Lose your Cough not your Sleep

by Sharon Hopkins

You may be perfectly fine all day and not even have a sniffle, but when you lie down to sleep, you start to cough or feel an irritation in your throat. If this is something that occurs to with you on a regular basis, you need to get it checked as it could be a symptom of some underlying condition which causes the coughing at night.

What are the Causes of Coughing at Night?

Causes of coughing at night could be sinusitus, allergies, asthma, iron deficiency, acid reflux, or a side effect of your medication.
•   Sinusitus occurs when the sinuses are blocked with mucus. This mucus trickles down the back of the throat and causes the tickling sensation.
•   Allergies could also be the reason behind your cough, so your doctor may recommend a nasal spray or allergy medicines to help clear the nasal passage.
•   Asthma is another cause that could be riddling you with dry cough. Most people may ignore this as they associate asthma with lack of air.
•   Insufficient iron in your body could cause your throat to swell and become irritated.
•   Acid reflux could be another reason for your coughing at night. The acid in the abdomen which causes heartburn and indigestion washes into your lungs, causing cough.
•   Sometimes, coughing in the night could be a side effect of your prescribed medication. Check with your pharmacist to see if your cough is caused by the medicines you are taking.
To get a correct diagnosis of what is causing your cough in the night, visit your doctor and get tested. Severe coughing at night should not be ignored.

How can One Stop Coughing at Night?

So how do you stop coughing at night and get a good night’s sleep? Here are some tips and tricks to help you sleep better. However, always remember to check with your doctor first so as to correctly identify the problem.

If it's an allergy, you could take an antihistamine. A decongestant and antihistamine combined together can help reduce post nasal drip.
If acid reflex is the problem, eat a smaller meal before going to bed and raise your head at least six inches when you sleep.

Some of the popular home remedies for coughing at night are as follows:

Consume a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of ground white pepper.
Eat grapes regularly, as they help clear mucus and phlegm.
Almond paste with sugar and butter help with dry cough patients.
Onion extract with honey acts as a good cough syrup.
Long pepper and honey mixed with Belleric Myrobalan pulp is another home remedy.
Aniseed tea helps clear out the mucus.
The powder of turmeric root when roasted and ground helps with the cough.

References:

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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