Coughing can be troublesome especially if it is persistent and happens repeatedly at night. Sometimes, coughs can worsen at nighttime for a number of reasons including gravity, which contributes to the accumulation of mucus in the back of the throat, and environmental irritants, which irritates your nose and throat, causing or worsening a cough. Dr Radhika Banka, Consultant Respiratory Physician, PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mahim, refers to it as ‘nocturnal cough,’ which can affect sleep quality and also hamper a person’s rest and recovery. But what causes or triggers nighttime coughing? Speaking with OnlyMyHealth, Dr Banka, explains.
Also Read: Tired Of Persistent Cough? Here Are 9 Effective Home Remedies For Relief
Understanding Nocturnal Cough Or Cough That Occurs At Night
Cough is usually a defensive reflex that helps the body remove mucus and irritants from the throat, windpipe, and bronchi, which are the two large tubes that carry air from your windpipe to your lungs.
Nocturnal cough is a cough that occurs at night due to several reasons. It is generally associated with an underlying pathology related either to the heart, lungs or upper airways, says Dr Banka, adding that indoor air pollution can lead to a nocturnal cough especially if the person is sleeping in the same room.
Causes of indoor air pollution could be coal combustion, burning of incense sticks, diyas, mosquito coils, and damp walls leading to fungal infection.
According to research, causes of a nocturnal cough can be divided into three parts: respiratory, non-respiratory, and systemic.
While the most common respiratory causes of a chronic cough include postnasal drip, postinfectious, and asthma, environmental factors include smoking, both active and passive.
Other respiratory causes include:
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchitis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
- Primary or secondary lung tumours
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
In addition, non-respiratory causes include:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Recurrent aspiration
- Left ventricular failure
- Mitral stenosis
- Pulmonary infarction
- Psychogenic cough
In very rare cases, cardiac arrhythmias, aortic aneurysm, complex involuntary tics (Tourette syndrome), and vitamin B12 deficiency can be factors behind nocturnal cough.
Research suggests cough variant asthma, GERD, and upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) constitute 90% of nocturnal cough cases.
Treatment For Nighttime Cough
Treatment usually depends on the underlying cause of the nocturnal cough.
“In general, at least keeping a gap of two hours between dinner and bedtime is advisable for patients with GERD. Antihistamines and decongestants usually work well for post-nasal drip. However, you need to consult your doctor if your cough is related to any heart or lung pathology,” Dr Banka advises.
It is also advisable for smokers to quit smoking.
In addition, proper diet and correct positioning of the patient on the bed are important aspects of management.
