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What Causes Severe Cough During The Night Time?
Question: I have a cough when I lay down at night. A tickle at first and then a cough which I take a cough drop...or 3..a couple of times at night. No coughing when awake or any other symptoms.
Brief Answer:
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Coughing on laying down at night may be related to different possible causes such as :(1) post nasal drip of mucus
(2)reflux
(3)asthma
All three of these would cause a cough worse under the circumstances mentioned.
Post nasal drip of mucus is the most common cause , some persons are not aware of the drip itself but present with a cough or hoarseness or sore throat.
Post nasal drip would be associated with a history of clearing the throat repeatedly or other sinus symptoms such as nasal congestion/ runny nose or facial pain due to sinus congestion, sneezing.
If you have a history of reflux or asthma, either of these can also cause a nightly cough.
Treatment: (1) if you have a history of reflux or asthma then these should be treated.
Reflux should be treated with diet changes and medications. Diet changes include reducing spicy/fried/acid foods and reducing portion size (small frequent meals instead of large meals).
Medications include nexium, prilosec, prevacid, pepcid. These can take a few days for an effect
Asthma is treated with asthma inhalers
(2)IF you have post nasal drip symptoms then using anti histamine/decongestant combinations would help (eg zyrtec d, claritine d, allegra d, benadryl d).
These may also take a few days, in some persons for an effect.
If you have no reflux symptoms or asthma then you should treat for post nasal drip since this is the most common cause.
Some persons may also need nasal sprays such as nasonex, nasocort, flonase,rhinocort
I hope this helps, feel free to ask anything else
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Coughing on laying down at night may be related to different possible causes such as :(1) post nasal drip of mucus
(2)reflux
(3)asthma
All three of these would cause a cough worse under the circumstances mentioned.
Post nasal drip of mucus is the most common cause , some persons are not aware of the drip itself but present with a cough or hoarseness or sore throat.
Post nasal drip would be associated with a history of clearing the throat repeatedly or other sinus symptoms such as nasal congestion/ runny nose or facial pain due to sinus congestion, sneezing.
If you have a history of reflux or asthma, either of these can also cause a nightly cough.
Treatment: (1) if you have a history of reflux or asthma then these should be treated.
Reflux should be treated with diet changes and medications. Diet changes include reducing spicy/fried/acid foods and reducing portion size (small frequent meals instead of large meals).
Medications include nexium, prilosec, prevacid, pepcid. These can take a few days for an effect
Asthma is treated with asthma inhalers
(2)IF you have post nasal drip symptoms then using anti histamine/decongestant combinations would help (eg zyrtec d, claritine d, allegra d, benadryl d).
These may also take a few days, in some persons for an effect.
If you have no reflux symptoms or asthma then you should treat for post nasal drip since this is the most common cause.
Some persons may also need nasal sprays such as nasonex, nasocort, flonase,rhinocort
I hope this helps, feel free to ask anything else
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
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