What Causes Your Night Cough? Here Are Some Simple Home Remedies For a Cough
What causes your night cough? It could be Asthma, Smoking, COPD, or something else. Fortunately, there are some simple home remedies for a cough. Read on to learn more. There are also some important tips for addressing this condition. A humidifier can help. It will provide added moisture to the air, which can help open up your airways. But if the cough persists, see a healthcare professional.
Post-nasal drip
There are several ways to treat night cough and post-nasal drip at home, including using antihistamines, decongestants, and steroid nasal sprays. If you have a history of allergies, your doctor may recommend allergy testing. Treatments for post-nasal drip depend on the underlying cause and may include a humidifier, a steam bath, or chicken soup. Consistently drinking water may also help.
The causes of night cough and post-nasal drip vary, but the most common causes are hay fever and allergies. Cold temperatures, dry air, and certain medicines can also contribute to this condition. A doctor will need to determine whether your condition is serious or if you have an underlying condition. However, there are also several natural remedies for night cough and post-nasal drip that are safe and effective.
Some remedies for night cough and post-nasal drip are as simple as changing your bedding. You can also try using a humidifier or vaporizer. Hot liquids can help with the symptoms because they thin the mucus and prevent dehydration. Hot steam showers and hot chicken soup can also provide temporary relief. Lastly, you can try propping your head and sleeping with a pillow to prevent the mucus from sitting on the back of the throat.
Asthma
It is important to note that while you are sleeping, you may be experiencing the symptoms of asthma. This type of cough can be caused by several different factors. For example, if you have asthma, hot air may narrow your airways. Another common cause is hay fever. Because pollen levels are higher at night, you may experience coughing at night. In addition, you may be exposed to dust mites in your bedding. Asthma medications may also affect your sleep.
Asthma affects the airways in your lungs and breathing tubes. This makes the airways tighten and become reactive. Asthmatics are more susceptible to airborne allergens, making them more likely to cough. Asthma symptoms include chest pain and wheezing. While your symptoms might be mild, you should seek medical attention if you have a persistent cough or experience more severe attacks.
If you experience coughing at night, it is important to seek medical attention. Sleeping in an upright position may help ease your symptoms. Drinking plenty of water can also help. You should also avoid sleeping next to pets and keep your room temperature cool. The sooner you find a solution to your asthma symptoms, the better. A good solution to the problem lies in treating the underlying cause. For instance, if you are suffering from a severe case of asthma, you should visit a medical specialist to have it diagnosed.
Smoking
When you smoke, the chemicals in cigarette smoke irritate the lungs, slowing the sweeping action of the cilia that clear mucus. Over time, these cilia become short or destroyed. Hence, smokers cough more often and produce thicker mucus. As a result, they are more prone to infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia. Coughing is also an indicator of other respiratory problems.
Smokers’ cough resembles a violent forceful push of air to remove the irritant. The coughing reflex produces either sputum or phlegm. It may be dry or wet, depending on the severity of the cough. The cilia, tiny hair-like cells that line the airways, move toward the mouth. Coughing up blood is an indication of lung cancer, and it can lead to fainting.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals that cause the cilia to become paralyzed, allowing them to accumulate and clog the lungs. These toxins build up in the lungs and trigger coughing. To make matters worse, cigarette smoke leaves a coating of yellow tar on everything it touches. This tar can stick to the fingers and teeth of a smoker. It even sticks to furniture and clothing. Eventually, the cilia start to function again, and the cough should go away.
COPD
Many people think that COPD is a disease only experienced by older men. But, recent studies indicate that women can also suffer from COPD and are diagnosed as early as their 30s. While the disease has no cure, it can be managed with treatment. For the most part, the best way to control COPD night cough is to reduce the severity of your symptoms. Listed below are some tips to help you manage your COPD night cough.
The main symptoms of COPD include a persistent, bloody cough that may be accompanied by shortness of breath and wheezing. Coughing with mucus is the main symptom, but it can also be a sign of lung cancer or a chest infection. Symptoms may worsen suddenly. For example, you may experience a sudden bout of COPD night cough several times a year. Symptoms of COPD may also be accompanied by shortness of breath, which can be felt during exercise or when you are stressed. Those with COPD also experience cyanosis, or a low level of blood oxygen.
Researchers found that COPD night cough was common and occurred more than three quarters of the time during the night. The highest number of cough epochs was found in patients in COPD stage III, and those who were persistent smokers had the most productive cough epochs. Coughing during sleep was also more productive than non-smokers. To understand what drives COPD cough, it is important to understand what the underlying causes are.
GERD
There are many possible causes of a persistent night cough. GERD and reflux can contribute to scarring of the windpipe and voice box, as well as an increased risk for esophageal cancer, which affects approximately one in four women and one in 132 men in the United States. Chronic coughing episodes can greatly impact your quality of life, leading to poor sleep, voice changes, and even asthma. Thankfully, there are ways to manage the symptoms of GERD and night cough.
The first step in preventing GERD and night cough is to identify the triggers and change your lifestyle accordingly. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, can also reduce reflux. Some people also try medication or dietary changes. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. Other measures to reduce reflux and reduce the severity of symptoms include keeping a healthy body weight, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, and wearing loose-fitting clothing to avoid increasing pressure on the stomach.
Patients with persistent cough may not have heartburn, which makes it difficult to diagnose GERD. Common coughing can also be caused by asthma or postnasal drip. The most common tests to rule out GERD are upper endoscopies and an MII-pH test to detect acid reflux without heartburn. A barium swallow is no longer recommended, as it is less accurate than other methods. If a doctor suspects GERD, he or she will take a detailed case history and assess your symptoms.
Sleeping on a recliner
While sleeping in a recliner for a short period of time won’t have a negative impact on your body, sleep on a recliner for a long period can cause your knees and hips to contract. This causes impaired movement while standing and walking. Additionally, sleeping in a recliner interferes with the complete sleep cycle, and the cramped position will make it difficult to reach the deeper stages.
If you have a night cough, you may benefit from sleeping on a recliner instead of a bed. The upright position of a recliner can alleviate the discomfort that people experience with acid reflux. Because your trunk is kept upright while you sleep, your digestive organs are kept open and airways are more likely to open. Moreover, recliner beds can be an aid for people with various physical limitations, such as back pain.
Many people suffer from back pain, whether acute or chronic. Sleeping on your back can place undue pressure on your neck and spine, making it difficult to breathe properly. However, if you’re able to sleep in an upright position, it may ease your cough. You might not experience any pain in your back, but it’s still better than lying on your stomach. It allows your body to heal while keeping your lungs open.
Bronchodilators
While bronchodilators are often recommended for pregnant women, these medicines can cause the opposite effect. Asthma drugs can cause bronchospasm. All medicines can cause allergic reactions, and bronchodilators are no exception. Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of bronchodilators with their GP before taking them. However, there is no evidence to suggest that bronchodilators increase the risk of congenital disabilities.
Asthma and COPD are the most common conditions for which bronchodilators are prescribed. Generally, these medicines work best when they are inhaled. Inhalers work well for most people. Young children and elderly may benefit from tablets of beta-2 agonist. Inhaled bronchodilators are more effective. Hospital doctors often prescribe aminophylline injections for severe cases of asthma.
Anticholinergic bronchodilators work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical produced by nerve cells that tightens bronchial tubes. Anticholinergic bronchodilators work by relaxing the muscles surrounding the airways, which in turn allows them to open. Although the exact mechanism of action is unclear, doctors have found that these medicines reduce the risk of shortness of breath and other symptoms.
