I get a hacking cough, have for years, my throat gets irritated, a dry tickly feeling, and I start to cough sometimes for long periods. If I hold my head down or sleep with my neck bent it irritates my throat and I start to cough or sometimes just the feeling of air in my throat when I breath in, especially while lying down, causes me to cough such that I can't sleep. I quit smoking over 30 years ago but the smell of smoke or strong perfumes or such brings on coughing. Also sometimes it feels like my throat is tight and I have difficulty just swallowing.