When you have a bad cough, how does your body stop itself from coughing when you’re sleeping?

Question

When you have a bad cough, how does your body stop itself from coughing when you’re sleeping?

In: 288

Answer 1

I don’t fall asleep until I can get the cough under control and if it comes back it will wake me up.

Usually coughing is caused by post nasal drip, so if you can take a decongestant and/or tilt your head forwards so it runs out your nose instead of down your throat, the cough will stop.