Coughing is irritating enough during the day, but when cough symptoms worsen at night, hacking your lungs out may become a nightmare! Today, we will teach you 3 tricks to get rid of the cough, especially during bedtime, called Nocturnal Cough.
Table of Contents
Nocturnal Cough – What is it?
Nocturnal cough can be caused by upper airway, lower airway, gastrointestinal system, or cardiovascular system disorders. The differential diagnoses for nocturnal cough are viral respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory cough syndrome, or asthma.
No matter what your age is, nocturnal cough can be extremely uncomfortable. The act of cleaning your throat, especially if it’s already raw, can be extremely painful. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can also impair your ability to sleep, which can prolong your recovery and make you feel even worse.
Why do I cough more when I’m in bed?
When you lie down to sleep, any mucus in your nose may begin to drain down the back of your throat due to gravity. This is known as post-nasal drip, and it stimulates your nocturnal cough reflex.
If you’re wondering what causes this, it is usually caused by fall allergies, colds, and sinus infections. At the same time, studies suggest that if you have a viral or bacterial infection, your immune system ramps up its activity at night, triggering inflammation in your upper airways. As a result, you cough, and cough, and cough.
What should I do to soothe Nocturnal Cough?
You’ve come to the correct place if you’re desperate for strategies to stop nocturnal coughing so you can sleep soundly—at least for a few hours until your next convulsive spell. Here are four ways to get rid of nocturnal cough:
1. Avoid OTC cough suppressants.
Internal medicine doctor for pulmonary care Dr. Kyle Enfield, MD advises against using over-the-counter cold and sinus relief medications, unless your goal is to simply stop nocturnal coughing. He believes that over-the-counter cough suppressants and decongestants, which constrict blood vessels in the nose to drain and dry out mucus, may be ineffective.
In reality, studies have shown that some over-the-counter cold drugs, such as pseudoephedrine and dextromethorphan, are no better than a placebo at alleviating nocturnal cough symptoms. They can, for example, disrupt your sleep which isn’t ideal when your body needs to relax and recuperate and induce nausea, stomach pain, and lethargy.
Instead, consider utilising a steroid nasal spray or lozenges. According to Dr. Enfield, throat lozenges numb your airways, temporarily relieving the irritation that produces a persistent nocturnal cough. Avoid sucking on them while falling asleep, as you could choke; try to have one within 45 minutes of bedtime. Moreover, corticosteroid nasal sprays also reduce inflammation in your airways and are effective at clearing up congestion.
2. Take a tablespoon of honey.
According to Dr. Enfield, a tablespoon of honey at bedtime may also help. Honey has been proved in studies to be the most effective treatment for nocturnal cough in children, and it is thought to have the similar effect in adults, he says.
It is unclear why honey is so effective. Evidence suggests that it calms your nocturnal coughing response and relaxes irritated, inflamed airways. Whatever the mechanism, many doctors agree: honey is beneficial.
“I’ve had a lot of patients that it works for,” adds Dr. Enfield. Give it a try and a tablespoon of honey won’t harm. However, if you have diabetes, see your doctor because honey may impact your blood sugar levels.
3. Drink lots, and lots of water.
Drinking fluids is one of the finest things you can do when combating an illness in general, and it can be especially beneficial for a persistent nocturnal cough, according to Dr. Enfield.
Water preserves your airway lining and thins and loosens mucus, making it easier to clear away sticky snot. Not to mention that dehydration can aggravate inflammation—and because you’re sick, you’re probably already dealing with swollen and irritated tissues, he says.
Sports drinks and electrolyte solutions are often more effective with stomach bugs or food poisoning since they create dehydration, but when recuperating from an upper respiratory illness, regular old H2O is really all you need, he says.
Say no to nocturnal cough!
It’s very common – albeit extremely unpleasant – for a cough to keep you awake at night, but that doesn’t mean it has to be so distressing. Try the above tips to finally, perhaps, restfully sleep through the night.