Gregg cough (maybe spoilers)

I’ve just rewatched seasons 1 and 2 and the only bit I don’t understand is why was Gregg’s cough/health problems written into season 1? In season 2 he is no longer coughing. Maybe I’m being thick. Is it something to do with conning Tanya into marrying him before he dies, or something along those lines…that’s all I can think.