Productive coughing is probably a pretty good thing. That said, sometimes I get spasms and have a really hard time stopping. The vest does help with spasms though. Its like it scratches the tickle. It's important to breath the right way when you cough. You want to breath from your bottom lobes up. (belly breaths) Stomach should go out when you breath. I think that helps prevent air from being trapped, but not sure about that one.