Is a cough keeping you up at night? Coughing is a natural reflex that our bodies use to clear debris from the airway and respiratory system. However, when you’re sick, pathogens can cause persistent irritation in the lungs and sinuses, leading to a cough that keeps you up at night. Keep reading to learn about common causes of a nighttime cough and why your cough seems to worsen at night.
If you’re suffering from a cough that is keeping you up at night, AFC Urgent Care Southcenter can help. Our walk-in urgent care clinic offers rapid care for common ailments like coughs, all on a walk-in basis! We have the shortest wait times in the area, and are open Monday through Saturday. Walk in today for same-day care, or schedule your visit in advance below.
Understanding How Post-Nasal Drip Can Lead to Coughing at Night
Coughing can be caused by a variety of different conditions. In many cases, mild viral infections like a cold can cause a cough. In most cases, these coughs are mild and will go away on their own. However, colds commonly cause a nighttime cough because they often lead to other symptoms like post-nasal drip and congestion. When your body is fighting off a cold, it produces extra mucus to trap the virus and flush it away from the respiratory system. The extra mucus can leak down the back of your throat and cause irritation. When we lay down to sleep, this mucus often runs more and can pool in the throat, leading to irritation in your airway when you’re trying to sleep.
Remedies to Get Rid of a Nighttime Cough
If you’re suffering from a cough that worsens at night, or just won’t let up enough for you to fall asleep, it can be frustrating. In addition to post-nasal drip irritating your airway, laying down can compress your lungs, causing an existing cough to worsen. If you’re struggling to suppress your cough at night, taking decongestants can help reduce mucus production and decrease post-nasal drip. Taking a steamy shower and sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can also soothe irritation and will break up mucus in the lungs and sinuses.
When to Seek Medical Care for a Cough
If you’re experiencing a persistent or severe cough that is keeping you up at night, it could be time to seek medical care. While some coughs can go away on their own, there are scenarios where an evaluation of your symptoms by a medical professional may be necessary. If your cough is producing discolored mucus, or you’re experiencing additional symptoms like chest pain, trouble breathing, wheezing or a fever, you need to seek medical care. These symptoms suggest that you could have a condition that requires medical treatment to clear up.
Walk Into AFC Urgent Care Southcenter for Rapid Cough Relief
Are you coughing all night? Coughing can seriously disrupt your ability to sleep, which can interrupt your daily routine. Don’t let your illness symptoms run your life. If you’re up coughing all night, you should seek medical care for symptom diagnosis and treatment by a medical professional.
At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers patients near Kent, WA with rapid same-day care for coughs, with no need to schedule an appointment in advance! We work with most medical insurance providers, and have competitive rates for patients paying out of pocket for their medical care. Walk into the clinic today for same-day treatment!
