How To Sleep With A Cough: 12 Tips For A Restful Night - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeHow to Sleep with a Cough: Tips for a Restful Night

Medically reviewed by Madeline Knott, MD — Written by Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA — Updated on May 27, 2025

Wet cough
Dry cough
Tickly cough
Causes
Medical attention
FAQ
Takeaway

If you experience nighttime coughs, you may want to try increasing the humidity or elevating your head and neck to ease your symptoms. Some OTC medications can also help.

It’s late. You’d like to be sound asleep — but every time you begin to drift off, a cough jolts you awake again.

A nighttime cough can be disruptive and frustrating. You need to sleep so you can get the rest you need to fight your illness and function during the day. But your nagging cough won’t let you get the elusive sleep you so badly need.

So, what can you do to conquer your cough at night?

In this article, we’ll look at some possibilities you may want to consider for different types of coughs, including wet and dry coughs and those ticklish back-of-the-throat ones.

How to calm a wet cough

Wet coughs, which are sometimes called productive coughs, often involve excessive mucus in the chest, throat, and mouth.

Elevate your head and neck

Sleeping flat on your back or on your side can cause mucus to build up in your throat, which can trigger a cough.

To avoid this, stack a couple of pillows or use a wedge to lift your head and neck slightly. Avoid elevating your head too much, as this could lead to neck pain and discomfort.

Try an expectorant

Expectorants thin the mucus in your airways, making it easier to cough up phlegm.

The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved expectorant in the United States is guaifenesin, which is marketed under brand names like Mucinex and Robitussin DM.

If your cough is caused by a cold or bronchitis, studies show that guaifenesin can be a safe and effective treatment.

Drink a warm beverage

A steamy, warm beverage may help soothe a throat that’s become irritated from coughing and also loosen up mucus.

Warm water with honey and lemon, herbal teas, and broths are all good options. Be sure to finish drinking any beverage at least an hour before bedtime.

Take a hot shower

Steam from a warm shower may help loosen mucus in your chest and sinuses, clearing your airways.

Learn more about natural remedies for a wet cough.

How to soothe a dry cough

Dry coughs may be related to conditions like GERD, asthma, postnasal drip, ACE inhibitors, and upper respiratory infections.

Less commonly, dry coughs could be caused by whooping cough.

Try a lozenge

Throat lozenges can be found at drugstores and retailers, and they come in an assortment of flavors.

Some lozenges may contain menthol to help open up your sinuses. Some also contain vitamin C or medications that can soothe a sore throat.

Whichever one you try, be sure to finish the lozenge before you lie down so you don’t choke on it. Avoid giving lozenges to young children as they can be a choking hazard.

Consider a decongestant

Decongestants can help dry up the postnasal drip that can cause that nagging nighttime cough.

Decongestants are not safe for people who have high blood pressure or children younger than 12.

Look into a cough suppressant

Cough suppressants, which are also known as antitussives, prevent coughing by blocking your cough reflex.

They can be helpful for dry nighttime coughs, as they may stop your cough reflex from being triggered while you sleep.

Drink plenty of fluids

Staying hydrated is especially important when you’re feeling under the weather. Drinking fluids throughout the day can help keep your throat lubricated, which can help protect it from irritants and other coughing triggers.

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Just be sure to stop drinking fluids at least an hour before bedtime to avoid bathroom trips during the night.

Learn more about natural remedies for a dry cough.

How to ease a tickly cough

If your cough is caused by allergies or postnasal drip, an itchy or tickly cough may keep you awake.

Use a humidifier

Air that’s too dry can irritate your throat and send you into a flurry of coughing.

One word of caution: Be careful not to overdampen the air. Allergens like dust mites and mold can worsen in wet air, and asthma can sometimes be worsened by dampness.

To make sure the humidity level in your sleeping space is at or near the recommended level of 50%, consider using a hygrometer to measure the exact level of moisture in the air.

Keep your bedding clean

The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology recommends that you wash your sheets, mattress covers, blankets, and pillowcases in hot water at 130°F (54.4°C) or higher, once a week.

