The Chronic Cough Cycle – And How To Stop It

If you’ve experiencing coughing that just won’t stop, you know how frustrating it can be. Maybe you were sick a while ago, and you’re finding that cough hasn’t let up. Or maybe you don’t quite remember when it started, but now your chronic cough has well and truly made itself part of your daily life.

You might not have known that Speech Pathologists can help with chronic cough! But it is an area our team of clinicians at Speak and Swallow Speech Therapy are particularly passionate about.

Keep reading to find out more about what chronic cough is , and how you can start seeing some relief from your symptoms with the support of a Speech Pathologist.

What is Chronic Cough?

Much like dysphagia, chronic cough is a symptom rather than a disease of its own. It is often related to underlying health issues like asthma, reflux, post-nasal drip, or chronic bronchitis.

To be described as chronic, your cough needs to have lasted for more than 8 weeks if you’re an adult, or for more than four weeks if you have a child with this concern.

What is the Chronic Cough Cycle?

Chronic cough is known to create a cycle of symptoms that keep the coughing episodes coming. Over time, frequent coughing can cause irritation and even damage your vocal folds, leading to worsening symptoms.

If you’ve ever wondered what is happening on the inside when you’re experiencing a chronic cough episode, here’s an overview:

You experience a sensation of needing to cough or throat clear – almost like needing to ‘scratch an itch’ when you’ve been bitten by a mosquito.

You cough or throat clear to address the sensation

When you cough, your vocal folds close tight and air is catapulted between them. Over time, this frequent action causes damage to the vocal folds.

Your body tries to calm the irritation and damage to your vocal folds by increasing mucous production. This worsens that sensation of needing to cough!

This cycle can continue and ultimately lead to worsening symptoms – increased mucous production, voice changes, and inflammation. Not to mention how frustrated and stressed you increasingly become with every passing week where your cough just won’t go away!

The good news is, a Speech Pathologist can help.

How Speech Pathologists Can Help You Stop Chronic Cough

As you can see, chronic cough left unchecked is difficult to stop. Over time, your body will begin to habitually respond to the irritation in your vocal folds by coughing and creating more mucous.

So, what do you do from here?

Speech Pathologists are allied health professionals that can assess and treat your chronic cough symptoms. You may benefit from an instrumental assessment of your airway (known as a Functional Laryngoscopy) to determine the current state of your vocal fold health and note any functional changes in your larynx that may be contributing to your symptoms. It is important to remember that chronic cough is often a symptom of underlying health conditions that must be addressed for your long-term health and wellbeing.

After an assessment is completed, your Speech Pathologist will likely recommend strategies to help you manage the sensation of needing to cough and approaches you can take in your daily life to reduce irritation and give your vocal folds the rest they need to repair. Generally speaking, it can take up to 3-4 weeks to ‘break’ this cycle with support from professionals.

If you are interested in seeking a solution for your Chronic Cough and are based in North Brisbane, contact the friendly team at Speak and Swallow Speech Therapy for support.

Things To Avoid

If you are experiencing chronic cough, here are some things you should consider:

Avoid medicated cough lozenges – these will further irritate your vocal folds

Reduce your consumption of alcohol – it can be dehydrating

Minimise your need to use your voice for long stretches of time or at an increased effort (e.g. shouting or yelling in loud places)