Quality of life for people with chronic cough
Millions of people around the world suffer from chronic cough, which can significantly affect their quality of life. Diagnosing and treating the underlying disease is often difficult. We are committed to improving awareness and knowledge about chronic cough – and you can help us do just that.
NELA for those affected
NELA for those affected
Quality of life for people with chronic cough
Millions of people around the world suffer from chronic cough, which can significantly affect their quality of life. Diagnosing and treating the underlying disease is often difficult. We are committed to improving awareness and knowledge about chronic cough – and you can help us do just that.
Understanding Chronic Cough Today* with NELA
NELA is the technological solution to better understand chronic cough. Currently used in research, NELA provides verifiable data that can provide insights into cough and its change over time.
What diseases can cause a chronic cough?
The future potential* of NELA
With NELA and the associated research, we want to improve the lives of people with chronic cough in the long term. Among other things, we are currently working on approval in accordance with the European Regulation on Medical Devices (Regulation (EU) 2017/745). Our goals that we strive for with NELA:
Detailed symptom overview
NELA is intended to offer sufferers the opportunity to record the time and frequency of their cough in order to, for example: Gain a more accurate understanding of their condition.
Personal pattern recognition
NELA can recognize and distinguish individual cough patterns, as well as display the data graphically. For example, those affected can provide doctors with their documented cough data, which can have a positive effect on the diagnosis of diseases and the development of treatment strategies.
Perception of changes
NELA can detect changes in coughing and provide objective information. In this way, in the event of deterioration, answers to important questions about treatment and prevention can be given in good time.
With NELA and the associated research, we want to improve the lives of people with chronic cough in the long term. Among other things, we are currently working on approval in accordance with the European Regulation on Medical Devices (Regulation (EU) 2017/745). Our goals that we strive for with NELA:
Detailed symptom overview
NELA is intended to offer sufferers the opportunity to record the time and frequency of their cough in order to, for example: Gain a more accurate understanding of their condition.
Personal pattern recognition
NELA can recognize and distinguish individual cough patterns, as well as display the data graphically. For example, those affected can provide doctors with their documented cough data, which can have a positive effect on the diagnosis of diseases and the development of treatment strategies.
Perception of changes
NELA can detect changes in coughing and provide objective information. In this way, in the event of deterioration, answers to important questions about treatment and prevention can be given in good time.
Participate in our research
Do you want to better understand your chronic cough? By participating in our research projects , you help us optimize NELA and actively support the technological advancement of medical research.
Participate in our research
Do you want to better understand your chronic cough? By participating in our research projects , you help us optimize NELA and actively support the technological advancement of medical research.
Personal Insights:
Voices of our Project Participants
Holger, 61 - Person living with COPD
” …with NELA I can see better how I am doing over all… “
Holger has been diagnosed with COPD for 8 years. Today, he has less than 30% of his lung volumes left and starts each morning with a cough. Nevertheless, Holger doesn’t let it get him down. He makes the best of his situation and enjoys the “good days”.
Andrea, 50 - Person living with asthma
“I already feel like NELA’s Grandma, as if I have really become part of the NELA family by now.”
Andrea has had severe asthma since early childhood. Coughing, breathlessness and the constant fear of recurring breathlessness always dictate her life.
Frank, 52 - Person living with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency
“…Coughing is a part of my life and I want to understand it better …”
Frank has been suffering from Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency for nearly 20 years.
NELA: By those affected for those affected
NELA is designed to help people with chronic coughs, e.g. asthmatics, allergy sufferers or COPD patients. At the heart of this mission is personal exchange: Within our NELA community, those affected get in touch with each other and we get in touch with them. Share your personal experiences and give us feedback – this will give us important insights into living with chronic cough and make NELA even better. Become part of our NELA community and help us with your experiences.
Holger, 61
Person living with COPD
“…with NELA I can see better how I am doing over all…”
How did you come to NELA?
I came back from rehab and stopped smoking straight away. From one day to the next, without any support – just bang: that’s it! Then I searched the internet for information on how to breathe better again. That’s when I came across the online breathing tutorials of Nico Lorenz. He had recommended NELA, and so I took part in a study.
How have you been involved in NELA so far?
NELA was at my home for three days and afterwards I answered questions about it for the NELA team. At first I couldn’t believe how interested they were in my answers and in my whole COPD story.
We talked several times, always via video call, because I’m stuck here on the North Sea island and can’t easily leave because of my COPD. I enjoy it and it also helps me to exchange ideas and contribute to the project.
What do you like about NELA?
With NELA I’ll be able to better see how I am doing overall. l In the future, I can simply share this with my doctor and no longer have to travel halfway around the world for every appointment at the doctor’s office. With NELA, I will be able to share this information at a distance.
Andrea, 50
Person living with asthma
“I already feel like NELA’s Grandma, as if I have really become part of the NELA family by now.”
How are you in contact with the NELA team?
From the very beginning, its been very nice to be in contact with the NELA team. You can always sense the personal interest in the idea of wanting NELA to “help” in dealing with a disease.
We’ve been in contact for several years now and they always get in touch and keep me up to date on the latest developments in the project.
I have also visited them in Berlin to get a personal impression. As a joke, I said, “I already feel like NELA’s grandma, as if I have really become part of the NELA family by now.”
How have you been involved with NELA so far?
I came into contact with NELA through my doctor and took part in the study to collect cough data. I like the team and that the cough is not seen as a separate symptom, but holistically.
What do you like about NELA?
I think it’s a great idea that in the future, you can keep better control of your condition with the help of modern technology. As long as I can do something myself, I can change something myself. That’s my motto!
Frank, 52
Person living with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency
“…Coughing is a part of my life and I want to understand it better …”
Alpha 1 is the “genetic variant” of COPD, which is inherited and very rare. The effects of emphysema have been with him since he was 35 years old. He has been a staff member and an important part of the NELA team since January 2023.
What motivated you to participate in the NELA study?
Coughing is a part of my life and I want to understand it better.
What was it like participating in the study?
It was a really exciting time, three days of testing with NELA. I am generally a bit sceptical about studies, as I have had a few unpleasant experiences. But not with NELA, because it’s just a “cough listener”.
What do you hope to achieve with NELA?
With NELA, my family doctor/lung specialist will be able to give me the right therapy earlier and I won’t run the risk of getting a bad exacerbation that will leave me flat in bed for days.
How did you get involved with NELA as a staff member?
Actually, I came into contact with the NELA team for the first time through my participation in this study. We had quite intense conversations afterwards about my experiences with NELA. Today, I am happy to be part of the NELA team and have the task of providing advice and support to the patients.
