Have you ever noticed that you start coughing while laughing and wondered why? It may seem like an odd and unexpected reaction, but there are scientific reasons behind it.
Why Do I Cough When I Laugh?
If you cough when you laugh, it’s because small drops of saliva might get into your upper respiratory system. The cough reflex is activated to eliminate the ‘foreign substance’ because the body doesn’t want it there.
Let’s delve further into this phenomenon to understand its causes and how to keep your laughter clean and cough-free!
Tickle in Throat Trigger
Laughing adds specific pressure to our respiratory system. You laugh, and air rushes out in a speedy burst. That air movement can tickle the throat, resulting in a cough.
How Severe is it?
In some scenarios, laughter-induced coughing could be indicative of more serious conditions. If you experience a persistent tickle in your throat, causing you to cough every time you laugh. it is advisable to seek medical advice.
If you frequently find yourself wondering, ‘Why do I cough when I laugh?’ consulting with a healthcare professional is recommended.
Other Conditions
You may also start coughing when you laugh because of other health conditions. Here are some essential ones:
Asthma
This condition can constrict your airways and has distinctive symptoms, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. It must be managed with appropriate care, lifestyle changes, and routine medical exams.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mainly known as COPD, can cause a cough when you laugh due to excessive mucus in your airways. This situation emphasizes the need for continuous care and regular medical check-ups.
GERD
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, can notably cause stomach acid to flow back into the throat, resulting in discomfort and potentially leading to coughing when you laugh.
Tips to Prevent Coughs When Laughing
While you can’t fully control an involuntary reflex, here are 7 tips to potentially minimize coughing from laughter:
1. Drink water
Keep your throat comfortable by drinking lots of water.
2. Use a humidifier
Make the air less dry to help stop annoying coughs.
3. Avoid things that make it worse
Stay away from smoke and strong-smelling chemicals that can make your cough worse.
4. Take care of other health problems
If you have issues like GERD or allergies, make sure to manage them.
5. Try throat lozenges
Suck on these to help your throat feel better.
6. Eat honey
Taking a small spoonful of honey can help stop coughing and irritation.
7. Laugh gently
When you laugh, try not to do it too loudly or forcefully if you can.
If you put these tips into practice, find out what works best for you and make them a habit, you will have fewer complaints.
You can usually enjoy laughing without making big changes to your life – just be a bit careful. But if you’re always worrying and wondering why you cough when you laugh, don’t stress too much. Laughing hard is great, even if you sometimes cough!
Key Takeaway!
‘Why do I cough when I laugh?’ is a common question and usually nothing to worry about. It’s an involuntary reflex in the throat that can be triggered when you laugh, disrupting breathing patterns.
Even though it’s not harmful, some people might cough more due to health issues. To lessen it, drink enough water, avoid irritants, and manage underlying conditions.
However, if the cough isn’t persistent or accompanied by alarming symptoms, go ahead and enjoy the chuckle first!
