my husband does the same thing...just used to happen if he was drinking alcohol, after 3-4 beers. The other day he had not been drinking at all, sitting there watching tv and felt like he needed to cough, but as soon as he inhaled to cough, his breath cut short....face turned red, scrunched face, like he was trying to force out a cough with a closed mouth, started shaking and leaning over, about to pass out. I started screaming his name, he does not respond, all of a sudden....