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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Dizziness During Cough?

hi there, I am 41 years old (male) a bit overweight as I sit more than 10 hours at work everyday. I am quite stressed, but my question is this. Sometimes (not all the time) when I cough i get really lightheaded / dizzy. what could this be? Many thanks.
Fri, 27 Jun 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM!

This is Dr. Sridhar and I shall be answering your question.

Well, when a person coughs, his intra abdominal and intra thoracic pressure increases. Increase in the intra abdominal pressure compresses your inferior vena cava, the blood vessel that carries blood from your body to your heart. As this vessel is compressed, heart doesn't receive the impure blood from the body. As a result, it fails to pump blood too ( as it didn't receive any). This decreases the blood flow to your brain, which results in dizziness or sometimes, even loss of consciousness.

Hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask if you have any other doubt.

Wishing you good health.
With warm regards,
Dr. Sridhar
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What Causes Dizziness During Cough?

Hi, Welcome to HCM! This is Dr. Sridhar and I shall be answering your question. Well, when a person coughs, his intra abdominal and intra thoracic pressure increases. Increase in the intra abdominal pressure compresses your inferior vena cava, the blood vessel that carries blood from your body to your heart. As this vessel is compressed, heart doesn t receive the impure blood from the body. As a result, it fails to pump blood too ( as it didn t receive any). This decreases the blood flow to your brain, which results in dizziness or sometimes, even loss of consciousness. Hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask if you have any other doubt. Wishing you good health. With warm regards, Dr. Sridhar