Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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For as long as I can remember (since I was a kid) I've had a chronic small cough. None of my doctors have ever been able to figure it out (my naturopath told me it resulted from 'the mother suppressing the child's voice' which is the best explanation I've gotten). It's sort of like clearing my throat and I do it all the time. It feels like something's in my throat and it builds up, it's a slight anxious feeling, and just doesn't stop. Like my throat's getting full and hot and it sort of goes down into the top of my chest. It's not a serious or overwhelming feeling but I have to cough to get rid of it, and it just comes right back. I can go a couple minutes, maybe up to five or ten (if I consciously don't do it) without coughing. Paleo hasn't helped. It gets in the way of talking on the phone (I've had people bring it up before), job interviews (I work with kids)- I always have to say I have allergies. I know it's not necessarily related to eating paleo but I figured someone here might be able to shed some light. Thanks.

[EDIT]: This may be related- I drink a LOT of water. Like 9 liters a day. If I don't have my water or I get low I freeeeak out. I'm constantly drinking. I got tested for diabetes a while back because excessive thirst is one of the symptoms and I don't have it. I don't get overly thirsty but I am drinking all the time because I want my water. I figure my body wants what it wants.

edited Mar 30 2011 at 5:26

asked Mar 30 2011 at 5:20

Danielle
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David · Answer 1 · 2011-04-01 11:32:01Z UTC

Registered just to respond to this. This is perhaps unexpected, but I had this problem and it was greatly improved by fixing my bad posture. Because my shoulders and neck were constantly rolled forward, I believe my airways were compressed unnaturally and contributed to congestion in my lungs. I don't know any of the science behind this and I wasn't fixing my posture to address this problem, but after fixing my posture I noticed a general improvement in my breathing and my lungs finally "cleared".

I follow the Gokhale method -- http://egwellness.com/ -- and cannot recommend this technique highly enough. For me, it did for posture what Paleo does for diet and Crossfit does for exercise.

Kamal · Answer 2 · 2011-03-30 05:46:49Z UTC

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I have the same thing. Maybe you should go see an Ear Nose Throat doctor. Specifically, a laryngologist.

If you haven't seen one before, this is what they do. They do a physical exam, then snake a camera into your vocal folds. Chances are, they will see some swelling. There is medication you can take to reduce the swelling and reduce the need to cough or clear your throat. It may interupt a cycle that has been going on a long time.

I never took the medication because I thought "hey...paleo should fix this..right??". But there is a lot outside of paleo. Thanks for reminding me, this may be a good time to revisit the issue!

answered Mar 30 2011 at 5:46

Kamal♦
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	I often have a cough like this also, but it comes and goes, and I only have it when I'm feeling down. I basically figured out that it's from sinus inflammation, from the dripping down (and inflammation in the rest of the airways, including the pharynx-throat stuff, just makes you more likely to cough from it). But I think you're right that if it's been chronic from birth then it's probably not just something like what I have. (Which I think might be finally annihilated with some dairy elimination (currently trying).) – Paul Mar 30 2011 at 6:04
	Have you tried the (in)famous neti pot? I'd be down for trying some dairy elimination. Unless you mean all dairy, including butter. You don't mean no butter, do you? Do you???? – Kamal♦ Mar 30 2011 at 6:09
	Yes, I mean no butter. Check out my blog for details. Come to think of it the OP might benefit from dairy elimination, because she has probably been eating dairy her whole life. Maybe Danielle can tell us if she's tried this. – Paul Mar 30 2011 at 6:41
	I think the neti pot is one of those quick fix thingamabobs that doesn't address the underlying cause. I've read of people with chronic nasal inflammation/congestion who have tried this and have enjoyed a release from their problems -- but only a temporary release. The congestion eventually comes back. Anyhow the idea of it I find a little creepy. – Paul Mar 30 2011 at 6:43
	Veggie flavor with minimal fiber, huh. I'll be interested to see your results. While I haven't tried the Neti pot, I'm envisioning a "lavage" type effect (akin to washing out an area of soft tissue during orthopedic surgery) that might persist after stopping because the chronic inflammation depends on itself to persist (to a degree) as opposed to acute inflammation. – Kamal♦ Mar 30 2011 at 7:05

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Nick · Answer 3 · 2011-03-30 11:23:18Z UTC

I had the same thing. I believe mine was food allergy related because when I started paleo it went away. I am taking an allergy test soon though just to be sure. Last Thanksgiving I ate normally again for about three weeks and the cough returned.

StephNY · Answer 4 · 2011-03-30 12:30:24Z UTC

My voice teacher in high school referred me to an ENT doc due to my chronic coughing which was more of a throat clearing as you described it and was interefering with my singing/college auditions.

Got scoped. Turned out it was due to allergies. Also had a slight amount of GERD at the time which was adding to it.

I ended up with an Rx for allergy meds that I took as needed for about a year. When I went off to college, without being on meds, the problem seemed to clear itself up until one summer I was working at a summer camp and my allergies were exceptionally bad. The previous summer I'd had no troubles.

I haven't been on meds for it since the initial diagnosis and I only notice myself doing it if the pollen count is really high and I've been outside a lot.

I'd definitely recommend seeing an ENT and being scoped.

Ed · Answer 5 · 2011-04-01 18:39:36Z UTC

Others have already brought up possible medical explanations, including allergies, vocal cord inflammation, GERD and post-nasal drip--all excellent suggestions. I agree that seeing an otolaryngologist is a good idea.

If your ENT workup is negative, you may have something called "simple vocal tic." This is more common in children, but can also occur in adults. Treatment can either be behavioral, medical, or both. Behavioral techniques used for tics include behavior modification, biofeedback, hypnosis or neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Medications used for tics are listed here.

Lee · Answer 6 · 2011-04-01 04:18:18Z UTC

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Mine was fixed by a pulmonologist.

answered Apr 1 2011 at 4:18

Lee
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What was wrong, Lee? – Danielle Apr 1 2011 at 6:13

Mary · Answer 7 · 2012-10-29 11:48:55Z UTC

Wheat/ gluten & dairy sensitivities ( from overexposure) not exactly aleergies... cause millions of people to have inflammation of Mucous membranes & all digestive tract. Causing "throat clearing, coughing brain fog, fatigue Aching joints etc. Eliminate All wheat gluten dairy for a week... You'll see!## Heading ##

Lizzyrn · Answer 8 · 2013-04-27 05:42:29Z UTC

From a clinical perspective and the discriptions given... Have you considered you may have mojor anxiety or OCD issues? 9 liters of water is borderline excessive (I really would be interested to see your chem profiles). The ENT would be a start but I would also look at a psychosomatic perspective.

Small chronic cough

8 Answers