Morning Cough: Underlying Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment

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Nutrition

What’s Causing My Morning Coughing Fits?

Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — Written by Daniel Yetman and Alina Sharon — Updated on June 11, 2024

Cold
Respiratory tract infections
Allergy
Postnasal drip
Asthma
COPD
GERD
Sinusitis
Seeking medical help
FAQ
Takeaway

A morning cough may occur due to an illness or another health condition, such as allergies or asthma. But if the cough lingers, you may need medical treatment.

Coughing is your body’s way of clearing irritants from your respiratory system. Often, it isn’t a sign of a serious medical condition.

While you sleep, phlegm and other irritants can pool in your lungs and throat. When you become active in the morning, the phlegm starts to break up and may trigger a coughing fit.

A cough that produces phlegm is known as a wet cough or productive cough. If it doesn’t produce phlegm, it’s called a dry cough or unproductive cough. Knowing which type you have can help you narrow down the cause.

Let’s examine eight potential causes of your morning coughing fits and look at how you can treat them.

1. Common cold

A persistent wet cough is one of the most common symptoms of the cold. The average American has two to three colds per year, and children usually have more.

You may find your cough is worse in the morning from phlegm that accumulates overnight.

Other symptoms of the common cold include:

sore throat
body aches
fatigue
headache
sneezing
runny nose

Treatment

Treatments for a cough caused by the common cold may include:

drinking lots of fluids, such as water and tea with honey
taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants, or expectorants
using a saline nasal spray or trying steam inhalation to clear mucus that may cause a cough

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend cough medication for children ages 2 years and under.

Learn more about medications and home remedies to help treat the common cold.

2. Other respiratory infections

Respiratory infections are a group of infections that target your upper or lower respiratory tracts.

The common cold is a type of respiratory infection, but other types may also cause a cough, such as:

COVID-19
flu (influenza)
pneumonia
sinusitis
bronchitis
tonsilitis

Along with cold-like symptoms, respiratory tract infections may cause:

fever
fatigue
sneezing
sore throat
runny nose
headaches
wheezing
chest tightness
nasal congestion
gastrointestinal symptoms

Treatment

Treatment for a cough caused by respiratory tract infection could depend on the type of infection and whether it affects the upper or lower airway.

You can usually use many of the same treatments for the common cold, as the symptoms can be similar.

If you also have a fever, you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Speak to a doctor before giving a child an NSAID or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Other treatments may include:

antiviral therapy
antibiotics for bacterial infections

Learn more about respiratory infections.

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3. Allergy

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an immune reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, pet dander, or dust mites.

Symptoms may include:

runny nose
nasal congestion
dry cough
headaches
watery eyes
wheezing
shortness of breath

Because dust mites tend to live in bedding, people with dust mite allergies usually experience worse symptoms at night and in the morning.

Pollen counts are generally highest in the morning, and if you have a pollen allergy, this may worsen your cough in the morning.

Treatment

Potential treatments for a cough caused by allergies include:

antihistamines
corticosteroids
decongestants

Learn more about treatments for allergies.

4. Postnasal drip

Postnasal drip is one of the reasons allergic rhinitis or a respiratory infection can lead to a cough. This is when your body produces excess mucus that builds up in the back of your nose and drips into your throat. It’s often a symptom of colds, allergies, or eating spicy foods.

Symptoms include:

a constant feeling of needing to clear your throat
a wet cough that’s worse at night or in the morning
nausea
sore or scratchy throat
bad breath

Postnasal drip tends to cause the most discomfort at night when you’re sleeping. You may still feel the urge to clear your throat when you wake up.

Treatment

You can relieve postnatal drip by:

using a saline spray or netipot to rinse out your sinuses
taking decongestants or antihistamines
staying hydrated, which can help thin the mucus

Learn more on how to treat postnasal drip.

5. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes the airways to your lungs to swell. This swelling can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma severity can range from barely noticeable to life threatening.

The most common symptoms of asthma include:

dry or wet coughing
wheezing
trouble breathing
chest tightness
fatigue

Many people with asthma have a cough that’s worse at night or in the early morning. If you have cough-variant asthma (CPA), your symptoms may be entirely confined to a cough that doesn’t seem to go away.

