Nocturnal asthma occurs when asthma symptoms arise during night time. In this type of asthma the length and depth of night time sleep is disrupted. Many asthmatics may ignore the nighttime symptoms taking them for granted and considering them as the symptoms of poor asthma control. These symptoms cause lack of concentration throughout the day and the person feels dizzy. Also many patients rate the symptoms of wheezing, cough, shortness of breath in night as “mild”.

The symptoms of nocturnal asthma include coughing, wheezing, sleep apnea, sinus problem, post-nasal drip, choking, chest tightness, chest pain and chest pressure during the night. The symptoms of nocturnal asthma may also arise out of the harmonic functions which are at the highest or lowest in the early morning. Thus body’s natural rhythm definitely plays a vital role. The symptoms of nocturnal asthma generally occur due to the exposure to the asthma triggering agents like cold air, acid reflux etc.

An extensive study demonstrates that nocturnal symptoms of cough and dyspnea are accompanied by circadian variations in airway inflammation and physiologic variables including airflow irritation and airways hyperresponsiveness. There is no cure for nocturnal asthma but they must be identified and managed by various medications. The person who has the symptoms of asthma must immediately rush to the doctor since this disease is life threatening too.