10 hours a day. If all these methods have not brought the required result, then drugs are prescribed.
Diagnostics
To determine how to treat nervous cough in adults, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. Initially, a psychologist should talk with a person, find out the living conditions, intrafamily relations, and especially work. Test tasks are also required to study the nervous system and the degree of poise.
A doctor may be asked to resolve difficult situations in order to evaluate how a person would behave in a particular situation. If signs of stress have become very frequent, then you should definitely consult a doctor to rule out neurasthenia.
Treatment features
If symptoms of a nervous cough in adults occur, treatment should be started immediately, as this will quickly normalize health. Initially, the patient needs to create the most comfortable psychological environment. It is also important to completely eliminate stress.
For the treatment of neural cough in adults, sedatives and antidepressants are prescribed. However, only a doctor should prescribe them after conducting an examination and identifying possible risks. In addition, as additional methods, various traditional medicine can be used to help calm the nervous system.
As folk remedies, you can use thyme, valerian, motherwort. They have a sedative effect. Relaxing baths with the addition of chamomile broth have a good effect. Aromatherapy is also used to treat nervous disorders.
Drug therapy
A person suffering from neurosis experiences unreasonable anxiety and cannot relax normally. He is focused exclusively on his problems, are in a state of depression. Adult coughing can be treated with antidepressants. The duration of therapy is 3-12 months. It is worth noting that the use of sedatives is the most extreme measure.
Such drugs are prescribed only in special cases, since they have a number of side effects, in particular, such as:
- drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth;
- addiction to drugs;
- the occurrence of allergies;
- return of cough with withdrawal of medication.
Basically, drugs are prescribed that reduce neuromuscular excitability by regulating the amount of magnesium and calcium in the body. These include vitamin D2 and Calcium D3. The course of therapy is 1-3 months.
You can also use drugs with a mild therapeutic effect, which in their composition contain medicinal herbs. In particular, these are drugs such as:
- Novo Passit;
- "Sedavit";
- "Fitosed".
Stronger antidepressants can be used only with the permission of the attending physician, with a prescription. Self-treatment is unacceptable, as this can provoke a deterioration in well-being.
Folk remedies
It is also possible to treat nerve cough in adults with the help of folk remedies. The most effective and safe are:
- alcohol tincture of motherwort;
- healing tea;
- herbal preparations;
- aromatherapy.
A good remedy is alcohol tincture, prepared on the basis of motherwort. To prepare it, you need 15 g of motherwort herb pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Then the cooked infusion needs to be filtered and add alcohol. You need to take the medicine before bedtime, and with very intense bouts of coughing, you can drink it before meals.
You can make healing tea based on medicinal herbs to calm and normalize the state of the nervous system. For its preparation, plants such as:
- motherwort;
- mint;
- Walnut;
- chamomile;
- yarrow.
The finished mixture must be poured with hot water and allowed to stand for 1 hour, covered with a lid on top. Then strain and take as tea at least 2 times a day. Neurological cough herbal tea is highly effective and makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of seizures. Medicinal herbs are completely safe for humans and do not cause side effects.
It helps in the treatment of dry coughing on nervous nerves in an adult aromatherapy. This method allows not only to get rid of the existing problem, but also is a good prevention of coughing attacks. To do this, it is recommended to inhale the aromas of plants that calm the nervous system. For example, you can make a pillow of chamomile, lavender, heather and other herbs. She is put near her head all night. You can also apply essential oils to a handkerchief and inhale when coughing attacks occur.
Relaxing baths are a good remedy. It is best to take them right before bedtime. After taking a bath, you can completely relax and sleep soundly. Soothing decoctions or sea salt should be added to the bath water. A decoction of chamomile will help relieve nervous tension and eliminate signs of a psychogenic cough. Lavender helps restore the functioning of the nervous system and normalize blood circulation. Tincture of valerian helps eliminate signs of convulsive conditions.
Psychotherapeutic Techniques
Eliminate the cause of neurogenic cough will help work with a therapist. To establish psychological balance, you need to find spiritual harmony. If there is any hobby, then you need to devote quite a lot of time to your favorite pastime.
A positive impact on mental balance will have reading a fascinating book or watching your favorite movie. The main task for a successful fight against signs of psychogenic cough is to maintain mental balance.
Possible complications
Nervous coughing in adults alone does not pose a particular risk to human health. However, its manifestation can reduce the quality of life. The patient is forced to avoid the accumulation of a large number of people, gradually detaches himself from society and leads a secluded life.
Ignoring an existing problem can lead to complicated forms of mental disorders. These include the syndrome of obsessive states, paranoid attacks, manic psychosis, as well as schizophrenia. At the same time, patients can become dangerous to society. That is why, it is very important to stop a neurological cough in a timely manner, until it becomes chronic.
This problem is especially dangerous for pregnant women. The thing is that coughing attacks provoke tension in the walls of the abdominal cavity and sternum. As a result of this, the tone of the uterus increases, which can lead to loss of the baby or premature birth.
With frequent coughing, chest pain may occur. In addition, a cough can occur right before bedtime or during sleep, when a person begins to analyze what is happening.
Prophylaxis
To prevent the occurrence of a cough on a nervous basis, it is necessary to protect the psyche. For prophylaxis, sedatives can be taken, as well as maintaining a calm emotional state with the help of traditional medicine.
They will help normalize the psyche of yoga and special gymnastics. It is important to try to completely eliminate stress from your life.
A nervous cough gives a person a lot of problems, which is why it is important to recognize the presence of a problem in a timely manner and conduct a comprehensive diagnosis, as well as subsequent treatment. Sometimes therapy requires a non-standard approach, which is why prior consultation with a psychologist is required.