10 Tips for Day and Night Cough Relief
Updated on January 20, 2026
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As annoying as a cough can be, it’s a natural response to an irritant in your throat or airways. The irritant stimulates nerves that send a message to your brain; your brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of your lungs to force the irritant out.
Many medical conditions involve a cough, including the common cold, the flu, allergies, postnasal drip (when phlegm drips from the back of the nose into the throat), and acid reflux. In addition, some medications can cause a cough, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
Whatever the cause, coughs can be pretty irritating, interrupting your daily activities and even keeping you up at night. The good news?
“Most coughs disappear within a few weeks, no matter what you do,” says Olveen Carrasquillo, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and public health sciences and director of the Behavioral and Community Based Research Shared Resource Facility at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine in Florida.
In the meantime, you can try several strategies to feel better and breathe easier, at least temporarily, he says.
Below are 10 options worth trying to ease your cough during the day or at night.
How to Calm Daytime Coughing
If your cough is making it hard to function during the day or affecting your focus at work, you can try one of these remedies to help improve it.
Take an Expectorant
Over-the-counter (OTC) expectorants, such as Mucinex or Robitussin 12 Hour Cough & Mucus Relief, contain guaifenesin, which thins mucus or phlegm in your lungs.
Keep in mind that an expectorant won’t stop your cough; it instead makes your cough more productive, meaning it’ll help you get rid of mucus more effectively so you can get back to breathing easier.
One precaution: Don't give cough medication to children younger than age 4. For kids age 4 to 6, use cough medication only if it’s recommended by your child’s doctor. Even then, be sure to follow the dosing directions exactly as outlined.
Reach for a Cough Suppressant
For temporary relief of a dry, hacking cough, try taking an OTC cough medication that contains dextromethorphan, which blocks the cough reflex. It doesn’t address the underlying cause of your cough, though, or help you heal faster.
As with expectorant medications, you should avoid giving cough suppressants to children under age 4 and get a doctor’s recommendation for kids age 4 to 6.
Sip a Warm Beverage
The warmth of a drink like tea or water with lemon can soothe a throat that feels raw or sore from coughing. Warm fluids also help to loosen mucus, making it easier to cough it up.
If you prefer cold beverages, that’s OK — they can help, too. Cold liquids may help relieve throat pain or inflammation.
Step Up Your Fluid Intake
Getting enough fluid is always a good idea, even more so when you have a cold or cough. Staying hydrated helps thin mucus, which may prevent buildup and infection. Dehydration, on the other hand, thickens mucus and makes it harder to get rid of.
You can stay hydrated by drinking enough water and eating plenty of hydrating foods like fruits and vegetables. Watch out for signs of dehydration, like thirst or dark urine, and up your fluid intake if needed.
Suck on Hard Candy
Cough drops may help soothe a dry, irritated throat and can reduce the constant urge to cough.
In fact, any hard candy will promote saliva production and provide the moisture you need to relieve a dry cough. (And sometimes the ingredients in cough drops, like menthol, can actually dry out your throat too much.) But aim for sugar-free candies, since sugar can increase chronic inflammation in your body, which likely won’t help your cough.
Don’t try this one with young children, since hard candies can be a choking hazard.
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How to Ease a Nighttime Cough
We all know sleep is the best medicine, especially when it comes to getting over a cold. If a nagging cough is keeping you awake all night, try these nighttime remedies to help you drift off.
Consider a Cough Medicine Formulated for Nighttime Use
These versions often include an antihistamine, which can make you drowsy. That’s not ideal during the day, but can be beneficial at night if you have a dry cough that is keeping you awake.
If you are 65 or older, talk with your doctor before using antihistamines, since they may increase the risk of a fall and can cause confusion, anxiety, urinary retention, constipation, and other side effects.
If you have a wet cough (coughing up mucus), however, you may be better off with an expectorant both day and night to help get rid of your cough. The drying effect of an antihistamine can make mucus thicker and harder to clear from the airways, which could make your cough worse.
