Night cough typically occurs when you lie down. Coughing is the quick expulsion of air from the lungs which takes place reflexively to keep your airway clear. A night cough may be a symptom of conditions afflicting your lungs and throat or could be due to a more generalized condition, such as flu.
The chief etiological factors for night cough are:
Allergic causes of night cough.
- Allergies (may be due to pollen, cosmetics, medicines, animal dander).
- Food allergy to certain specific foods.
- Asthma
- Hay fever
Inflammatory causes of night cough
- Acute bronchitis
- Common cold
- Laryngitis
- Influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Pneumonia
- Pleurisy
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (i.e. chronic bronchitis and emphysema).
- Post nasal drip from sinusitis or an upper respiratory infection such as the common cold.
- Smoking – smokers produce a lot of mucus in their airway and the lungs constantly strive to clear the passages of the toxins. The cilia which help get rid of the toxins tend to mend at night when one does not smoke, and they try to eliminate the toxins, thus triggering a night cough.
Other causes of night cough
- Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
- Airway irritation
- Cancer of the lungs
- Pulmonary edema
Life-threatening causes of night cough
- Congestive heart failure
- Pulmonary edema
- Malignancy
Natural Home Remedies To Stop Coughing At Night
The following home remedies have proved to be decidedly beneficial in the management of night time coughs:
- Honey and ginger: Boil about 1 inch of grated ginger in a glass of water for 10 minutes. Strain the ginger tea, add 4 to 5 spoons of honey and consume. Make sure that you have at least 2 to 3 glasses every day. Honey soothes the lining of the throat and reduces the pain and discomfort from constant coughing. Ginger is packed with gingerols which reduce the inflammation in the throat appreciably.
- Turmeric: Add 1 spoon of powdered turmeric to a glass of hot water or milk and consume before sleeping. Turmeric is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral and helps battle most kind of infections quickly.
- Eucalyptus: Add around 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a big bowl of steaming water; cover your head and inhale the emanating vapors. Do this at bedtime. The eucalyptus essential oil is highly therapeutic and medicinal aroma oil which affords immense relief, fast. It opens up nasal passages, clears sinuses and boosts lung functioning.
- Vitamin C supplementation: Boost your vitamin C supplementation. Have plenty of foods that supply you with loads of vitamin C – limes, lemons, berries, guavas, mangoes and bell peppers. Consult your health care provider and start a vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C plays a pivotal role in the management of all infections. It expedites healing and perks up the working of the immune mechanism.
- Caraway seeds: Roast caraway seeds well; wrap in a muslin cloth and keep inhaling frequently. You could also boil the seeds in water and inhale the steam; it works as effectively.
Try these home remedies and natural medicines; if you see no amelioration in 4 to 5 days, it is vital that you consult a health care provider. He may order a few tests and investigations to understand the precise cause of your problem and start appropriate treatment.