Why nasal congestion symptoms are worse at night

now is the season cold and influenza.This means you’re more likely to be surrounded by a symphony cough and nasal discharge, if you don’t have a cough.If your main worry is coughthis feverhe Headache waves nasal congestion, you may notice that you tend to feel worse at night. They are not your imagination.

This is due to several factors, firstly circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. When dusk arrives, it tells the brain to go to sleep while stimulating certain neurons. Immune Cells Make them more active.Each night, these cells travel to different parts of the body in search of Virus and bacteria aggressor.

“When immune cells recognize viruses and try to fight them, they cause Stimulate and inflammationultimately leading to the worsening of the situation respiratory symptoms At night,” he explained. Diego Chijanopediatric infectious disease specialist St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

affim hormonesas cortisol, they also follow a circadian rhythm. Cortisol levels are highest in the morning, which helps suppress inflammation during the day, thereby reducing symptoms. When cortisol levels begin to drop during the night, symptoms may worsen.Another factor that can worsen cough and cold symptoms at night is the so-called postnasal dripmucus begins to accumulate in the back of the throat when lying down.

“Throughout the day, mucus buildup is less of a problem because gravity “It helps shed moisture when you’re upright and moving,” he explains. Juan Chiriboga-Hurtadofamily medicine specialist Keck School of Medicine inside University of Southern California.

But at night, mucus can build up and trigger the instinct to cough and clear your throat. respiratory tract. The lack of distractions — which is usually good for sleep — can also make it harder to ignore a scratchy throat at night.In addition, the environmental conditions of the room, e.g. air dryingSometimes it can irritate the respiratory tract, Chiriboga-Hurtado said.Other diseases such as allergyhe asthma and gastrointestinal refluxis also associated with coughing, which tends to be worse at night for many of the same reasons.

In addition, certain medications, such as certain anti-inflammatory drugs blood pressure, they can also aggravate coughs.For most people suffering from the common cold night cough It should disappear within five to seven days

There are other symptoms, Chiriboga-Hurtado said. In some cases, the cough may last two weeks or longer. But if it doesn’t get better after three weeks, it’s best to see your doctor. doctor Check if there are other reasons.

How to stop coughing at night

Fortunately, there are several home remedies that can help improve nighttime cough and cold symptoms. Hijano generally recommends drinking plenty of water liquid Keep mucus thin throughout the day and reduce postnasal drip before bed.take a hot showeruse a saline nasal spray Or rinse your nose with water neti pot They can also help thin mucus before bed, which is especially helpful for young children who can’t blow their noses, Higiano said.You can also put a humidifier Keep your nasal passages hydrated at night.

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Studies show that keeping room humidity between 40% and 60% can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses and can relieve symptoms of illness, such as coughing or stuffy nose.try to raise your head extra pillows Helps you drain mucus while you sleep.in this case you drinkUse a wedge under the mattress or raise one side of the crib, because pillows aren’t safe for small babies, Hijano explains.for adultthis cough medicine Medications containing dextromethorphan can relieve coughs by reducing the urge to cough.

this Cough and expectorantsuch as medicines containing Guaifenesin, can help loosen mucus so it can be drained more easily. They can be used alone or in combination with cough and cold medicines.Some combination products also include antihistaminescan relieve nasal congestion and reduce postnasal drip.

You can do without products containing: phenylephrineaccording to a group of experts, this ingredient Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is not effective in reducing nasal congestion.Another option is to use cough drops anyone Honeywhich can prevent dryness and inflammation in your throat, Chiriboga-Hurtado says: “A cough can dramatically change the way your throat feels. Dream.sleep for recover“, says. “So any rest you can do will help you recover faster. “