Information obtained from tussigrams and the possibilities of their application in medical practice

The physiology of cough was studied using 2008 voluntary coughs. The tussiexpirograms verify that in a cough-series there are "double-flow" phases. The tussitachogram enables a more precise observation, for example, one can recognise five flow phases within one single cough. It proves, furthermore, that in the first five coughs the speed of airflow is always higher in the intermediate deceleration than in the acceleration phase. On the tussiphonogram one can differentiate seven phonetic phases. The simultaneously recorded tussigrams and tussiphonograms allow identification of two sounds, two intervals and noises. There are at least two possibilities for use of these data in clinical practice, 1) the measurement of the volume during the first second on the tussiexpirogram is a suitable control for the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 2) analysis of the voluntary prolongation of the intermediate deceleration during respiratory physiotherapy.