Acute cough vs. chronic cough

Underlying conditions which can cause a morning cough

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): This condition is characterized by a chronic lung inflammation that causes constriction of the airways, causing difficulty in breathing. The cough is usually worse in the early morning hours and is associated with the production of yellowish mucus.
• Bronchitis: This condition refers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the air passages which carry air to the lungs. Bronchitis causes cough along with mucus production.  The cough tends to worsen in the morning because the phlegm and fluids that settle in the lungs over the night get mobilized due to activity in the morning.
• Asthma: Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Coughing is one of the common symptoms in asthmatics that is often worse at night or early in the morning. The cough is usually accompanied by the production of mucus. However, in people with cough-variant asthma, dry cough occurs as a major symptom.
• Allergy: Cough related to dust mite allergies becomes worse at night and early morning, as dust mites are often concentrated in the bedding. People with pollen allergy also have cough in the morning, as pollen counts are high in the early hours of the day.
• Postnasal drip: The body produces excess mucus when sinus problems or allergies occur with upper respiratory tract infections. The excess mucus can drain down into the throat, especially when lying down. This is called postnasal drip and is one of the most common causes of morning cough.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD occurs when the stomach acids flow back into the esophagus (food pipe) and irritate its lining. These acids can reach the throat and cause a dry cough when lying down and in the morning.
• Smoking: People who smoke commonly experience a morning cough. When a person stops smoking at night for a couple of hours, the cilia (tiny hairs in the lungs) work to remove the accumulated chemicals or toxins from the lungs. This causes a severe cough in the early morning.

Recommended Read: Violent Coughing: Could It Indicate a Serious Infection?

Conclusion

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