How to Stop Coughing at Night: Why Does Cough Get Worse at Night? Learn simple tricks to stop it

Often, when you have a cough and cold, the symptoms worsen at night, disturbing your sleep and making you more uncomfortable. But does it happen to everyone or have they simply singled you out? It turns out that some common cold symptoms actually increase during the night.

Why do colds and coughs get worse at night?

According to experts, studies have discovered various factors related to cough and how it is affected depending on the time of day. Your circadian rhythm (the way your internal process follows a 24-hour cycle) is greatly affected and the immune cells involved in healing and inflammation tend to rev up more towards the evening and during the night. According to doctors, this cellular attack is what causes many of the symptoms of the common cold.

Additionally, cortisol (the stress hormone is typically highest in the morning and then drops later in the day), which complicates the relationship between cortisol and inflammation. The irregular peak and fall contribute to worsening symptoms at night. Doctors say that when you go to bed at night, it becomes more difficult for the mucus in your nose to drain normally, making you feel congested and unable to breathe and aggravating your cough.

In addition to these problems, the lungs are also affected by the circadian rhythm, which causes the airways to narrow during the night, causing cough symptoms and worsening shortness of breath.

Ways to control and reduce nighttime cough

When it comes to overcoming a cough, there are some relatively simple steps you can take. Doctors suggest a regimen of fluids and medications if necessary, along with plenty of rest. But getting the rest you need to feel better is easier said than done if your cough keeps you up all night.

Some simple tips you can follow to feel better at night include:

Take a hot shower

It is important to breathe in the steam to help soothe your nose and throat. Warm water all over your body helps relax your muscles, facilitating uninterrupted sleep.

Consume Honey

A tablespoon of honey at least 30 minutes before bedtime helps reduce nighttime coughs and improves sleep quality, especially in children. Although some studies in adults are more preliminary, they also show that it can improve cold symptoms.

Rinse your nose

You can carefully use salt water to rinse your nose, which appears to have some benefit in reducing cough symptoms.

Use pillows

To help improve drainage from your congested nose and sinuses, place some extra pillows behind your upper body and find a comfortable way to sleep more upright.

take decongestants

Decongestants work by reducing blood flow to the nose, which reduces nasal congestion.