When you have a cough or cold, or any illness for that matter, one of the most crucial to your recovery is ample rest. Ironically, this could be difficult to accomplish for some people because just when they’re about to rest at night, their cough gets worse. What gives? And can you do anything about it?
Why Your Cough is Worse at Nighttime
You could blame a couple of culprits for your nighttime fits of coughing, such as the following:
- Gravity – Yes you could blame gravity for your nightly coughing fits because when you’re lying down, your mucus would instantly start to pool. You could try to limit the effect of this gravitational pull by positioning your head in an elevated position t prevent mucus from pooling at the back of your throat.
- Decongestion – Coughing naturally aids in keeping your airways and throat clear of mucus, so as irritating as it is, coughing is what helps clear your congestion so that you could recover faster, explains one of the top medical specialists in Putnam County.
- Dry Environment – Dry air could easily exacerbate your already irritated throat and nose, a prime opportunity for your cough to get worse. To counteract this, consider using a humidifier to moisturize the air.
Managing Nighttime Coughing Fits
Your first rule of defense is to drink lots and lots of liquid before sleeping. This would help thin mucus that would accumulate in your throat and make it easy for you to cough. You could likewise drink soothing tea or suck cough drops to soothe your irritated throat. If you want medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist for dry cough medicine.
Likewise, keep in mind that although coughs could play a critical role in aiding your recovery, it’s vital that you monitor your illness, especially if you have other symptoms other than a dry cough.
Visit your doctor if your cough persists for more than a week to 10 days or if you also have nasal symptoms that seem to improve but then comes back again. There’s a chance that your coughing fits might be due to another health condition including chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or GERD.
