Study links air pollution to increased night-time coughing across multiple cities
A UK-led study involving researchers from the University of Cambridge found that higher air pollution levels are associated with more frequent night-time coughing in people using sleep tracking apps.
Data collected from many locations
Researchers gathered anonymised data from a popular sleep application over an 18-month period. The dataset included information from 32 cities located in 12 different countries. Participants contributed an average of 98,000 entries per night to the analysis.
Pollution levels affect cough frequency
The study recorded that approximately half of all participants experienced coughing during the night. The highest number of coughs occurred in Milan and Monza within Italy's Po Valley region. Cold weather and circulating flu viruses also led to increased coughing counts in Los Angeles and London.
Sleep tracking reveals hidden symptoms
Most previous research focused on severe cases requiring medical attention rather than daily symptoms. Many adults now use technology to monitor their sleep patterns and health metrics. This approach helps identify overlooked effects of environmental factors on human health.
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