Coughers

I have a chronic cough. I don't know when and where it will strike, but yesterday it was when I went into a cold church. I am sure it annoys people but I genuinely can't help it and try my best to suppress it. In a restaurant I would sip water or go to the toilet until it calmed down.

Everyone gets coughs from time to time.

Maybe offering this woman a drink or a mint may have made you both feel better, at least she would have known it was bothering you,

I think the problem is not the actual cough, but the fact that people don’t make any attempt to cover their mouths. I had this on a bus last week. Many people don’t seem to carry tissue or a handkerchief these days and have seemingly no thought for those around them.

I was in a department store last week, first time I've been out shopping since before Christmas, there was a lady coughing right next to me and made no attempt to cover her mouth.

Hardly surprising so much flu about. I've just had 2 months off work with back problems I don't want to catch a cold or flu from people who cough all over others.

I observed a similar situation a few weeks ago; I was at a social group meeting and selected members were giving a short presentation to the audience.

One person was coughing into the microphone at the end of every sentence with no attempt to cover their mouth. The airborne particles must surely have been spraying all over those sitting in the first row of the audience as well as the microphone that she was holding which she just passed on to the next candidate when she had finished.

Having a cough does not mean having a cold, or any other infection. You can be fit and well and just have some irritation or dryness in your throat that keeps you coughing.

I carry blackcurrant lozenges in my handbag, so that I have something to suck when my throat gets irritated. Water will not do the trick.

We all cough but we don’t all cough freely over everyone else with a racking sputum laden bark !

My sister has a chronic asthmatic cough. She said sometimes she feels like a leper. Offers of sweets are well meaning but can feel degrading.

DH has a reflux cough. Not all coughs are due to a virus.

Mogsmaw

My sister has a chronic asthmatic cough. She said sometimes she feels like a leper. Offers of sweets are well meaning but can feel degrading.

Ditto.

I have COPD and have had my latest barking and relentless cough for two years, I rarely socialise now, the dirty looks in restaurants have spoiled many an outing.
My cardiologist, in December 2023, said I needed an urgent respiratory appointment. I am still waiting. 😡

At a recent concert I was shocked how many people were coughing constantly. It ruined the performance ( classical music). Is there no consideration for others?

Cabbie, surely thos people didn't cough out of lack of consideration! At a U3A Conference the other day, the lovely lady next to me started to cough, stopped and started again- so I handed her a cough sweet I had in my pocket (always take a few just in case) with a smile, and she stopped.

It has happened to me a couple of times at concerts or conference, and I had to walk out as discreetly as I could, which would have also disturbed all. I always have cough sweets and a small bottle of water, just in case. But it can happen to anyone.

My DH has terrible sinuses, had an op once but didn’t improve things so he gets nose drip down the back of his throat which means he coughs a lot sometimes. He hates when it happens in restaurants etc but always coughs into his hand, often into a tissue which he then disposes of. But he does get funny looks. Once, not long after covid restrictions were lifted a huffy woman told him he should stay at home, he was even wearing a mask when masks were no longer necessary.
It can be a curse having a cough but people should catch it in their hand or cough into the crook of a raised arm. Am more annoyed by people sneezing robustly without putting a hand or tissue over their nose, men especially seem to make an exhibition of it.

I think it's only natural for people to be wary of others coughing these days. Yes, people can cough for any reason , but at the very least they could cover their mouths. Same goes for sneezing - and don't even get me started on the vile specimens who spit in the street!

I have asthma but if I have a bad day and made arrangements to go out I cancel. You can’t enjoy food or drink if coughing continuously. Since COVID if someone coughs I think people automatically think you have COVID. I think that’s natural assumption and I don’t blame people.
Public transport is the worse environment when someone is coughing and I agree some never cover their mouths when coughing.

Yes. It’s not always the cough that’s the problem, it’s the people who cough without trying to cover their mouth. DH and I were in the waiting room at a vet in France to have our dog given her worming tablet before coming home to the UK. The chairs were sitting round a table. A woman came in with her 3-4 year old child who pottered about the room coughing his wee lungs up. The problem was the mother let him wander about, coughing over everything. He came and sat on the table facing us and I said to DH that I hoped it wasn’t catching! But, guess what? A couple of days later I felt it coming and I was laid up for a good fortnight after I got home, feeling lousy, with a rotten cough. I didn’t blame the child but I do think the mother should have kept him beside her.
I think we’re all more aware of coughs since Covid - I know I am.

Nanna Completely agree!
I have a nasty cough just now and have cancelled two appointments - one a restaurant reservation, not because I feel ill but because I have no desire to pass this on to anyone! Also I know there may well be people around me with an underlying condition who do not need my cough / cold to complicate their lives.
Having said that am aware that a cough can suddenly develop at the most inconvenient time !

I have had a ‘cough’for about the last 60 years. Despite many investigations no cause has ever been identified. I know certain things and conditions can start it off so try to avoid them. However I have a life and I can assure you it affects me more than others around me. However I have I always use a hanky to cover my mouth and leave the room if I am able. Just good manners.

I have Bronchiectasis - my medication has been changed and it’s brilliant - it’s not a ‘productive’ cough anymore, which was awful, especially in a social setting. The new medication means my cough is fairly dry and ok to deal with.

Mogsmaw

My sister has a chronic asthmatic cough. She said sometimes she feels like a leper. Offers of sweets are well meaning but can feel degrading.

I have asthma too and am bothered by my chronic cough. I also often feel like a leper.

People who are really concerned they might catch something from others coughing and sneezing may benefit from wearing a mask themselves.

Although I do try to cough into my elbow etc sometimes a cough can take you by surprise.

Research has shown that masks are more effective at protecting against infection and not as effective as preventing them from being caught.

We just can't avoid other people's germs or lack of manners either.

I had a chronic cough for seven + years. A new doctor witnessed an 'attack' and solved it by changing one of my blood pressure pills.
If it applies, it might be worth mentioning .... ?

I read the title as cougars🤣🤣🤣

I can't understand why the wearing of masks hasn't stayed with us after Covid. Some people do wear them and obviously they aren't 100% effective but if you have a cold or a cough then it's good manners to make some effort for other people's sake. Both my DH and I wear them in hospital settings or on public transport. With a huge population such as the UK has, surely we should do all we can to help ourselves and others.

Happened to me recently in the theatre, just could not stop coughing. I did cover my mouth with a tissue and really wanted to go outside until I recovered but I was in the middle of a row and would have disturbed even more people. I did apologise to my nearest neighbours at the interval but was definitely given the cold shoulder.