Nocturnal asthma basically refers to the asthma when the asthma symptoms occur at night. As many as 75% of the asthmatics are awakened during the sleep atleast once a week out of asthma symptoms of which 40% report to experience nocturnal symptoms in night on a frequent basis. Factors such as air-conditioning, gastroesophageal reflux and sleeping in a reclining position triggers this form of asthma in susceptible patients.

The common symptoms rated as “mild” noticed during the nocturnal asthma are cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, sleeplessness. Also the functioning of lungs is decreased significantly. The airways get inflammated and the number of inflammatory cells is highest in the early morning. But these symptoms need to be recognized since these may transform into fatal asthma and sudden asthma occurs.

Apart from the body own susceptibility to the nocturnal asthma, some other causes contributing to this form of asthma are exposure to asthma triggers around the area you sleep like dust mites or pet dander etc. Sinus problems and post nasal drip, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Bronchospasm induced by decreased body temperature, sleep apnea etc. The long term affect of this form of asthma is very dangerous and therefore must be treated as early as possible.