Treatment

If you have asthma, you can control your symptoms using short-acting and long-acting medications, such as corticosteroids and bronchodilators.

For more severe asthma, other treatment options are available.

Learn more about asthma treatments.

6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is a group of progressive pulmonary diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The most common cause of COPD is smoking tobacco. The primary symptoms of COPD are a wet cough and trouble breathing.

Other symptoms include:

wheezing
chest tightness
frequent sickness
fatigue

Late-stage COPD may cause emergency symptoms, such as:

bluish lips or gray fingernails from low oxygen levels
confusion
inability to catch your breath or talk
rapid heart rate

Symptoms can appear at any time of day, but in general, people with COPD experience the worst symptoms in the morning.

Treatment

There’s no cure for COPD, but some treatments could help you manage your symptoms. These may include:

quitting smoking, if you smoke
bronchodilators
oxygen therapy
surgery

Learn more about treatments for COPD.

7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Research suggests that up to 85% of chronic cough cases are caused by GERD. GERD occurs when your stomach acid frequently flows back up into your esophagus.

Symptoms may include:

heartburn
chronic cough
burning in your chest, often after eating
chest pain
difficulty swallowing
feeling of a lump in your throat

GERD commonly causes a cough after eating and when lying down. Your cough may also be worse in the morning after spending the night lying in bed.

Treatment

Treatment options for GERD include:

antacids
proton pump inhibitors
H2 receptor blockers
surgery

Learn more about treatments for GERD.

8. Sinus infection

If you find you are congested and coughing for a long time, you may have sinusitis (sinus infection). The congestion in your nose can accumulate overnight, making you cough more when you wake up.

Other symptoms of a sinus infection include:

postnatal drip
congested nose
high temperature
green or yellow mucus
sore throat
headache
bad breath
pain and swelling in your face

Treatment

If your sinus infection is bacterial, you will need to take antibiotics. However, in many cases, a sinus infection can go away on its own.

In the meantime, you can use many of the same treatments that you would use for the common cold, other respiratory infections, allergies, or postnasal drip.

In addition, you can also place a warm compress on your nose and forehead to reduce your sinus pressure and help thin out mucus.

Learn more about treatments for a sinus infection.

When to see a doctor

If your morning cough doesn’t go away after several weeks or is accompanied by the following symptoms, visit a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis:

fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
greenish-yellow phlegm
wheezing
unexplained weight loss
ankle swelling

Medical emergency
Some symptoms that accompany a morning cough may be a sign of an underlying health condition that requires medical attention.
Seek emergency help if you experience:
trouble breathing
coughing up blood or phlegm with a pink tint
swollen neck glands
trouble breathing
fatigue
fainting
choking
chest pain

Frequently asked questions

What does a GERD cough sound like?

A GERD cough may be accompanied by wheezing, hoarseness, and regurgitation.

Why am I coughing so much but not sick?

If you recently experienced a cold, your cough may linger for up to 4 weeks without other symptoms. A cough may also be a sign of allergies to environmental pollutants, such as pollen. If your cough doesn’t go away after 3 weeks, speak with a healthcare professional to receive a proper diagnosis.

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing at night?

Some tips to stop coughing at night may include using a clean humidifier, cleaning your room of allergens, closing your windows, taking OTC medications before bed, and inclining your bed.

How do I know what’s causing my morning cough?

A doctor will first perform a physical examination, ask about your symptoms, and obtain details of your medical history. Then, they will listen to your breathing with a stethoscope. They may also perform other tests, such as sputum gram stain, spirometry test, imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan, or a bronchoscopy.

Takeaway

There are many potential causes of a morning cough. Often, a morning cough isn’t a need for concern.

However, if it persists for more than 3 weeks or if you’re having trouble breathing, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis.

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.

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Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD — Written by Daniel Yetman and Alina Sharon — Updated on June 11, 2024

Nutrition

1. Common cold

Treatment

2. Other respiratory infections

Treatment

3. Allergy

Treatment

4. Postnasal drip

Treatment

5. Asthma

Treatment

6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Treatment

7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Treatment

8. Sinus infection

Treatment

When to see a doctor

Frequently asked questions

What does a GERD cough sound like?

Why am I coughing so much but not sick?

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing at night?

How do I know what’s causing my morning cough?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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