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Do you have increased coughing at night?

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jul 4, 2023 | Replies (74)

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@cared

I have an adjustable bed. I found my coughing does increase at night if I’ll lie flat on my back. We purchased the bed for the purpose of helping my cough. I start out with the bed flat and sitting erect with two pillows behind my back. When I begin to nod off, I will slide down onto my side and raise the head portion a small amount (two pillows would have the same result). Side position helps. By morning I can most always lie on my back. A problem with the adjustable bed is ours lifts the entire bed so my husband must endure the position as well. I learned too late one is made for each side to have a choice of positions. Also, when the head section is raised there is a dip in the center of the bed. Actually when both head and foot are raised together a larger dip in the center occurs. So folks with any back discomfort might find it a problem. After having the bed for over a year, I find it has Not helped my nighttime coughing. Side sleeping has.

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Replies to "I have an adjustable bed. I found my coughing does increase at night if I’ll lie..."

It is possible you are not elevating the head of the bed enough. Dr. Huitte at NJH wanted me to sleep at 30-45 degrees because of GERD. Studies have shown that gastric aspiration can happen up to 30 degrees, which happens to me. Therefore, I sleep at >40 degrees. Initially, I was not able to visually gage the angles, so I ordered an inclinometer from Amazon and surprised myself with how wrong I was at my estimates. A 30 degree angle is pretty high. It wasn’t easy to get used to the inclination. It took me 2 years and still not comfortable. My husband, with GERD but not NTM, was unable to sleep inclined. Because the bed is a split king, we have the freedom to select our positions.
If you choose to sleep on your side, make that the left and not the right. There is a lot more aspiration on the right because of the shape of the stomach.