"Reference News" recently published an article by the New York Times in the United States titled "Cough, fever, runny nose, why cold symptoms worsen at night". A summary of the report is as follows:
It's cold season. Whether it's a cough, fever, headache, or a runny or stuffy nose, people may notice that the condition gets worse at night.
Pedestrians walk on the street in Vladivostok, Russia, January 24, 2023. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Guo Feizhou).
It's not a chase. There are several factors that are to blame, starting with the body's circadian rhythm. When the sun sets, it tells your brain that it's time to sleep and rest, while stimulating certain immune cells to become more active.
Dr. Diego Ihaono, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. Zude Children's Research Hospital in the United States, said: "Immune cells that recognize and work to fight off the virus cause irritation and inflammation that causes respiratory symptoms to worsen at night. ”
Certain hormones, such as cortisol, also follow a circadian rhythm. Cortisol levels are highest in the morning and help suppress inflammation and relieve various symptoms during the day. Symptoms may worsen as cortisol levels drop at night.
Another factor that can make cough and cold symptoms worse at night is postnasal drip, which is when mucus starts to build up in the back of your throat when you lie down.
Dr. Juan Chirivoga-Hurtado, a family medicine specialist at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, said, "During the day, mucus buildup is not bothersome because gravity helps you expel mucus when you walk. "But at night, mucus gathers and triggers the body's instinct to cough and clear the airways. In addition, the environmental conditions in the bedroom, such as dry air, can also irritate the respiratory tract.
Fortunately, there are several families** that can help improve nighttime cough and cold symptoms. Ihano's advice is to drink plenty of fluids, which can keep the mucus in a thinner state and reduce the amount of postnasal drip after lying down. Taking a warm bath, using a nasal saline spray, or rinsing your nose before bed can also help to thin mucus. It is also possible to use a humidifier in the room at night to keep it moist. Sleeping with a few pillows to elevate your head can also help drain mucus.
Chiriwoga-Hurtado says another option is to take cough drops or honey, which can help prevent a dry and irritated throat. "Coughing can seriously affect sleep, and sleep is crucial," he says, "so anything that helps you get a good rest will help you go faster."
*Xinhua.
Edited by Long Piao.
Second instance Liu Juan.
Third trial Tian Minjia.