There is nothing worse than being unable to sleep when you are sick, especially since sleep is so important to recovery. But when you have a cough, getting the rest you need can feel impossible.
Figuring out how to sleep with a cough can make a huge difference, allowing you to achieve deep sleep and get the extra rest that you need to recover. To help you on your way to a peaceful night’s sleep, we have answered some of your most pressing questions with the goal of unlocking the answer to the ultimate question – what is the best way to sleep with a cough?
There are a number of illnesses, irritants, and behaviours that can result in a cough. Infections, environmental irritants, smoking, and asthma are some of the most common causes. Regardless of cause, coughs generally fall into one of two categories: wet, or productive, and dry, or non-productive.
Wet coughs are otherwise known as productive coughs. This is because they produce and expel mucus from the respiratory tract, clearing mucus that has trapped irritants, bacteria, or inflammatory cells. Essentially, healthcare practitioners consider a wet cough productive as it actively removes excess mucus and harmful substances from the airways and lungs.
Unlike wet coughs, when you have a dry cough, no mucus or phlegm is coughed out. This is usually because the cause of the cough is either not related to mucus production or the mucus is located higher up in the respiratory tract. Two examples of this are asthma and post-nasal drip. Since there is no excess mucus in the lungs to expel, a dry cough does not result in coughing up phlegm.
Everybody has their own approach when it comes to deciding how to sleep with a cough. Although there has not been much formal research on the topic, there are two positions that most sources agree on. These are elevating your head and sleeping on your side.
Lifting your head with an extra pillow is generally regarded as the go-to sleeping position when you have a cough. Sleeping in this way is especially helpful when your cough is caused by post-nasal drip. This is because elevating your head prevents the mucus from dripping into your throat and triggering a cough.
Like elevating your head, sleeping on your side helps to stop irritation from a post-nasal drip. Sleeping in this position also reduces the pressure on your airways, making it easier to breathe.
There are certain sleeping positions to avoid when you have a cough. No matter what type of cough you have, sleeping on your back is likely to make it worse.
When mucus is the cause of a cough, lying flat on your back can result in mucus pooling and dripping down the back of your throat. This triggers the cough reflex and can result in aspiration - breathing the mucus into your lungs. Aspiration can lead to worse coughing and, in some situations, serious infection.
Sleeping on your back also makes the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) worse. This is because lying on your back allows stomach acid to flow more easily back into the oesophagus, resulting in a cough. Lying flat on your back also compresses your chest, making it harder to breathe.
Ultimately, the best way to sleep with a cough is to treat the cough when you are awake. Treatment will depend on the type and cause of the cough, but there are some general guidelines you can follow.
Staying hydrated helps to loosen mucus, making it easier for your body to expel. It can also help keep your airways moist and boost your immune system.
Mucolytics are medications that help dissolve phlegm, making it easier for your body to remove. If you have a wet cough, a mucolytic may seem to make your cough worse at first. This is actually a good sign, showing that your body is able to clear the mucus.
Soothing inflammation and irritation in your airways will help reduce your cough reflex. Some over-the-counter cough medications, such as Prospan, do just this, opening your airways and making it easier to breathe.
Research has shown that sleeping with a humidifier helps ease several respiratory conditions. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, keeping your airways moist and reducing irritation. The extra moisture also loosens mucus, making it easier for your body to remove.
Nighttime coughs can be disruptive and frustrating, preventing you from getting the rest you need to support your recovery. Unfortunately, resolving this pesky issue involves more than just sleeping in a certain position. While elevating your head and sleeping on your side can help, be sure to also treat the cause of the cough with an effective medication like Prospan. Remember, it is always important to seek medical advice when you are feeling unwell.
