Nighttime Asthma
Table of Contents
Asthma Nighttime
Nearly 75% of asthma patients experience nighttime symptoms, which can also be referred to as nocturnal asthma. Your lungs function best around 4 pm and are at their lowest around 4 am. People with lower lung functions experience this change drastically. Wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing are the most common nighttime symptoms.
Triggers of Nighttime Asthma Symptoms
There are numerous factors that attribute to nighttime asthma symptoms, including: cooling of the airways, being in a reclined position, hormone secretion, and an increased exposure to allergens. There is no exact reasoning to why asthma is worse at night. Some people believe that sleep changes bronchial functions too.
Treatments of Nighttime Asthma Symptoms
The best treatment for nighttime asthma is to continue the daily use of asthma medications. These medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation which in turn, prevents these symptoms from occurring at night. Avoiding triggers is a big way to prevent nighttime symptoms from occurring as well. Sometimes, avoiding these triggers is impossible. You will want to speak with your physician about what type of asthma you have and the severity so that the physician can help your night time symptoms.