What to do if your child has a cough and can't sleep well

The health of babies is what parents care about most. Many babies will inevitably feel uncomfortable during their growth stage. Some babies are born with poor constitutions and are easily sensitive to the surrounding environment. They are prone to coughing and other symptoms. Every time the baby coughs, parents are anxious and distressed, especially at night, which often troubles the baby and prevents him from sleeping normally. So, what should we do?

The following 10 tips may help a person reduce or relieve their nighttime cough:

1. Humidifier

Dry air can make a cough worse. Air conditioning and cooling fans in the summer and heating systems in the winter can keep the environment dry.

A person can try using a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air they sleep in. Adding humidity in this way can help soothe your throat and prevent coughing.

However, too much moisture can lead to mold growth. Mold can be an allergen, causing more coughing.

The humidity level in a room can be checked using a device called a hygrometer. Moisture meters can usually be purchased from hardware stores.

A humidity level of about 50 percent in the bedroom is a good goal.

2. Reduce allergens

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance. Symptoms such as sneezing, stuffiness and coughing are common.

Common allergy triggers include mold, pet dander, and dust. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a person can reduce allergy-related coughing in the bedroom by:

Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter on bedroom floors weekly to remove dust.

Tidy up dusty items in the bedroom with magnets, such as magazines, books, and trinkets.

Wash your bedding in hot water once a week.

Shower before bed to remove outdoor allergens, such as pollen.

3. Manage GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that causes some of the stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus. It may cause throat irritation and coughing, especially at night.

People with GERD should talk to their doctor about how to manage their condition. Avoiding foods that may trigger heartburn and not eating about 4 hours before bedtime may help reduce symptoms.

4. Drink honey tea

Warming tea with honey can soothe the throat, reduce irritation, and loosen mucus.

Honey should not be given to children under 1 year old due to the potential risk of a type of food poisoning called botulism.

You can buy a variety of honey online.

5. Over-the-counter medications

Some people may consider taking over-the-counter medications when a cough is making it difficult to sleep.

Cough medicines are usually categorized as one of the following:

Cough suppressants: These stop the cough reflex. Prescription cough medicines also contain codeine.

Expectorant: An expectorant clears mucus from the lungs, making a cough easier to cough up. By helping to cough up mucus, expectorants can shorten how long a cough lasts.

6. Lift your head

A cough often gets worse at night because a person lies flat on their back in bed. Mucus can pool in the back of the throat and cause a cough.

Sleeping with your head elevated can reduce postnasal drip and GERD symptoms, which can lead to nighttime coughing.

A person can use several pillows or a back wedge to support the head of their bed. A change in sleeping position can allow mucus to flow without causing coughing.

7. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water before bed

Salt water can soothe a sore or irritated throat. It can also help clear mucus from the back of the throat.

To reduce coughing, a person can mix a teaspoon of salt in about 6 ounces of warm water and gargle several times before bedtime. The salt water should be spit out after gargling and not swallowed.

8. Quit smoking

Smoking is a common cause of a chronic cough. Quitting smoking can help reduce coughing, although it won't stop the problem overnight.

The American Lung Association offers resources to help people who want to quit smoking.

It can also be helpful to talk to your doctor about aids to quit smoking, such as nicotine patches, gum, and medications.

9. Use saline nasal spray

Saline nasal sprays can reduce dryness, thin mucus, and clear irritants and allergens from your nose.

Saline nasal sprays, which contain salt and water, may also reduce postnasal drip.

There is a range of saline nasal sprays available to buy online.

10. Treats Asthma

Asthma is a long-term lung disease that involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways. A common symptom of asthma is a cough, which often becomes worse at night.

Prescription inhalers may stop coughing at night due to asthma. Some inhalers contain breathing medicine to open the airways, which can relieve coughing and make breathing easier.

reason

Nighttime coughs can be caused by a variety of conditions, some of which are short-term and go away within a week or two. In other cases, the cause of your nighttime cough may be long-term.

The following are common causes of nighttime coughing:

allergy

asthma

emphysema

Chronic bronchitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Common cold

influenza

When to see a doctor

Nighttime coughing can often be reduced by using one of the suggestions above. However, there are some situations where it’s best to see a doctor.

People should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms:

Fever higher than 38.3°C

Coughing for more than a week

Coughing up blood

respite

Chest pain

trouble breathing

The severity of a nighttime cough depends on the cause. For example, a nighttime cough due to a common cold will usually go away within a week or two. If chronic lung disease results, the cough may be more difficult to reduce.

People with allergies, asthma, or GERD can improve their outlook by managing their condition and working with their doctor to find treatment options that reduce symptoms.