Nocturnal cough

introduction

Coughing is a natural reflex of the body and is used to clean the airways from mucus and foreign bodies. Many diseases can make a cough worse for a variety of reasons. A distinction is made between a productive cough, with expectoration of mucus, and dry, irritating cough, without expectoration of mucus.

At night, a mild cough can become stronger due to the lying position and thus prevent the person from sleeping. The consequences are daytime sleepiness and reduced performance. Some medications can also cause a dry cough.

The reasons

There are a variety of reasons for an increased night cough. The most common reasons are classic colds with acute or chronic bronchitis or pneumonia. Laryngitis is conceivable in early childhood. Heart disease can also lead to night coughs. Allergies and asthma are associated with coughs, especially in childhood and adolescence. Heartburn can also irritate the airways at night.

Certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, have a dry, tickly cough as a side effect. Only in rare cases is the cough caused by serious diseases such as lung cancer.

The reflux as a cause

Reflux disease means that stomach acid rises up the esophagus. During the day, those affected often notice the typical heartburn and frequent belching. In the lying position, however, the stomach acid can continue to migrate up to the throat. There the stomach acid can flow into the airways and trigger a coughing urge. The urge to cough is the natural reaction to a foreign substance that has to be removed.

Sleeping with the upper body elevated can help those affected, as then gravity prevents the stomach acid from reaching the throat.

Further information on this topic can be found at: The reflux.

The hay fever as the cause

Hay fever is a typical allergic reaction that many people suffer from, especially in spring. The hay fever is accompanied by an increased production of mucus both in the nose and in the deeper airways. This mucus also flows back into the airways when lying down.

The urge to cough is triggered in order to bring up this mucus. The classic antiallergic drugs can help. The urge to cough is usually significantly less in autumn and winter.

Read more on the subject here: The hay fever.

Heart failure as the cause

With age, the number of people with heart failure increases significantly. Heart failure means that the heart is overloaded with blood volume and its task. At night, even more blood is pressed to the heart because the whole body is in one plane. The blood backs up in front of the heart and water is retained in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema.

Those affected get poor air and have a rattling noise. The body tries to remove the stimulus by coughing, but this is not successful.The family doctor can try to help those affected with various medications.

You can find out more about the topic here: The weak heart.

Other accompanying symptoms

The other symptoms depend on the respective underlying disease.

In addition to hay fever, allergy sufferers often have watery, red eyes and get poor air during the day. A rash is also possible. Allergies and asthma often occur together, so that allergen contact can lead to severe asthma attacks with shortness of breath.

Those affected with heart failure often have swollen legs during the day and their performance is significantly reduced. Stress can also lead to heart attack-like symptoms such as shortness of breath and tightness of the chest. Those affected with COPD often suffer from a severe lack of oxygen in the late stages, so that home oxygen therapy is necessary.

In the case of colds, the typical symptoms of a sore throat, general weakness, runny nose and shortness of breath, as well as fever. Children with laryngitis can also have red eyes due to the strong coughing attacks.

People with reflux disease often experience heartburn and frequent regurgitation during the day. More frequent tooth decay treatments are also required because the stomach acid damages the teeth.

Some warning symptoms of lung cancer or tuberculosis are a bloody cough, heavy night sweats, and unwanted weight loss.

The addition of mucus

The cells of the respiratory tract continuously produce mucus, since foreign substances can easily be transported outwards in this mucus. With many diseases, especially colds and asthma, there is an increased production of mucus and persistent coughing.

This cough is then considered productive and should not be suppressed as it is a useful cleaning function of the airways. Solid greenish-yellow mucus indicates pus in the airways and can be a sign of bacterial inflammation. Some cold medicines have an expectorant effect so that the mucus can be coughed up better.

The diagnosis

A cough is just a symptom, not a disease in itself. A series of diagnostics is carried out for people who suffer from coughing at night to rule out the various causes. A stress ECG to check the heart function, an allergy test, a lung function test and smears as well as laboratory tests are possible.

Imaging methods are only used and the lungs are examined themselves if all common diseases have been ruled out or do not match the survey.

The treatment

Treatment of the cough symptom depends on the underlying disease. With colds, those affected can inhale hot water vapor with table salt to loosen the phlegm and thus make the cough less painful. In the case of bacterial colds, an antibiotic can support the immune system in its fight against the pathogen. A cough suppressant, like codeine, should only be taken at night because productive cough is a protective mechanism, not a disease.

In the case of chronic bronchitis or COPD, inhalations with medication can also help. A pseudo croup attack in young children can be interrupted by cold air outside the window or the refrigerator.

Allergy sufferers often benefit from classic, over-the-counter antiallergic drugs. Asthmatics usually have an emergency spray for severe seizures that they can take themselves.

In the case of coughs caused by reflux, the sleeping position with the upper body raised is particularly helpful, and some people also receive medication to inhibit acid production.

In those with heart failure, the underlying disease needs to be stabilized. Various drugs are available for this. If there is frequent accumulation of water in the lungs at night, diuretic drugs can also be used. If you have a dry cough caused by medication such as ACE inhibitors, the medication should be changed.

Find out more about the topic here: Therapy for a cold.

Codeine for treatment

Codeine is a weak opioid that can block the urge to cough centrally on the brain and can also be used as a pain reliever. Codeine requires a prescription as it can be addicting. The side effects are fatigue, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. After taking codeine, the affected person is not roadworthy.

Codeine should only be used for dry coughs, as productive coughs play an important role in cleaning the airways and should therefore not be blocked.

You can find more information on this topic at: The codeine.

Home remedies for treatment

There are many different home remedies, especially for coughs caused by colds. Chamomile or ginger teas should have an anti-inflammatory effect and so relieve the urge to cough. Inhaling steam with table salt or chamomile can loosen the mucus in the airways and make it easier to cough up. Various herbal oils can also be added to the water.

Homemade onion juice is also said to help with coughs. The room temperature should also be controlled and dry air can irritate the airways. However, the most important home remedy is simply water. If you have a cold, you should drink plenty of fluids to loosen the phlegm.

Home remedies for a cold? Read more about this here.

The duration

Depending on the cause of the cough, the duration and prognosis vary greatly.

If there is a drug side effect, the cough may go away when the drug is stopped. A classic cold usually lasts about two weeks. Pneumonia can last significantly longer and can also be dangerous for weak people. COPD, asthma and heart failure are chronic diseases in which only the symptoms can be alleviated.