For the past 4 years now, in December (but in October this year) I had a very short cold followed by months of wheezing and now my voice is permanently hourse. This October, no cold first, just started coughing and wheezing! A Geriatric doctor at eh University of Reno, Nev where I live is the only person who has given me a possible reason (but not cure or treatment). He said in winter here there are various smog type issues in the winter air, and the reason it does go away is because as winter slowly goes away, the smog goes too and I begin to feel better (I thought it was the Silver Colloidal I was taking that finally helped, guess not. I m really stumped as to how to control this. The coughing is so bad it is hard to breathe hard to talk. Do you have any ideas for help?