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Related Concept Videos

Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Sleep Apnea01:21

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
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Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders
05:34

Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Cough and sleep.

Kai K Lee1, Surinder S Birring

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK.

Lung
|October 14, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sleep significantly suppresses cough, but mechanisms remain unclear. Nocturnal cough, often disrupting sleep, may indicate obstructive sleep apnea, treatable with continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

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Precision Induction and Distinction of Coughing and Sneezing Reflexes in Mice
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Precision Induction and Distinction of Coughing and Sneezing Reflexes in Mice

Published on: October 3, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Sleep and Respiratory Physiology
  • Neuroscience of Cough Reflex

Background:

  • Sleep disruption is a common complaint among patients with chronic cough, frequently leading them to seek medical attention.
  • While sleep appears to suppress cough, the underlying biological mechanisms are not well understood.
  • Nocturnal cough is uncommon in healthy individuals but affects approximately 50% of patients with chronic cough, significantly impacting sleep quality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the complex interplay between cough and sleep.
  • To investigate the reduced cough reflex sensitivity and frequency during nighttime sleep.
  • To examine the potential of nocturnal cough as a clinical indicator and its association with conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on sleep-cough interactions, including studies on cough reflex sensitivity during different sleep stages.
  • Analysis of data from 24-hour ambulatory cough monitoring in patients with chronic cough.
  • Examination of the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in alleviating nocturnal cough associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Main Results:

  • Cough frequency is significantly lower during sleep compared to wakefulness, attributed to reduced tussive stimuli and decreased cough reflex sensitivity.
  • Cough is more difficult to induce during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep than slow-wave sleep.
  • Unexplained chronic cough, particularly in females reporting gastroesophageal reflux and rhinitis, may be a presenting symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which is effectively managed with CPAP therapy.

Conclusions:

  • The relationship between sleep and cough is bidirectional, with sleep suppressing cough through poorly understood mechanisms.
  • Nocturnal cough, while not always indicative of etiology, can serve as a valuable outcome measure in clinical trials for antitussive medications.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained chronic cough, especially in specific patient demographics, as it is responsive to CPAP treatment.