How to Stop Nighttime Asthma Attacks?

Not able to sleep comfortably at night? or do you cough at night and not able to sleep at night?

If yes, then you are suffering from nighttime asthma which is also known as nocturnal asthma. 

Several people suffering from serious asthma often find their symptoms like breathlessness, coughing & wheezing become worse at night.  

Nighttime asthma is the most common form of asthma that gets worse during the night. 

This affects almost every asthmatic patient who wakes up in the middle of the night, making their nights uncomfortable. 

Most deaths due to asthma happen during the night when the patient feels uncomfortable because of nighttime asthma. 

Nighttime asthma makes it difficult for you to sleep and also leaves you feel tired and irritable during the day. 

You need to know that nocturnal asthma is serious and requires diagnosis as well as effective treatment on time. 

Factors contributing to nighttime asthma attacks

There are several factors that make you suffer from nighttime asthma attacks:

Allergic triggers

The allergens present in your living room or bedroom often cause allergic reactions to increase asthma conditions at night.

People who are exposed to allergens in the day or evening time often suffer from nighttime asthma because of a late response. 

Your body’s internal clock

Some of your hormone levels often fall at night due to your daily rhythm. 

Lower levels of hormones make your airways narrow slightly that further worsens your asthma symptoms. 

Increase in mucous or sinusitis

The airways narrow down and build up the mucus during the night’s sleep, making you suffer from wheezing & coughing. 

This further also tightens your airways. Your asthma is activated with more drainage from the sinuses.

Gastroesophageal reflux problem

The reflux of stomach acid rises up if you suffer from heartburn frequently.

This situation also gets worse when you lie down and increase your nighttime asthma problems. 

Make sure to consult your doctor once, if you find difficulty in sleeping due to serious asthma. 

Don’t forget to share your nighttime asthma symptoms with the doctor because accordingly you will be given  Antacid medications. 

How to deal with nighttime asthma?

Along with the prescribed asthma medicines, there are several steps that can help you in dealing with nighttime asthma attacks. 

Clean your bedroom on a regular basis

It is important to use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air filter that traps mites and their waste. 

In this way, you can easily get the mites out of your bedroom. 

In case, the vacuum you use does not have a HEPA filter then get the new one.

Eucalyptus oil 

One of the best ways of dealing with nighttime asthma is through eucalyptus oil. 

You just need to add a few drops of this oil in a hot water bowl and then simply take steam. 

Doing so will help in opening all your nasal blockages in order to make it easy for you to breathe. 

Go for a dust-proof mattress and pillow protectors

The dust-proof mattress and pillow protectors are woven tightly especially to keep dust mites away from the bedding. 

Depending upon your bed size and pillow, you can easily find dust-proof mattresses and pillow protectors. 

Belly breathing technique

You need to concentrate on your breathing carefully. Through your nose, start breathing slowly. 

This technique of belly breathing will help in maximizing the air distribution inside the lungs. 

You can simply lie down or even sit straight. 

When you start inhaling, your abdomen needs to go out as opposed to your chest. 

With your abdomen pushing inward, start exhaling slowly. 

Don’t sleep with pets

If you have pets at home then keep them out of your bedroom to ensure their dander does not collect. 

Ensure your pet’s dander does not collect or stick to the bedding and carpeting. 

It is always better to keep the door of your bedroom shut to keep the pet out. 

Omega-3 fatty acids

Intake of omega-3 fatty acids is extremely beneficial in treating your condition of a nighttime asthma attack. 

This fatty acid not only saves you from asthma but also other conditions such as seasonal allergies, heart disease, etc.   

Ginger

Ginger is just like an anti-inflammatory medicine and offers benefits to your overall body. 

It is a superfood and is extremely beneficial in treating nighttime asthma. 

You can add ginger, pomegranate, and honey in equal proportion and consume them twice a day to get benefits. 

Keep your head up 

If you have a cold or sinus infection then lying flat can aggravate postnasal drip, activating an asthma attack. 

It is always better to keep your head elevated while sleeping if you are an asthma patient. 

Related Article - How to Manage COPD

Therefore, you can treat nighttime asthma effectively with Asthma Inhalers with the right treatment under the supervision of your doctor.