If you’re allergic to pet dander or pet saliva, it might be best to get your cuddles during the day and keep pets out of your bedroom at night.

Try an oral antihistamine

Consult with a healthcare professional about whether your cough would respond to an OTC or prescription medication that blocks your body’s production of histamines or acetylcholine, both of which stimulate coughing.

Learn more about natural remedies for a ticklish cough.

Understanding what can cause a cough

A cough can be caused by a wide variety of conditions and circumstances. If you understand the cause of your cough, it may be easier for you to choose an effective remedy.

These conditions and factors are all known to cause coughing:

asthma
allergies
viruses like colds and flu
bacterial infections like pneumonia and bronchitis
postnasal drip
smoking
certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
cystic fibrosis
whooping cough

If you’re not sure why you’re coughing, a doctor can order chest X-rays, lab tests, scope tests, or CT scans to find out what’s triggering your cough.

Consider getting a whooping cough vaccination, and if you smoke, know that quitting may improve your cough in as little as 8 weeks.

When to consult a doctor or other healthcare professional

In most cases, a cough that’s caused by an infection or irritant will usually clear up within a few weeks with home remedies or over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

But there may be times when a cough is more serious. Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if:

your cough lasts longer than 3 weeks
your cough turns from dry to wet
you’re coughing up increased amounts of phlegm
you also have a fever, shortness of breath, or vomiting
you’re wheezing
your ankles are swollen
you’re experiencing unintentional or unexplained weight loss

Seek immediate medical attention if you have a cough and:

have trouble breathing
cough up blood or pink-tinged mucus
have chest pains

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Frequently asked questions

How can I stop coughing at night?

Some short-term remedies for a wet cough may include taking an expectorant, swallowing honey, and drinking a warm beverage before bed. For a dry cough, you can try sucking on a lozenge and taking a decongestant before bed, as well as elevating your head while you sleep. If your cough persists or your symptoms worsen, speak with a doctor. They can diagnose the underlying cause and provide a treatment plan that’s right for you.

What is the best position to sleep in when you have a cold and cough?

Avoid lying flat on your back if you have a cough. This may cause mucus to accumulate in your throat, triggering a cough. Instead, try keeping your head and neck elevated. You can stack some pillows or plush items to create an elevated surface to rest your head and neck on.

Can lying on your stomach help with a cough?

Lying on your stomach with your back end elevated may help drain your lungs, but it’s unlikely to relieve a cough. It may actually make the pressure in your sinuses worse.

The bottom line

A nighttime cough can be disruptive, but many effective treatments are available to ease symptoms and quicken recovery so you can sleep more peacefully.

If your cough is caused by a cold, the flu, or allergies, you may be able to ease your cough by trying some simple home remedies or by taking OTC cough, cold, or allergy medications.

If your symptoms last longer than a few weeks or your symptoms worsen, speak with a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

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How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

3 ways humidity affects asthma. (2023). https://community.aafa.org/blog/3-ways-humidity-affects-asthma
Albrecht HH, et al. (2017). Role of guaifenesin in the management of chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.https://mrmjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40248-017-0113-4
Indoor allergens. (2023).https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/indoor-allergens-ttr
Postural drainage. (n.d.).https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/postural-drainage
Singh DP, et al. (2023). Nocturnal cough.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532273/

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Medically reviewed by Madeline Knott, MD — Written by Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA — Updated on May 27, 2025

How To Sleep With A Cough: 12 Tips For A Restful Night - Healthline

How to calm a wet cough

Elevate your head and neck

Try an expectorant

Drink a warm beverage

Take a hot shower

How to soothe a dry cough

Try a lozenge

Consider a decongestant

Look into a cough suppressant

Drink plenty of fluids

How to ease a tickly cough

Use a humidifier

Keep your bedding clean

Try an oral antihistamine

Understanding what can cause a cough

When to consult a doctor or other healthcare professional

Frequently asked questions

How can I stop coughing at night?

What is the best position to sleep in when you have a cold and cough?

Can lying on your stomach help with a cough?

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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