If you, your partner or your kids are suffering through sleepless nights because of an uncontrollable cough, don’t despair. There are many ways you can help a sore throat.
Coughing is your body’s natural way of clearing your airways and lungs of any mucus or bacteria which might be irritating them. There are many reasons why you might be struck with a bout of night time coughing and identifying exactly what is causing yours will be to key to treating it.
In most cases, coughing can be attributed to1:An infection – if you’ve got a cold, the flu or a respiratory infection such as bronchitis, coughing is a common symptom.
Asthma – as asthma can restrict the airways and make them feel inflamed, a dry cough is not unusual.
Indigestion – coughing, along with a burning sensation in the chest, is a common symptom of heartburn.
An allergy – coughing is a primary symptom of various allergies, especially dust allergies, hay fever or pet allergies.
Smoking – long-term smokers will often have a persistent, chesty cough which should slowly go away if you decide to quit.
While most coughs usually clear up on their own within a few weeks, you might be able to speed them along., Why not consider:
Many people often cough at night as lying horizontally allows mucus to flow more freely to the back of the throat and, consequently, irritate it. When you go to bed, try propping yourself up with an extra pillow.
If you’re unable to conquer your night time coughing or your cough has been around for longer than three weeks, consider seeing your GP as they may be able to prescribe you something, especially if you have a bacterial infection.
Note that coughing accompanied by a high fever, vomiting, bloody phlegm or breathing difficulties can be a sign of a much more serious health condition7. Seek medical attention immediately if you or your children experience more than one of these symptoms.Last updated: 20 April 2020