What is the Medical reason colds are more miserable at night?

Really, I am curious. Why are colds worse at night?

I have had a cold for over 3 weeks now. I am having a hard time at night and in the morning when I wake up. I feel so much more congested. I cough more even if I'm not laying down. I am using medication....only helps a little. I am so miserable especially at work because of lack of sleep. My stomach muscles are sore from coughing and to be honest, it's just damn embarrassing!

The only thing i can think of, is from the Science channel had a Special on called the Human Timepiece.

between the hours of 11pm and 2 am our bodies are really relaxed, our adrenaline stops flowing, our bodies start to make Melatonin for us to fall asleep. When we sleep it when our body goes into overdrive repair us, I assume when we are sick it might start sooner to fix us.

Your 11pm and my 11pm will differ from when we wake up. This 11pm is based as if you wake at 6 am.

Other then this, I don't really know why, seems Logical to me.

Best Wish's,
Nolwe

PS: Your Ribs hurt from coughing? You have had this for 3 Weeks, it sounds like its turned into Bronchitis, you need to see a Doc ASAP.

why bugs get worse at night is very strange, isn't it? My mother was a nurse from back before antibiotics - no radio or tv in the hospitals in those days - she said the patients were just totally miserable at night.

Once tv and radio showed up at least that helped divert people's attention a little. Aren't these bugs horrible! If you have the money you might try something strange like go to an acupuncturist and ask him/her whether there wasn't a treatment for your lungs. The chiropractor has a treatment for lungs - might help. Get a massage and try to relax more. And lots of fluids, of course.

Are you sure this isn't perhaps bronchitis? 3 wks is quite a long time for a cold, and coughing when you lie down is a pretty good sign it needs to be checked out and perhaps antibiotics prescribed.

Worse in the morning because you haven't moved nor coughed in awhile, and need to clear lungs by coughing.

Can breathe some steam (boil some water on the stove, take the pan off the stove and put it on the table, put a towel over your head forming a tent and breathe the steam. Can put some Vicks in the water, but use a coffee can if you're going to add Vicks as it would make a pan sticky and smelly. Breathe the steam for a full 5 minutes (set the timer) and can do this about 3 times a day. Take deep breaths. This will loosen mucous so that it can be expelled. Can also use some Robitussin DM which is an expectorant (breaks up mucous so it can be coughed up). Do these two things, and your 'cold' may be gone in a couple of days. If not, need to be seen by a doctor. Best do the steaming about an hour before bedtime. And if you do have the Vicks, rub some on chest as well.

Suspect barometric pressure and humidity change at night, which would play a huge role in exacerbating symptoms.