![]() Before you go to sleep, suck on a cough drop to ease a dry cough (one that doesn’t produce mucus) and soothe your throat, advises the Mayo Clinic. When it seems like you just can’t get any sleep, here’s how to stop coughing at night: How to Help a Cough at Night: Try These Tips But sleep is also important for getting well - and it’s no fun tossing and turning all night. Most coughs associated with colds and flu are beneficial for clearing congestion from your lungs and airways, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other factors related to your sleep environment that may contribute to your cough getting worse include the presence of mold spores, dust, pets, or other potential allergens. Many flu-related deaths are caused by pneumonia that hits after people think they’re over the flu.” To ensure you use a humidifier safely, be sure to carefully follow all the directions that come with it. “If the water you put in it isn’t sterile, you run the risk of cycling the germs back into the air or breeding other diseases.” The last thing people with a cold or flu want is to experience complications, says Blass. “Humidifiers are not always safe,” warns Blass. To relieve a dry air cough, you can try a humidifier to put moisture back into the air and make it easier to breathe, but be sure to take proper care of the unit. Your Sleep Environment Dry air can aggravate an already irritated nose and throat, making your nighttime cough worse. Some people do not have any symptoms of heartburn but nevertheless can have acid reflux and cough. To prevent this, people should avoid eating within two hours of bedtime, avoid foods that could cause reflux (such as chocolate, coffee, spicy and fatty foods, full fat dairy, and wine), and keep the head of their bed elevated. When people are supine, it is easy for the acid from their stomach to come up and subsequently get into their airways, which would cause a cough. “It will help keep the mucus from collecting in the back of the throat.”Īdditionally, some people have a nighttime cough because of acid reflux. “Sleep with a pillow propping you up a little,” Dr. ![]() Mitchell Blass, MD, a physician with Georgia Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, says, “When we lie down, mucus automatically begins to pool.” The best way to counteract this gravitational pull is elevation. ![]() 1 factor that makes your cough worse at night is simple: gravity. Why does a cough get worse at night? There are a number of reasons why it does - or at least why it seems to. The Science Behind a Cough That’s Worse at Night If you fall into that category, it’s even more important that you resolve your night cough and get a good night’s rest. Just when you need sleep the most, your cough symptoms get worse, leading to a night of tossing and turning.Īccording to a 2023 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, half of all individuals who reported getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per weekday night also reported mild or greater levels of depressive symptoms. ![]() You know the scenario: You lie down after a long day of feeling lousy, only to find that you can’t stop coughing. ![]() Ironically, getting enough rest can also be the hardest thing to accomplish. Rest is one of the most important ways your body fights off infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. But getting the rest you need to feel better is easier said than done if your cough is keeping you up all night. Health experts suggest a regimen of fluids, medications if needed, and lots of rest. When it comes to getting over a cough, there are a few relatively simple steps you can take. ![]()
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