Why Does Laughing Make Me Cough? Main Causes and Treatments

Why Does Laughing Make Me Cough?

If you find yourself coughing every time you laugh or experience a giggling fit, you're not alone. This unusual and inconvenient symptom affects many people. While coughing after laughter may seem harmless at first, it can signal underlying health issues that need medical attention. Let's explore the possible reasons why laughing makes you cough and when to see a doctor.

Common Causes of Coughing When Laughing

Here are some typical causes of coughing after laughter:

• Asthma - Asthma commonly triggers coughing from laughing. Laughter causes fast breathing that irritates sensitive airways.
• COPD - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflames airways, making them prone to irritation from laughing.
• Pertussis - The coughing illness commonly called whooping cough can cause severe coughing fits after laughter.
• Upper respiratory infection - Colds, flu, and other viral illnesses can make airways tender and easily irritated.
• Laryngopharyngeal reflux - Stomach acid backing up into the throat and voice box sensitizes them to trigger coughing.
• Smoking - Smoking inflames air passages and destroys cilia that sweep mucus out of the lungs.
• Congestive heart failure - Fluid buildup in damaged lungs sensitizes nerve endings to induce coughing.
• Lung damage - Scarring from chronic illness or injury causes easily triggered cough receptors.
• ACE inhibitors - This blood pressure medication can cause a dry cough for some patients.

How Asthma Triggers Coughing From Laughing

One of the most common reasons laughing leads to coughing is asthma. During an asthma attack or when airways are inflamed, the fast breathing caused by deep belly laughter can trigger coughing. Here's why:

• Narrowed airways have less space for air to pass through.
• Laughing forces air through faster, hitting irritated spots.
• Mucus clogs and inflames air passages, making them tender.
• The cough reflex gets hypersensitive when airways are inflamed.

For those with asthma, this cough is usually more pronounced at night or during an asthma flare-up. Laughing can initiate a cycle of coughing that leads to wheezing or shortness of breath. Getting asthma under control with proper medication can help minimize coughing with laughter.

How COPD Causes Laughing Coughs

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves long-term lung damage that can also make coughing from laughter more likely. COPD causes:

• Loss of elasticity in the airways.
• Holes to develop in the air sacs.
• Excess mucus production.
• Swelling and scarring of lung tissue.

All these COPD effects irritate the airways and stimulate cough receptors. Laughing fast and deep draws rapid breaths over already inflamed spots. COPD coughing after laughter may produce thick mucus that's difficult to clear. Proper use of inhalers and avoiding lung irritants can help lessen coughing episodes.

Whooping Cough's Signature Laughing Cough

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is notorious for triggering prolonged coughing fits after laughing. The Bordetella pertussis bacterium causes this highly contagious respiratory illness. Pertussis produces coughing fits by:

• Inflaming and coating the airways with thick mucus.
• Destroying cilia that clear mucus from the airways.
• Causing violent, rapid coughs to try expelling mucus.
• Tightening airway muscles and restricting airflow.

These effects make sufferers vulnerable to coughing spells when laughing. A pertussis cough often ends with a forceful inhale that produces the signature "whooping" sound. These coughing fits can be dramatic, even resulting in vomiting. Prompt antibiotic treatment can help shorten the duration of whooping cough.

How Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Irritates the Throat

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) happens when stomach contents back up into the throat and voice box. This can irritate the delicate tissues enough to trigger coughing after laughing. LPR causes coughing by:

• Exposing the throat and larynx to irritating stomach acid.
• Creating swelling and inflammation in the throat.
• Stimulating cough receptors in the larynx.

Laughing forcefully pushes air over already inflamed tissue. The turbulence and speed of the air can initiate tickling and coughing. Treating the underlying LPR with diet, medication, or surgery to strengthen the esophageal sphincter can reduce coughing with laughter.

How Smoking Can Lead to Laughing Coughs

Cigarette smoking severely irritates the respiratory tract in multiple ways. Inhaling cigarette smoke:

• Incites inflammation throughout the airways and lungs.
• Impairs and destroys the cilia lining the airways.
• Fills air passages with toxic chemicals and tar.
• May lead to emphysema over time.

These effects make the respiratory system far more sensitive. Even small triggers like laughing can provoke coughing as irritated nerves respond. Quitting smoking allows the lungs to heal and decreases coughing significantly.

Congestive Heart Failure's Role

When the heart cannot pump efficiently, fluid can build up in the lungs. This lung congestion sensitizes irritation nerves and makes coughing more likely. Congestive heart failure may cause coughing after laughing due to:

• Fluid leaking from pulmonary blood vessels.
• Back up of blood and fluid into the lungs.
• Swelling of the lining of the lungs.
• Reduced clearing of normal mucus.

When lung congestion already narrows the airways, laughing forcefully can trigger coughing. Treating the underlying heart failure can help minimize episodes of coughing with laughter as lung congestion is reduced.

When to See a Doctor About Laughing Coughs

Occasional coughing after laughter is not always a concern. But if laughing triggers prolonged coughing spells, makes your cough worse, or produces phlegm or wheezing, see a doctor to determine the cause. Seek medical care if:

• The cough persists for weeks or keeps recurring.
• Coughing from laughter worsens or changes.
• The cough produces thick mucus or blood.
• Coughing is accompanied by difficulty breathing.
• You experience hoarseness, sore throat, or heartburn.
• You have risk factors like smoking, asthma, or heart disease.

A physical exam and tests can check for underlying conditions like asthma, reflux, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Treatment will focus on the specific cause. For example, inhalers, avoiding irritants, cardiac medication, or dietary changes.

Tips to Prevent Coughing When Laughing

You may be able to reduce coughing from laughter with these tips:

• Use prescribed inhalers as directed to control asthma.
• Treat any heartburn to minimize laryngopharyngeal reflux.
• Quit smoking to allow your lungs to heal.
• Avoid lung irritants like air pollution and strong scents.
• Stay well hydrated to keep your throat's mucus thin. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.