How to Relieve Nighttime Coughing

What is Nighttime Coughing?

Nighttime coughing is a type of cough that occurs primarily during sleep and can affect sleep quality. It is often a symptom of an underlying health issue.

Coughing that starts with a tickling or irritation in the throat at night can be severe enough to cause sleep disturbances.

Nighttime coughing typically begins suddenly when the person lies down in bed.

What Causes Nighttime Coughing?

The most common causes of nighttime coughing are acid reflux and postnasal drip. Additionally, allergies and dry air in the environment can also lead to nighttime coughing. Another chronic condition that can cause nighttime coughing is heart failure.

Postnasal drip: Increased mucus in the nose or sinuses can drip down the back of the throat, leading to nighttime coughing. This condition often results from respiratory infections such as the flu, common cold, or allergic rhinitis. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause, and nasal sprays, antihistamines, or nasal irrigation with various solutions can help alleviate symptoms.

Asthma: Nighttime coughing can be a prominent feature of asthma. Due to the narrowing and inflammation of the airways, coughing and shortness of breath can occur, especially during sleep. Asthma treatment is managed with medications prescribed by your doctor, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroid inhalers.

Sinusitis: Inflammation of the air cavities within the facial and skull bones, known as sinuses, can lead to sinusitis, which may cause nighttime coughing.

Reflux: Acid reflux, where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, is another common cause of nighttime coughing. The stomach acid can irritate the throat and trigger coughing. Reflux treatment may include lifestyle changes (e.g., waiting before lying down after meals, elevating the head of the bed, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, and not consuming high-acid beverages like alcohol) and medications such as antacids or proton pump inhibitors.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD, a progressive disease affecting the lungs, can cause nighttime coughing. COPD treatment may involve bronchodilator medications, inhalers, and breathing exercises.

Heart failure: Another chronic condition that can cause nighttime coughing is heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and other organs, which can result in coughing.

Medication side effects: Some medications can cause side effects like coughing. For example, ACE inhibitors used to lower blood pressure can lead to nighttime coughing. If a medication side effect is suspected, the blood pressure medication may need to be changed.

How to Relieve Nighttime Coughing

The treatment for nighttime coughing should target the underlying cause. Anti-reflux treatment, corticosteroid nasal sprays, and allergy medications are commonly prescribed for nighttime coughing caused by reflux and postnasal drip.

Eating late at night and then lying down can make digestion difficult, leading to acid reflux and causing coughing. It is important to wait a certain amount of time after eating to allow the food to be digested.

If the cause of the nighttime coughing is reflux, raising the head of the bed, losing weight, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, and not consuming high-acid beverages like alcohol can help alleviate the cough.

If the cough is caused by an allergy, removing allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold from the environment can be beneficial. Ventilating and humidifying the room can also help with nighttime coughing.

Treatment for nighttime coughing depends on identifying the underlying cause. Therefore, anyone experiencing nighttime coughing should consult a pulmonologist.