Anxiety Cough Symptoms, Chronic Cough and Nervous Cough Symptoms
Anxiety cough, persistent cough, and nervous cough can be symptoms of anxiety disorder, including anxiety and panic attack symptoms, general anxiety, and social anxiety.
Anxiety cough is often referred to as Somatic Cough Syndrome or Psychogenic Cough.
This article explains the relationship between anxiety and a frequent or persistent cough.
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Anxiety Cough Symptoms, Persistent Cough, Nervous Cough Symptoms description:
You experience:
- A frequent tickling in the throat or lungs that makes you cough.
- A persistent dry cough.
- A persistent nonproductive cough.
- Coughing is worse during anxious or stressful times and better when relaxed and less stressed.
- Difficulty taking a deep breath without coughing.
- Persistent wheezing that seems to be associated with your cough.
- A cough that occurs when you are nervous.
Anxiety cough can:
- Occur occasionally, frequently, or persistently.
- Precede, accompany, or follow an escalation of other anxiety symptoms or occur by itself.
- Precede, accompany, or follow a period of nervousness, anxiety, fear, and stress, or occur "out of the blue" for no reason.
- Range in intensity from slight, to moderate, to severe.
- Come in waves where it’s strong one moment and eases off the next.
- Occur for a while, subside, and then return for no reason.
- Change from day to day, moment to moment, or remain as a constant background during your struggle with anxiety disorder.
All the above combinations and variations are common.
For many people, anxiety cough diminishes and subsides when resting, at night, or when sleeping. However, for others, anxiety cough can increase late in the day, at night, or when resting, relaxing, and sleeping.
Because anxiety affects each person uniquely, each person can have a unique anxiety cough experience.
To see if anxiety might be playing a role in your symptoms, rate your level of anxiety using our free one-minute instant results Anxiety Test, Anxiety Disorder Test, or Hyperstimulation Test.
The higher the rating, the more likely anxiety could be contributing to or causing your anxiety symptoms, including feeling like impending doom symptoms.
Causes
Medical Advisory
Talk to your doctor about all new, changing, persistent, and returning symptoms, as some medical conditions and medications can cause anxiety-like symptoms.
Anxiety cough/Chronic Nervous Cough is referred to as Somatic Cough Syndrome or Psychogenic Cough.[1]
1. The stress response
Anxious behavior activates the stress response, which secretes stress hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones travel to targeted spots to bring about specific physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that enhance the body’s ability to deal with a threat—to either fight with or flee from it.
This is the reason the stress response is often referred to as the fight or flight response, the emergency response, or the fight, flight, or freeze response (some people freeze when they are afraid).
Visit the “Stress Response” article for more information about the many ways it can affect the body.
Stress can cause chronic cough[1], but the mechanism isn’t completely known. A few theories include:
- Stress responses can stimulate the cough reflex for some people.[2]
- Stress responses can trigger vagal stimulation, triggering a dry cough for some people.[2]
- Stress can cause heart palpitations, which can trigger a cough.[3]
- Some people have developed a habit of coughing when nervous.
2. Chronic stress (hyperstimulation)
1. Suppressed immune system
As mentioned, anxiety and stress cause the body to produce the stress response. Stress responses are designed to give us an “extra boost” when danger is perceived so that we have an enhanced ability to either fight with or flee from the source of the danger.
This “extra boost” occurs because the body suppresses all non-essential functions so that maximum awareness and energy can be diverted toward those systems, organs, and glands required for action when danger is perceived.
This system works well when stress responses occur infrequently. However, when stress responses occur too frequently, the body remains in a state of semi-stress-response readiness, often referred to as hyperarousal (which we call stress-response hyperstimulation, since stress hormones are powerful stimulants).
Visit our “Stress-Response Hyperstimulation” article for more information about the many ways hyperstimulation can affect the body and how we feel.
Hyperstimulation can cause all sorts of functioning problems.
For example, the body’s immune system is responsible for fighting off intruders, such as viruses and infections (bacteria). Since the body’s immune system isn’t part of the emergency response system, it’s suppressed when we are anxious or stressed.[4][5]
When the immune system is suppressed for prolonged periods, the body doesn’t have the resiliency to defend itself against these foreign invaders, allowing them to take root.
Once the intruders have gained a foothold in the body, they can become entrenched if chronic anxiety and stress continue to suppress the immune system.
Even the use of antibiotics may not be successful in helping the body overcome infection when stress and anxiety are chronic.
Viruses and infections can cause coughs, and chronic stress and anxiety can cause coughs to linger much longer than they normally would because of the body’s diminished ability to win the battle.
A healthy immune system is the body’s best defense against viruses and bacteria.
2. Vagus nerve hyperstimulation
The Vagus nerve, also referred to as the Cranial Nerve X, runs from the brain stem to the viscera - the internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest (the heart or lungs) or abdomen (liver, pancreas or intestines). The Vagus nerve supplies nerve fibers to the pharynx (throat), larynx (voicebox), trachea (windpipe), lungs, heart, esophagus, intestinal tract, and as far as the transverse portion of the colon. The Vagus nerve also returns sensory information to the brain from the ear, tongue, pharynx, and larynx.