Have Some Honey
Adding honey to a cup of tea is a time-honored way to soothe an irritated throat and calm a cough.
And, there is some science to back up the idea: A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2021 found that honey was superior to OTC medications at reducing the frequency and severity of coughing due to upper respiratory tract infections.
You can try taking a teaspoon or two of honey at bedtime, either on its own or mixed into a cup of tea or warm water. But do not give honey to infants under age 1. It will not help with symptoms and can cause a sickness called infant botulism.
Zap Your Cough With a Vaporizer
Placing a cool-mist vaporizer or a humidifier right next to your bed can help keep your airway passages moist and reduce the likelihood that a dry, hacking cough will wake you up. It will also help a wet cough by thinning mucus and making it easier to cough up.
A vaporizer can also provide daytime cough relief, so you may want to set one up wherever you spend the most time, such as your office or family room. Just be sure to change the water daily and clean the unit properly, as outlined by the manufacturer, to avoid potential growth of bacteria and mold, which can not only worsen your cough but also pose other health risks.
Use an Extra Pillow — or Two
Coughs often worsen at night since lying down causes mucus to pool in your throat, rather than drain. This triggers the coughing reflex as a means of moving that mucus out.
Elevating your head can help. Sleeping this way also helps alleviate acid reflux, which can cause nighttime coughing.
Gargle With Salt Water
To start the night off with a clear throat, try gargling with a warm saltwater solution. This can lessen coughing by calming irritation and loosening thick mucus, helping you clear it from your throat.
Simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water, gargle for as long as you can, then spit out the solution.
Know When to See Your Doctor
If you just can’t shake your cough after a few weeks or you’re experiencing wheezing, fever, shortness of breath, or persistent pain or pressure in your chest, see your doctor, says Dr. Carrasquillo.
Other symptoms to watch out for:
- Thick greenish yellow phlegm
- Fainting
- Ankle swelling
- Weight loss
A long-lasting cough could indicate a more serious health issues, such as asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung conditions, or even heart conditions.
The Takeaway
- Most coughs resolve on their own within a few weeks, but you can try several remedies during the day and night for temporary relief.
- If using OTC cough medications like expectorants or suppressants, stay informed about the appropriate use and dosing, especially for children.
- Home remedies like honey, saltwater, and humidifiers may help reduce cough frequency and intensity.
- Consult a healthcare professional if your cough persists beyond a few weeks or is accompanied by concerning symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. This might indicate a more serious condition.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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- Cough. Cleveland Clinic. August 18, 2025.
- Guaifenesin (Oral Route). Mayo Clinic.
- Expectorant. Cleveland Clinic. August 5, 2025.
- Coughs and Colds: Medicines or Home Remedies? American Academy of Pediatrics. December 2, 2022.
- Dextromethorphan. MedlinePlus. January 15, 2022.
- These 8 Sore Throat Home Remedies Actually Work. Cleveland Clinic. August 18, 2025.
- The Role of Hydration in Maintaining Healthy Airways. Foundation for Airway Health. June 4, 2024.
- Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? Mayo Clinic. October 12, 2022.
- Dry Cough. Cleveland Clinic. February 3, 2025.
- The Sweet Danger of Sugar. Harvard Health Publishing. January 6, 2022.
- When Allergy or Cold Medication Makes You Drowsy. Allergy & Asthma Network. June 7, 2025.
- Medications & Older Adults. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. December 27, 2023.
- Cough Medicine: Understanding Your OTC Options. American Academy of Family Physicians.
- Effectiveness of Honey for Symptomatic Relief in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. April 2021.
- Warm-Mist Versus Cool-Mist Humidifier: Which Is Better for a Cold? Mayo Clinic. May 11, 2023.
- Godman H. Why Are You Coughing at Night? Harvard Health Publishing. August 1, 2023.
- Phlegm and Mucus: How To Get Rid of It. Cleveland Clinic. May 19, 2022.
- Cough. Mayo Clinic. December 11, 2024.
- Cough. NHS Inform. November 26, 2025.
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