Different Types of Coughs

There are two types of nighttime coughs: the dry hacking cough that is non-productive or the productive cough that brings mucous up with it. Experts generally agree that a productive cough is probably the result of a cold or other illness, and not an asthma cough.

When a cough lingers after an illness, it can last for up to a week or two. If it lasts beyond that time period, a call to your doctor is a good idea to ensure that you do not have another more serious kind of respiratory disorder. Productive coughs are usually best treated with a medicine containing an expectorant that will help bring up and out the congestion that is causing the coughing.