Ask a doctor - Why is cough worse at night?

Your cough might feel worse at night for a few reasons First off when you lie down mucus can pool in your throat and make you cough more Also during the day you 39 re probably up and moving around which can help clear your airways and ease your cough But when you 39 re lying still at night that mucus can just sit there and irritate your throat making you cough more Plus when you 39 re lying down gravity isn 39 t helping to drain mucus from your sinuses which can also lead to more coughing And to top it off sometimes allergies or irritants in your bedroom like dust or pet dander can trigger your cough more at night when you 39 re spending more time in that environment So it 39 s kind of a combination of factors that can make your cough feel worse when you 39 re trying to sleep

Q. Why is cough worse at night?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Your cough might feel worse at night for a few reasons. First off, when you lie down, mucus can pool in your throat and make you cough more. Also, during the day, you're probably up and moving around, which can help clear your airways and ease your cough. But when you're lying still at night, that mucus can just sit there and irritate your throat, making you cough more. Plus, when you're lying down, gravity isn't helping to drain mucus from your sinuses, which can also lead to more coughing. And to top it off, sometimes allergies or irritants in your bedroom, like dust or pet dander, can trigger your cough more at night when you're spending more time in that environment. So, it's kind of a combination of factors that can make your cough feel worse when you're trying to sleep.