Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Cough And Sore Throat That Worsens At Night
Question: i started coughing 5 days ago and have had a sore throat for 4 days now. The coughing and sore throat get worse at night and I constantly wake up half way through my sleep for no apparent reason. The sore throat has been getting worse every night. Usually when I get a sore throat it turns into a cold and my sore throat is gone within 2 days. It should also be noted that this all started happening right after I stopped smoking. Should I be worried?
Brief Answer:
A course of medicines and steam inhalations
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It looks you are connecting these symptoms with stoppage of smoking.
Yes, to a certain extent you may be right, once the smoking is stopped the changes in the mucosa may make more prone to some problems like you have. But this does not mean that one starts smoking again.
Coughing and sore-throat get worst at night indicates that you may have a postnasal drip; you become free of the day's work and get relaxed hence no diverting conditions. So it is increased at night. Secondly, the accumulation of the secretions cause more irritation making you wake up half way through your sleep.
This will settle with time as the lining of the respiratory tract will get adjusted to new better environment of no smoke.
It is better to consult an ENT Surgeon once at least to have a clinical check-up to see if there is any disease problem which is treatable by antibiotics, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory medicines, may be with decongestant nasal drops ( if required).
Continue Advil and drinking plenty of warm water.
DO take plain water steam inhalations particularly before you go to bed for its soothing action and expectoration of the secretions.
Take multivitamins as they help rejuvenate the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract.
Avoid all sort of scents, deodorants, dusts and fumes.
And DO NOT start smoking at all.
This will help you a lot as it helps all my patients.
A course of medicines and steam inhalations
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It looks you are connecting these symptoms with stoppage of smoking.
Yes, to a certain extent you may be right, once the smoking is stopped the changes in the mucosa may make more prone to some problems like you have. But this does not mean that one starts smoking again.
Coughing and sore-throat get worst at night indicates that you may have a postnasal drip; you become free of the day's work and get relaxed hence no diverting conditions. So it is increased at night. Secondly, the accumulation of the secretions cause more irritation making you wake up half way through your sleep.
This will settle with time as the lining of the respiratory tract will get adjusted to new better environment of no smoke.
It is better to consult an ENT Surgeon once at least to have a clinical check-up to see if there is any disease problem which is treatable by antibiotics, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory medicines, may be with decongestant nasal drops ( if required).
Continue Advil and drinking plenty of warm water.
DO take plain water steam inhalations particularly before you go to bed for its soothing action and expectoration of the secretions.
Take multivitamins as they help rejuvenate the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract.
Avoid all sort of scents, deodorants, dusts and fumes.
And DO NOT start smoking at all.
This will help you a lot as it helps all my patients.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
