How do I handle a next-door neighbor whose coughing is loud enough to wake me?

Question

I live on the first floor of a two-story apartment complex. The buildings have four units apiece, two above and two below, all four with patios. My neighbor upstairs is a law student and she smokes, I recently found out. She's a nice person for the limited interaction I have with her, but one thing bothers me - when she sits on the patio to read, she coughs... a lot. She's an early riser (well before when I get up) so her coughing echoes into the court space between the apartment buildings and it's loud enough for me to hear and be awakened - and I don't like having my sleep interrupted. Her coughing could be the sign of a serious medical condition but it would be out of place for me to comment on that. How should I handle this? Common sense would suggest I speak kindly with her, but what do I say? Worse, what if she does nothing about it? Or retaliates? I shouldn't have to plug my ears; what if my smoke alarm or phone goes off and I don't hear it? Nor should I have to move.

Answer 1

Tell them to SHUT DA *** UP!!!!

Answer 2

Try this: Jane, are you ill? I can hear you coughing in the morning so loud it wakes me up! My goodness, it echoes off the buildings!
Launching into an anti-smoking lecture will not help, she will be angry, and you will still hear coughing. Complaining will get more of the same.
Try a sound test yourself, on your own patio, to find out if facing the building makes it worse, or better, and recomend that direction to her.

Answer 3

What I would do is get into a general conversation with her and then say something like 'Haven't you noticed how the noise really carries in the courtyard space' Then go on to say 'There must be someone who sits out on their patio in the mornings as they keep waking me up with their coughing. I wish I knew who it was as it sounds a really bad cough and it might be serious for them!' It basically gives you a way to introduce the topic make her aware that it is disturbing you without her feeling you are directly victimizing her! Good luck!

Answer 4

Strike up a casual convo by saying, wow, have you been sick recently? i could hear you coughing so much, it woke me out of a sound sleep! I almost came upstairs to see if you needed any cough syrup or not. Is there anything i can do?

Answer 5

Blake Cole Fisher, first answerer, has one approach; and you'd probably get the same in return. Move, or wait for her to die of lung cancer.

Put the smoke detector near your bed and with earplugs you won't sleep through it. You sound a bit insensitive and complaining to me. People who must live communally must learn that they have to put up with others. What if she ALREADY has cancer, or is suffering from heart arrest (blood fills lungs), should she be thrown out? I doubt she's coughing to annoy you intentionally

Answer 6

Well don't be rude to him if you tell him! Maybe say that you heard him coughing and should consider seeing a doctor about it. No need to be rude. Your just insinuating that you hear it.

Answer 7

Place a bottle of cough syrup with a bow on it on their doorstep when no one is looking.
Maybe they will get the hint.

Answer 8

THROW A PACK OF COUGH DROPS UP TO HER WHILE SHE OUT ON HER PATIO AND JUST SAY DAMN GIRL SMOKE ANOTHER ONE!!

Answer 9

Use those moments when your sleep is interrupted to say a prayer. You never know when God is trying to get your attention.

Answer 10

I would consider moving or plug the ears!!

Answer 11

i would tell her "i hear your coughing all the time and it sounds serious, you should see a doctor"