A member asked:

Could someone explain a person's copd deteriorating during the night and then improving in the morning?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Cortisol levels?: There is a regular daily variation in cortisol levels produced by the body with a usual peak in the early morning hours. Cortisol help suppress inflammation causing improvement in symptoms. Having said that, it is often the case that shortly after awakening people with COPD experience quite a bit of cough and phlegm production.

Answered 6/10/2014

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See below: Greatly simplified, everyone's breathing is more shallow when we sleep. Sounds like this person needs supplemental oxygen, especially at night, or if they already have it, then maybe a nebulizer treatment before they go to bed?

Answered 3/14/2019

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