Coughing is the body’s protective reflex that removes foreign bodies away from the lungs and upper airway passages.  Repeated coughing however has a number of negative side effects such as:

  • Redness and swelling around the voice box and upper airway
  • Increasing thickened secretions around the voice box
  • Persistent coughing can impact on quality of life with disruption of sleep and breathing patterns, urinary incontinence (stress), hernias and back pain.

Chronic coughing can become a vicious cycle. Once you have coughed, you will often feel the need to take a big breath and cough again. By doing this you are effectively “feeding” the cough as each big breath further irritates the lungs and throat and stimulates a cough.

                                            cough irrittaion diagram

Stopping persistent coughing

A dry cough is a type of irritation that can be triggered by several factors including:

  • Chemicals such as smoke, spray cleaners, perfumes, air fresheners, deodorants, paints, varnish
  • Drying agents such as dust, sawdust, powders, powdered medication
  • Spicy foods
  • Laughing, singing, shouting
  • Cold, dry or fast-moving air hitting the throat.

To stop a cough, we need to manage the irritation and then introduce cough distraction techniques to help reduce your over-sensitive cough reflex.

Reduce irritation
  • Keep well hydrated
  • Adopt strategies to cope with thick and sticky secretions
  • If indicated, manage symptoms of reflux
Cough distractions to help break the cycle
  • Instead of coughing, take a sip of water and/or a dry swallow
  • Pursed lip breathing

 

        ​​​​​instructions to help stor the cough cough irritation diagram

 

Please use the following QR code or website link to access the video that accompanies this leaflet:

https://youtu.be/0xzt7bCl54M

For further information
Contact details

North Cumbria Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department,

Room 1450, Lower Ground Floor, Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7HY

Tel: 01228 608332

Email: VoiceSLT@ncic.nhs.uk

North Cumbria Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department,

Level 4, West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road, Hensingham, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8JG

Tel: 01900 705082 (referral line)

Email: AdultSpeechTherapy-AllerdaleandCopeland@ncic.nhs.uk

Useful websites

If you would like further information about health conditions and treatment options, you may wish to have a look at the NHS website at www.nhs.uk   

Visit the NCIC Adult Speech and Language Therapy website at https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/services/speech-and-language-therapy

https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/ has free literature with advice on voice care.

We kindly thank the ENT SLT Team, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for permission to reproduce and share this advice sheet and video link.

Disclaimer: This publication is designed for the information of patients. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the information contained may not be comprehensive and patients should not act upon it without seeking professional advice.

 

 

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302