The Vagus nerve is part of the nervous system. As mentioned earlier, it can also be affected by the stress response,[2] and especially by hyperstimulation since the stress response has its most dramatic effects on the body's nervous system.
A hyperstimulated nervous system can cause all sorts of problems, including those associated with the Vagus nerve and its functioning. A common consequence of Vagus nerve overstimulation is a persistent dry or nervous cough. As hyperstimulation increases, so can the persistence of anxiety cough.
3. Hyperventilation and Dry Throat
When stressed or anxious, many people breathe rapidly and shallowly.[6][7] This type of breathing pattern isn't harmful in short durations but can cause the throat and airways to become dry and raw if stress is chronic. Once the throat and airways become dry and raw, they can cause a persistent tickling sensation that causes a dry cough.
Moreover, persistent coughing can also irritate the throat and airways, which can cause a persistent cycle of dry throat and airways, coughing, irritated and dry throat and airways, coughing, and so on.
4. Asthma-related
Stress, including anxiety-caused stress, is a known trigger of asthma.[8][9] Asthma can cause wheezing and coughing. The more stressed the body becomes, the more problematic asthma and its symptoms can become, such as persistent coughing.
5. Allergy-related
Stress is known to increase allergy sensitivity and problems. Allergies can manifest as a persistent cough.
6. Acid Reflux
Anxiety and chronic stress (hyperstimulation) may contribute to acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing irritation and coughing.
7. Muscle Tension
Anxiety causes muscles to tighten, including the throat and chest muscles, which can trigger a tickling sensation and coughing. This is particularly prevalent when the body becomes chronically stressed (hyperstimulated).
8. Nervous habit
As also mentioned earlier, some people have developed a habit of coughing when stressed and/or anxious. It's not that anxiety itself has caused a physical reason for the cough but the cough is caused by a psychological or emotional reason. Consequently, whenever they are in a stressful or anxious situation, they cough as a habituated response.
3. Other Factors
Other factors can create stress and cause anxiety-like symptoms, as well as aggravate existing anxiety symptoms, including:
- Medication
- Recreational drugs
- Stimulants
- Sleep deprivation
- Fatigue
- Low blood sugar
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Dehydration
- Hormone changes
- Pain
Select the relevant link for more information.
Treatment
When this symptom is caused or aggravated by other factors, addressing those factors can reduce and eliminate it.
When this symptom is caused by apprehensive behavior and the accompanying stress response changes, calming yourself down will end the active stress response and its changes. This anxiety symptom should subside as your body recovers from the active stress response.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 20 minutes or more for the body to recover from a major stress response. But this is normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
When this symptom is caused by hyperstimulation (chronic stress), eliminating hyperstimulation will end this anxiety symptom.
You can eliminate hyperstimulation by:
- Reducing stress.
- Containing anxious behavior (since anxiety creates stress).
- Regular deep relaxation.
- Avoiding stimulants.
- Regular light to moderate exercise.
- Getting regular good sleep.
- Eating a healthy diet of whole and natural foods.
- Passively-accepting your symptoms until they subside.
- Being patient as your body recovers.
Visit our “60 Natural Ways To Reduce Stress” article for more ways to reduce stress.
As the body recovers from hyperstimulation, it stops sending symptoms of hyperstimulation, including anxiety cough.
Hyperstimulation symptoms subside as the body regains its normal, non-hyperstimulated health.
However, eliminating hyperstimulation can take much longer than most people think, causing symptoms to linger longer than expected.
As long as the body is even slightly hyperstimulated, it can present symptoms of any type, number, intensity, duration, frequency, and at any time, including this one.
Even so, since anxiety cough is a common symptom of stress, including anxiety-caused stress, it's harmless and needn't be a cause for concern. It will subside when unhealthy stress has been eliminated and the body has had sufficient time to recover and stabilize. Therefore, there is no reason to worry about it.
Short-term remedies:
Even though eliminating hyperstimulation will eliminate chronic anxiety symptoms, including this one, some people have found the following strategies helpful in reducing episodes of this symptom in the short-term.
However, keep in mind that each person can have a unique symptom experience since each person is somewhat physically, chemically, psychologically, and emotionally unique. What might work for one person might not for another.
Reduce stress – Since stress, including anxiety-caused stress, is a common cause of coughing, reducing stress can reduce episodes of this symptom.
Any stress reduction strategy can help improve this symptom. Visit our article “60 Ways To Reduce Stress And Anxiety” for natural stress reduction strategies.
Recovery Support members can read chapters 4 and 14 for many natural ways to reduce stress and anxiety.
Regular good sleep – Regular good sleep can reduce stress, cortisol, and the body’s overall level of stimulation. Their reduction can reduce and eliminate anxiety symptoms, including this one.
