Introduction:
Habit cough is a repetitive chronic cough that occurs without any disease. It follows a viral illness, which can go on for weeks, months, or years. Typically the cough can be non-productive, harsh, and barking. Habit cough is diagnosed from characteristic history. Adults with persistent chronic cough can develop anxiety or depression when the cough is untreated for a more extended period. Pharmacological treatment for habit cough is ineffective. The only effective treatment for managing habit cough is the method of hypnosis which is a distraction from an elevation of any symptom.
What Is Habit Cough?
Habit cough, also known as tic cough, somatic or pyogenic cough, is characterized by prolonged coughing of a person with no underlying cause or diagnosis. It was first described in the year 1694. Habit cough is sometimes related to anxiety and stress. It is a habit that has developed possibly after any upper respiratory infection. Mainly coughing affects children and adolescents, while adults are rarely affected. It usually disappears during sleep and when distracted. It can be disturbing and irritating to others and can be misdiagnosed as asthma. Many times it shows no response to the medications.
What Causes Habit Cough?
There is no such cause of habit cough. On the contrary, it is associated with the feeling of having something in the throat and the desire to cough inorder to get rid of it.
What Are Types of Habit Cough?
The various types of habit cough are:
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Loud habit cough.
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Harsh habit cough.
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Honking habit cough.
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Barking habit cough.
How Is Habit Cough Different From Normal Cough?
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Habit cough is not associated with any disease, while regular coughing can be related to many health problems such as flu, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Habit cough is stopped when distracted or sleeping, while normal cough can trigger during sleep and persist even after distraction.
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Medical support is effective for a normal cough, while it is almost ineffective when the person suffers from a habit cough.
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Habit cough tends to create stress or anxiety in patients, while a normal cough may not affect that adversely.
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Habit cough is more common in children and adolescents, while normal cough can occur in any age group.
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Habit cough is in the form of a chronic cough, while normal cough can be acute or chronic.
What Does A Habit Cough Feel Like?
Habit cough has a different sound than that of a normal cough and is characterized by a harsh barking sound. It persists from weeks to months. The frequency of occurrence of habit cough is more and lasts for two to three seconds. The hallmark feature of habit cough is the absence of any symptoms or signs. The person might feel uncomfortable and find it difficult to sleep, but once falls asleep, then a cough does not occur. It also creates a sense of depression or stress in a person who cannot maintain a social circle because of the embarrassment of coughing.
What Are Signs of Habit Cough?
There are various signs of habit cough, such as:
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It appears after any respiratory infection that causes the person to cough.
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Cough is chronic in nature.
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Cough reduces in severity or frequency with exercise or social media surfing.
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It has no sex preference and commonly occurs in males and females.
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The cough is not responsive to any combined therapy.
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The sound of habit cough is usually harsh, dry, and often barking in nature.
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Habit cough does not involve phlegm (mucous produced by the respiratory system).
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No other symptoms of infection are seen, such as fever or running nose.
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The cough disappears when the person is distracted or sleeping.
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It is often associated with anxiety or stress.
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All the clinical tests appear normal.
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School phobia among children is commonly associated with the habit cough.
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Cough disrupts normal activities and worsens the social circle of the person.
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Habit cough can last from a few weeks to months.
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It is common in children of the age group between 6 and 12 years.
How to Diagnose Habit Cough?
The most typical sign of habit cough is a persistent, loud, barking cough that occurs repeatedly and lasts for extended periods of time. However, the results from various investigations are as follows-
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Physical Examination: Physical examination shows the person's normal height, weight, and vital signs.
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Chest X-ray: The chest X-ray is normal and does not show any respiratory-related problems.
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Blood Test: The blood tests appear satisfactory, with no blood-related diseases.
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Lung Function Test: No abnormal findings.
How to Treat Habit Cough?
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Medicines do not help to treat habit cough as there is no triggered physical cause.
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To manage the habit cough, a bed sheet can be wrapped around the abdomen and should be tightened whenever the person has the urge to cough.
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Hypnosis can be practiced in case of habit cough. It works by helping the patient to ignore the sensation that triggers coughing.
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Patients can be taught to breathe deeply and relax their muscles whenever the cough triggers.
What Is Hypnosis In Habit Cough Patients?
Hypnosis is a mental state in which the person experiences increased concentration, attention, and suggestibility. Hypnosis is used in medical conditions to eliminate or control the symptoms.
It works to help the patient ignore the sensation triggered by the cough. It has no certain side effects and is considered the most effective means of treatment for habit cough. It is effective and safe for silencing the habit cough in patients. It works by the method of distraction; for example, whenever the person urges to cough can drink sips of water or wrap a cloth around the stomach to divert the concentration.
Conclusion:
Habit cough is an involuntary chronic cough that has no identified cause. It occurs after any respiratory infection recovery as the person adapts to the feeling of coughing. The person feels something is stuck in the throat and tends to cough as an involuntary mechanism. The diagnostic methods do not show any abnormality for habit cough. Also, there is no certain treatment protocol for the management of a habit cough. It has the disadvantage of developing stress, anxiety, and reduced confidence in children due to the embarrassment of coughing in unwanted situations and places. The only way to manage habit cough is a distraction or, in higher terms, hypnosis.
