I have been having cough syncope episodes for a period of some 7 years but so far no doctor has been able to determine why they should happen. All episodes are triggered by a cough, including a minor one to clear my throat. I only pass out on rare occasions but can have many episodes during a day, ranging from mild blurred vision with tingling and a warm flush in my face and limbs; to stronger turns in which I have difficulty staying upright and often accompanied by involuntary muscle spasm in the limbs and near loss of consciousness.

I frequently have 5 - 10 of the above during a day but only actually faint every few months. That is often enough to preclude my driving a vehicle in congested areas or on the highway. All episodes are triggered by a cough and they only last a few seconds. I have consulted GP's, ENT Specialists, Thoracic Surgeon and Cardiologists and had numerous tests in hospital but apart from being told that my lung collapses sometimes when I cough I have no other answers. Am currently fitted with a Loop recorder to see what my heart is up to when these episodes occur but so far the results show that my heart is stable at the time.

Any ideas as to why some coughs, and not all, trigger this sort of episode??


Jim