Regular deep relaxation – Deep relaxation reduces the body’s overall level of stimulation and stress, leading to a reduction in anxiety symptoms, including coughing.
Regular light to moderate exercise – Regular light to moderate exercise can reduce stress and use up excess cortisol, which can help reduce anxiety symptoms, including this one.
Avoid stimulants – Stimulants, such as caffeine, bring about their stimulating effect by increasing circulating cortisol, the body’s most powerful stress hormone. To help the body recover from hyperstimulation, we need to reduce the production of stress hormones and stimulation, not increase it. A reduction in stress and stimulation can help reduce symptoms of hyperstimulation, including this one.
Regulate your breathing – Breathing in a more relaxed and regulated manner can prevent a dry throat and the coughing that can result.
Keep well hydrated – Dehydration can cause anxiety-like symptoms and aggravate existing anxiety symptoms. Keeping your body well hydrated can reduce and eliminate anxiety symptoms, including anxiety coughing.
Contain your anxiousness – Since anxiety activates the stress response, which causes anxiety and hyperstimulation symptoms, containing your anxiousness about this anxiety symptom can help reduce and eliminate it, even in the short term.
The more successful you are in containing your anxiousness, the more opportunity your body has to reduce stress and stimulation. A reduction in stress and stimulation can reduce episodes of anxiety-caused coughing.
Therapy
Unidentified and unaddressed underlying factors cause issues with anxiety. As such, they are the primary reason why anxiety symptoms persist.
Addressing your underlying factors (Level Two recovery) is most important if you want lasting success.
Addressing Level Two recovery can help you:
- Contain anxious behavior.
- Become unafraid of anxiety symptoms and the strong feelings of anxiety.
- End anxiety symptoms.
- Successfully address the underlying factors that so often cause issues with anxiety.
- End what can feel like out-of-control worry.
All our recommended anxiety therapists have had anxiety disorder and overcame it. Their personal experience with anxiety disorder and their Master's Degree and above professional training gives them insight other therapists don't have.
If you want to achieve lasting success over anxiety disorder, any one of our recommended therapists would be a good choice.
Working with an experienced anxiety disorder therapist is the most effective way to treat anxiety disorder, especially if you have persistent symptoms and difficulty containing anxious behavior, such as worry.[10][11][12]
In many cases, working with an experienced therapist is the only way to overcome stubborn anxiety.
Recovery Support
The Recovery Support area of our website contains thousands of pages of important self-help information to help individuals overcome anxiety disorder, hyperstimulation, and symptoms.
Due to the vast amount of information, including a private Discussion Forum, many of our Recovery Support members consider it their online recovery support group.
Common Anxiety Symptoms
Additional Resources
- For a comprehensive list of Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Signs, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
- Anxiety and panic attacks symptoms can be powerful experiences. Find out what they are and how to stop them.
- How to stop an anxiety attack and panic.
- Free online anxiety tests to screen for anxiety. Two minute tests with instant results. Such as:
- Anxiety 101 is a summarized description of anxiety, anxiety disorder, and how to overcome it.
Return to our anxiety disorders signs and symptoms page.
anxietycentre.com: Information, support, and therapy for anxiety disorder and its symptoms, including Anxiety Cough.
1. Vertigan, Anne E. “Somatic cough syndrome or psychogenic cough—what is the difference?” Journal of Thoracic Disease, 9 March 2017.
2. Canning, Brendan J. “Afferent nerves regulating the cough reflex: Mechanisms and Mediators of Cough in Disease.” US National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2010.
3. Harvard Health Publishing. “Skipping a Beat - the Surprise of Heart Palpitations.” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Health Publishing, 13 Aug. 2018.
4. American Psychological Association. “Stress Weakens the Immune System.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, 23 Feb. 2006.
5. Segerstrom, Suzanne C., et al. “Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry.” NCBI PubMed, 7 Feb. 2006.
6. “The Effects of Stress on Your Body.” Healthline, Healthline Media, Jan. 2019.
7. Yaribeygi, Habib, et al. “The Impact of Stress on Body Function: A Review.” EXCLI Journal, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, 2017.
8. Chen, Edith, et al. “Stress and Inflammation in Exacerbations of Asthma.” Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, Nov. 2007.
9. Yonas, Michael A., et al. “Psychosocial stress and asthma morbidity.” US National Library of Medicine, 12 Apr. 2012.
10. Hofmann, Stefan G., et al. “The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-Analyses.” Cognitive Therapy and Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Oct. 2012.
11. Leichsenring, Falk. “Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy the Gold Standard for Psychotherapy?” JAMA, American Medical Association, 10 Oct. 2017.
12. DISCLAIMER: Because each body is somewhat chemically unique, and because each person will have a unique mix of symptoms and underlying factors, recovery results may vary. Variances can occur for many reasons, including due to the severity of the condition, the ability of the person to apply the recovery concepts, and the commitment to making behavioral change.