NATURAL HACKS TO STOP COUGHING DURING NIGHT

Night time coughing is common to all the age group people. Coughing causes an annoying sensation in the throat which starts with a tickle and then escalates to a hacking cough just as you are trying to fall asleep or it wakes you up in the middle of the night. But in a way coughing is good for health as it removes germs from the lungs and prevents infection.

REASON FOR COUGHING AT NIGHT:

Coughing often worsen during night because a person is lying flat in bed. Because of this the mucus pools in the back of your throat and causes coughing. Mucus can build up in your throat, triggering the body to cough. When we are awake during the day, we move around and swallow frequently which reduces the nasal drainage. At night when we are less active, nasal congestion increases and that is the main reason for coughing during night times. Coughing at night times can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, some of which are short term and disappear within a week or two. But in other cases, the causes of night time cough can be long term.

NATURAL REMEDIES:

These are the top six natural remedies to cure cough during night times. These remedies actually work, so dont worry about trying to find the best ones as they are all right here.

1) Honey: Honey is a natural remedy to cure cough. Mix two teaspoons of honey into herbal tea and drink before going to bed to get rid of coughing during night.

2) Steam: Inhaling steam helps flush out mucus. Fill a cooking pot one quarter full with water. Boil, turn off the heat and if available add a couple drops of essential oil or Vicks vaporub.

3) Elevate the head: Coughing often becomes worse at night because a person is lying flat in bed. Sleeping with the head elevated can decrease coughing at night. A person can elevate his head of the bed by using a few pillows or a back wedge. Change in the sleeping position can allow mucus to flow without causing coughing.

4)Gargle: Salt water can ease a sore and irritated throat. It also helps to remove mucus from the back of the throat. Boil a glass of water and warm it.Add two teaspoon of salt into this luke warm water and gargle a few times before going to bed. This can help you avoid coughing and waking at night.

5) Pepper: Pepper is a bit of an irritant but the characteristic of pepper is a plus for those suffering from cough. This characteristic property of pepper stimulates the circulation and the flow of mucus. Place 1 teaspoon black pepper into a cup and add 1 teaspoon honey. Fill with boiling water, steep for 10 to 15 minutes, stir and sip.

6) Turmeric: Boil milk and then add a pinch of turmeric to it. Drinking this will help you in healing and soothing your throat. Gargling with turmeric water few times a day to get relief from constant coughing.

Note:

1) Keep bed clean.

2) Stay hydrated.

3) Stop smoking.

4) Avoid perfumes, air freshener sprays or other irritants in the bedroom.

5) Wash hands frequently.

6) Prevent cockroaches in your home.

Before you consult any doctor for the treatment of cough, try one of these natural treatments for a home cure.

Health Risks of Smoking And Effect of Passive Smoking!

Does inhaling affect the risk of cancer?

Yes. Wherever smoke touches living cells, it does harm. Even smokers who don’t inhale are breathing in large amounts of smoke that comes from their mouths and the lit end of the cigarette, cigar, or pipe. They are at risk for lung cancer and other diseases caused by secondhand smoke.

Smoking Causes Cancer:

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer. 4 out of 5 cases of lung cancer are linked with  smoking cigarettes.  It also increases the risk of at least 13 other types of cancer including:

• Esophagus cancer
• Mouth and upper throat cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Pancreas cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Larynx cancer

Emphysema

The lungs are pliable organs that need to be elastic and flexible to breathe properly. Smoking causes the lungs  to become damaged and it compromises their elasticity. This in turn leads to a condition called emphysema where  breathing becomes labored, even with minimal exertion. Smoking is responsible for 80 to 90 percent of all cases of emphysema, according to PDRHealth.

Lung Cancer

In 2010, the United States alone saw 222,520 new cases of lung cancer and 157,300 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for this disease. This includes firsthand smoking and secondhand smoking. Secondhand smoke is the smoke you breathe in from other people. This can still linger in a room  even hours after a smoker has left.

Wrinkles

The skin is composed of elastin and collagen fibers. The nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes damage  collagen and elastin, which in turn leads to premature wrinkling. This can take place anywhere on the body, including the face and arms.

High Blood Pressure

When you drink excessively and smoke, you increase your chances of getting high blood pressure. This is defined as a reading of 140/90 mmHg or above. If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause congestive heart failure, heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and vision loss, notes the American Heart Association.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is produced naturally in the liver and it is used by the body for hormone and cell production. When levels become elevated, plaque can form on the walls of the arteries and obstruct the flow of blood to the heart. Smoking promotes this process by damaging the  blood vessel walls. In addition, smoking lowers the levels of “good” cholesterol, HDL, that you want high.

Dangers Of SecondHand Smoke On Children

Kids are particularly at risk for the effects of secondhand smoke because their bodies are still growing and they breathe at a faster rate than adults.

These conditions have been linked to secondhand smoke exposure in children:

• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• More respiratory infections (such as bronchitis and pneumonia)
• More severe and frequent asthma attacks
• Ear infections
• Chronic cough

Smoking during pregnancy is especially dangerous to the developing baby. It’s tied to premature delivery, low birth weight, SIDS, limited mental ability, trouble with learning, and ADHD. The more cigarettes a mother-to-be smokes, the greater the danger to her baby.

How to Avoid Secondhand Smoke

It’s simple: Avoid being around people who are smoking, and try to convince those around you who smoke to quit. Anyone who does smoke should do so outside, as far away from other people as possible. Your home is probably the most important place to keep smoke-free, especially if you have children. Keeping kids (and adults) far away from smoke can help lower their chances of having respiratory infections, severe asthma, cancer, and many other serious conditions.