Nighttime asthma: what to know

Asthma narrows and irritates the airways, which can make breathing symptoms more noticeable overnight. Bedroom triggers may include house dust mite allergy, pet exposure, mould, smoke, or cold air. Allergic rhinitis and mucus draining from the nose can add to coughing. Nighttime cough, wheezing, or chest tightness may indicate asthma that is not well controlled, although these symptoms can also occur with other conditions such as chronic cough.

Follow your written asthma action plan and use preventer and reliever inhalers with the technique taught to you. Keep reliever medicine available, check expiry dates, and record when symptoms wake you. Reduce smoke and strong fragrances in the bedroom, wash bedding as advised if dust mites are a trigger, and address nasal allergy symptoms with professional guidance. Book a review if you need your reliever more often, wake repeatedly, or limit normal activity. A nebuliser treatment is used in selected situations under clinical guidance and is not a substitute for your prescribed plan.

Use your action plan and seek urgent help if breathing becomes rapidly harder, you cannot speak comfortably, your lips look blue or grey, you feel faint, or your reliever is not helping. Do not lie flat while struggling to breathe. Emergency assessment is also needed for severe chest tightness or exhaustion during an attack.

Ask whether your inhaler technique and preventer dose are suitable, whether allergic rhinitis or a bedroom trigger is contributing, and when you should use emergency services. Bring your symptom record and action plan to the review.