Coughing At Night
How to Stop Coughing at Night
If you have ever had a particularly bad case of coughing at night, you know how horrible it can be. Whether it’s a tickling or scratchiness in the throat, or some other cause, there is nothing quite as frustrating or irritating as not being able to stop coughing at night. If you sleep in the same room with someone else or are part of a family with rooms next to one another, one person coughing at night can keep everyone from getting any sleep.
While coughing can be from a cold, there are also many other reasons why you could be coughing at night. One reason is because it could be a side effect of a medicine which you are taking. Many meds list coughing as a side effect, especially ACE inhibitors, which are used by people with high blood pressure.
Sinusitis could be another cause of coughing at night. When your sinuses clog up with mucus, you cannot breathe, and sometimes it can drip down the back of your throat, causing an annoying tickle that can make you cough. This is known by the term, post nasal drip. Allergies can cause sinusitis and allergies can also cause coughing at night.
No matter what is causing your allergies, chances are that whenever you lie down, your nose will become congested and you will not be able to breathe. Breathing in air through the mouth all night can cause dryness in the throat which will bring on spells of coughing. Sometimes people dry their sheets outdoors because they like the smell, but the laundry will come in the house covered with outside dust and pollen which is going to trigger allergies. If you do have allergies, allergy meds or nasal sprays can be prescribed by your doctor which will relieve coughing at night.
If you suffer from asthma, you most likely will have an accompanying cough which can keep you awake at night. You may also wake up short of breath and that can also cause a spell of coughing at night. If you do have asthma, talk to your doctor about what can be done to deter coughing at night so that you can get some rest. It might be as simple as changing medications.
Several other illnesses and conditions can cause coughing at night. One of these is acid reflux. Do you suffer from heart burn? If you are constantly having heart burn, chances are it could be acid reflux disease and you should see your doctor to get it checked out and a proper diagnosis made. If you have acid reflux, the acid that causes the heartburn-like symptoms travels from the stomach back to the lungs when you lie down.
That acid can cause a burning sensation in your lungs and it can cause you to cough. There are a couple of things you can do to help the situation. Eat a smaller meal at dinner and do not eat close to bedtime. If neither of these work, see your doctor about getting medication for acid reflux disease. These meds work very well for most people and will stop the burning sensation in the throat and coughing at night.
Strangely enough, a mineral deficiency could cause you to have nighttime coughing. An irritated throat and swelling in the throat area can be caused by not taking in enough iron. If this is the case, it is very easy to treat because all you have to do is take an iron supplement, and the condition will disappear.
Often cough medicines and decongestants can stop the coughing long enough for you to get some sleep but this is not the ultimate answer to coughing at night. You can also start eating honey as this is as effective as most cold medications. Eucalypus can help as can medications like Vicks Vaporub ™ or using steam to clear the airways.
See your doctor if you are experiencing persistent coughing at night. Never give honey to children under the age of six or use cold medications unless they say they are specifically for use by children.