About
Let’s Talk About Cough aims to create empathy and understanding about chronic cough and its impact on people’s lives by sharing stories in creative ways.
Everybody at some point will suffer from a terrible cough. For most people, the cough soon disappears, but for some it never does.
It is easy to dismiss chronic cough as ‘just a cough’. But few of us appreciate the physical, psychological and social impacts, or the stigma of being unable to control a reflex that others find irritating and even threatening.
Let’s Talk About Cough is about understanding the impact that cough can have on people’s lives.
We have formed a community of people living with chronic cough and doctors and researchers who work on the condition. Together we are sharing stories about the experience of cough, the biology of cough and the treatment of cough.
We want chronic cough to be taken seriously by everyone.
Our Story
The first part of Let’s Talk About Cough was the Story Exchange, an online programme of creative workshops to share stories about cough.
We then transformed these stories into a listening experience called One In Ten.
Let’s Talk About Cough runs alongside a research project investigating the biological mechanisms of chronic cough, led by Professor Jacky Smith and Professor Maria Belvisi.
The creative producer of Let’s Talk About Cough is Ellen Dowell
People
Linda
I have had a persistent cough for over 25 years. I am a retired teacher and still enjoy reading and learning. When I first became involved in Let’s Talk About Cough, it was amazing to meet people who understood the experience of living with cough every day and wanted to talk about it. Instead of apologising for disturbing people with my noisy barking cough, I was discussing it and thinking about it in lots of creative ways. The boost to my self esteem was immeasurable.
Siobhan
I am a respiratory speech and language therapist. I diagnose and treat patients with cough hypersensitivity and other laryngeal disorders. At the weekend I love being outdoors and travelling around the country with my daughter in our campervan. This project has been eye-opening at highlighting the long-term impact of the disease and it not only affecting the patient themselves but family, friends and work colleagues as well. It has changed the way I think about chronic cough as a therapist and the questions I ask patients.
Joan
I have had my cough for 30 years and I really hate it. The cough is an alien who has invaded my body. My friends and family are very supportive. They accept my ever-present cough and they know it’s part of me. My lasting memories of being involved with Let’s Talk About Cough will be meeting the different people who suffer with chronic cough. This coming together has made us a clan with strong ties, fighting the common enemy. My key highlight was working together to develop One in Ten.
Jono
I’m a scientist whose work has focused on exploring new drugs to treat chronic cough for the best part of 10 years. I’m also a dad, a partner, a keen amateur thespian and a tech nerd. I like meeting new people, learning and solving problems. Throughout Let’s Talk About Cough, the relationship between all participants was one characterised by empathy, curiosity, trust and above all, fun. I laughed, I cried, and I learned!
Bethan
I have had a chronic cough for over 12 years. It is frustrating and annoying but also scary when I cannot catch my breath. I am a sociable person and enjoy meeting up with friends. Adopting my two children has been the best thing that I have done. Being involved in Let’s Talk About Cough has been an adventure into a different world. I have met people who are in the same position as me as well as health professionals who are actively working on finding answers and cures for cough.
Eric
I am an optimistic person, and always approach a problem with the idea that there is a solution. I am interested in researching the causes and mechanisms of respiratory diseases, and how to cure them or at least make them survivable and alleviate their burden on life. I discovered chronic cough when I joined in the National Heart and Lung Institute in London. The key things I took from Let’s Talk About Cough are how little the public know about this disease and, from patients who shared their stories, how intolerant people can be towards cough.