After working hard the whole day, the only thing you crave is a good night’s sleep. However, moments after you hit the bed, you start coughing. You cough so incessantly that not only does it make you feel extremely uneasy, but steals your sleep and also of those who sleep next to you. We are going to know about how to stop coughing at night by this post.
In such a situation, you naturally must be keen on learning how to stop coughing at night. Well, there are various remedies to follow, and we shall learn about 7 of them right away.
How is Cough Caused?
The cause of a cough is usually a cold virus. By coughing, the body cleans the airways: dust and mucus disappear from the windpipe, throat and lungs.
Coughing can make the throat lean, which gives an extra cough stimulus. Sometimes there is a persistent, dry tickly cough that keeps your child from sleep. A virus usually clears up after 2 to 3 weeks.
Other Causes of Coughing
- Asthma: permanent inflammation of the lungs. Your child coughs because he is hypersensitive to certain substances.
- Pseudocouple: a viral infection with swelling on the inside of the larynx, near the vocal cords. Your child (usually between 6 months and 5 years old) has a heavy barking cough and may be very short of breath.
- Bronchitis: inflammation in the small tubes of the lungs. Your child has to cough a lot, cough up mucus, is stuffy and tired and sometimes has a fever.
- Pneumonia: An inflammation of smaller airways and alveoli, with symptoms similar to bronchitis, such as coughing, shortness of breath and fever.
- Whooping cough: a very contagious disease, caused by a bacterium, with heavy coughing fits that can last for 3 to 4 months. Children receive a vaccination against whooping cough, so it is not common. Babies who have not (yet) had a (full) vaccination are at risk.
- Smoke or chemicals.
Simple Remedies: How To Stop Coughing at Night
Is n’t your little one’s coughing a serious cause? Then it usually goes away within two to three weeks. With the tips below you can make the coughing a bit more bearable. Let’s discuss about proven ways to stop coughing:
Drink a Cup of Hot Water with Lemon and Honey
Soon after we start coughing, the first thing that we can think of to get some relief is a nice warm cup of tea. But, rather than drinking regular tea or green tea, it will be wise to opt for a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and a wedge of lemon squeezed into it.
As this warm liquid goes down your throat, it will break up the mucus present in your airways, and the honey will have a soothing effect. Soon, the coughing will subside, and you will enjoy a restful sleep.
Change Your Sleeping Angle
You perhaps do not know that even your sleeping position at night can make you cough more than usual. If you have a habit of lying down flat, then the mucus and postnasal drainage that you swallowed during the day may irritate your throat, and you will start coughing.
If this is causing the problem, then there is a very simple solution for you to follow. Simply keep two pillows underneath your head. This will help lift your head at a certain angle, and you will stop coughing at night.
Drink Ginger Tea
Ginger, too can prove to be immensely helpful if you do not get enough sleep at night because of continuous coughing. All you need to do is prepare a cup of ginger tea.
For the purpose, you have to take a cup of water in a pan and to it a teaspoon of grated ginger. Allow it to boil and then simmer for about 3-5 minutes.
Strain the concoction and drink it a little before you go to sleep. Though you will enjoy a little relief from the first day itself, after three to four days of regular consumption, you will notice great changes.
Use Steam, But Be careful
Dry airways are known to make your cough worse. If you do not want this to disturb your sleep at night, it will be best to take a hot shower, or simply sit in a steamy bathroom for a while. However, there is something you need to remember.
If you suffer from asthma, then avoid following this tip, as it may make your cough even worse.
Control the Humidity in Your Bedroom
Humidifiers have helped tackle the problem of night coughing in many people. But, this will prove helpful only if the air in your bedroom is dry. If, however, there is too much moisture in the room, then that too may make you cough. Mold and dust mites are common allergens that thrive in the damp air.
So, you have to make sure the humidity levels in your bedroom remains 40% to 50%. To check the humidity levels, you can get a hygrometer. It is an inexpensive gadget and will prove immensely helpful to you.
Keep Your Bedding Clean
If you are prone to allergies, and that makes you cough at night, then your bed needs regular attention. Dust mites may have developed on your bed, and this can trigger your allergy.
If you do not want this to make you cough at night and steal your sleep, then make sure you wash your bedding once in a week in hot water.
Opt For An Over-The-Counter Medicine
Over-the-counter cough syrups can help you in two ways. An expectorant will loosen the mucus, and a cough suppressant will block the cough reflex and control your urge to cough. Make sure you go through the label to get sure if the medicine is right for you.
To Conclude
Now that you are aware of the seven remedies to stop coughing at night, start following them right from today. However, if even after following either of these remedies for 3-5 days, you notice no change at all, then you need to consult a doctor. The reason behind you incessant cough can be related to some health issue and needs medical attention.
