Here are AFC-approved solutions to help suppress your nighttime cough. Suspect you have something more serious than a cold? Stop by today!
For most people, the common cold is a yearly struggle. You may have seemed fine playing a few rounds of bowling at Retro Bowl or when you were out with friends at Cherokee Brewing and Pizza Co., but now that your head has hit the pillow, your cold symptoms have suddenly ramped up. You’re not imagining things.
Many people experience worse coughing, congestion and throat irritation at night when battling the common cold. While it can be frustrating (and exhausting), understanding why symptoms worsen after dark can help you take steps to feel more comfortable and get better rest.
Why Do Cold Symptoms Get Worse at Night?
One of the most common nighttime complaints is coughing. When you’re fighting a cold, your body often produces excess mucus due to congestion or a runny nose. Tiny hair-like structures in your airways, called cilia, help move mucus out of your lungs and throat. Coughing is your body’s natural reflex to clear that mucus.
During the day, staying upright and moving around helps loosen and drain mucus more easily. At night, however, lying down allows mucus to pool in the back of your throat. This phenomenon (known as postnasal drip) triggers the urge to cough as your body tries to clear the buildup. Gravity no longer helps drain your sinuses, which can make congestion feel worse once you’re in bed.
Another factor is your body’s natural rhythm. Cortisol, a hormone that helps regulate inflammation and immune response, is typically higher during the day. At night, cortisol levels drop, allowing your immune system to work harder to fight infection. While this is helpful for recovery, it can also increase inflammation, swelling in the nasal passages and mucus production. As a result, your symptoms become more noticeable at night.
During colder months, dry indoor air from heating systems can further irritate your nasal passages and throat, making coughing and congestion even more uncomfortable.
7 Tips to Help Alleviate Nighttime Cold Symptoms
While there’s no instant cure for a cold, these simple strategies can help reduce nighttime discomfort and improve sleep:
- Elevate your head while sleeping. Using extra pillows helps promote sinus drainage and can ease breathing.
- Use a humidifier. Adding moisture to the air can soothe dry nasal passages and reduce throat irritation.
- Stay well hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day helps thin mucus. Warm herbal tea or honey water before bed can also be calming.
- Try saline nasal sprays. These can flush out irritants and keep nasal passages moist.
- Use over-the-counter medications as needed. Decongestants, pain relievers or antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin may help reduce postnasal drip overnight.
- Take a warm shower or inhale steam before bed. Steam can help open airways and make breathing easier.
- Use cough drops during the day. These can provide temporary relief and help calm throat irritation.
When to Seek Medical Care
Most colds and coughs can be managed at home without needing urgent care. However, it’s important to seek medical attention if:
- Your cough lasts more than a few weeks.
- You develop a fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- You experience severe sore throat, ear pain or persistent sinus pain.
- Your symptoms interfere with normal breathing.
- You suspect your illness may be due to the flu, COVID-19 or another contagious condition.
How AFC Dalton Can Help
At AFC Dalton, we’re here to support you when cold symptoms become more concerning. We offer rapid testing to determine whether your cough is related to COVID-19, the flu, or even pneumonia. While we don’t have an on-site pharmacy, our providers can prescribe medications and help create a customized treatment plan to get you feeling better.
We welcome walk-ins, are open every day, and provide affordable, convenient care. Don’t spend another sleepless night wondering what to do next about your cold symptoms. Visit our clinic today or save your spot in line!
