Do you constantly cough at night? All kinds of remedies help, but you can also achieve a lot with the right sleeping position. Experts offer advice on how to ease those annoying coughing fits at night. Additional advantage: you sleep better, which ultimately contributes to a faster recovery. Give it a try!
Nothing helps
There are few things as frustrating as being kept awake at night by persistent coughing fits. Cough syrup, tea with liters of honey and water, often nothing seems to help at such a moment. But did you know that the position you sleep in also affects your cough? Your sleeping position can provide significant relief when a persistent cough disrupts your night’s sleep.
Natural reaction
Coughing is our body’s natural defense response against harmful bacteria and viruses. So, apart from medical conditions like asthma, it can be considered a healthy process. It helps our body to expel unwanted substances in the form of mucus. Despite this, coughing can be extremely annoying and tiring, especially when all you want to do is fall asleep.
Dr. Michael Breus van The Sleep Doctor explains that nighttime coughing is easy to explain. When we lie horizontally, mucus formation in the throat increases faster. In addition, dry air and unconscious allergies can make coughing worse. Although not all causes can be addressed with a different sleeping position, this does offer a possible solution for excessive mucus formation in the throat during the night.
Head on a platform
Breus says the secret to a better night’s sleep is to elevate your head. This helps to reduce mucus build-up in the throat and provides a clearer airway, making breathing easier. For most people, sleeping in a sitting position is anything but comfortable. That is why he recommends placing several pillows under the head, instead of using one pillow. This way you can still sleep horizontally, but your head is significantly higher than the rest of your body.
Dr. Nilong Vyas from The Sleep Foundation agrees with this advice, but emphasizes one important nuance. Although this pose is suitable for adults, she strongly advises against the method for young children. She warns that this sleeping position can lead to several health problems for them, with gastroesophageal reflux (stomach acid in the esophagus) being the most common.
Source: Tips and Facts | Image: Adobe Stock
2023-12-11 11:54:00
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