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How To Sleep With A Cold? The Best Way To Sleep With A Cough

Author: Henry Warren
by Henry Warren
Posted: Aug 15, 2019

A head cold can cause symptoms such as a headache and stuffy nose, whereas a chest cold results in chest congestion and coughing.Coughing is an action that clears the breathing passages and throat of irritants and mucus – clearing your airways in this way can prevent infection. A dry cough is tickly and doesn’t produce any phlegmColds and coughs can leave you feeling tired and unwell. Especially if you’re unable to get a good night’s sleep. Want to know how to sleep with a cold? The best way to sleep with a cough? Read on…Coughing During the NightCan you cough in your sleep? When you lie down mucus can build up in your throat as it’s harder for your body to clear the airways naturally. As you breathe through your mouth this irritates the nerves at the back of the throat – making it dry.This increased sensitivity causes you to cough – even when you’re asleep – as your body uses its defence mechanism to clear the lungs and throat of secretions.Tips for Sleeping with a CoughCough syrups, taken before bedtime, can help ease symptoms. Choose the right medicine as some are formulated for chesty coughs, whilst others target dry coughs. How to sleep with a cough is helped by:

  • Choosing a more upright sleeping position – propping yourself up with pillows is the best way to sleep with a cough
  • Taking a hot shower – the steam produced will help to loosen mucus and relieve congestion
  • Keeping cough medication, water, and tissues on your bedside table – then you won’t need to get up in the night
  • Staying hydrated – sip water regularly to keep body fluids high and throat soothed
  • Controlling humidity levels – stopping the air becoming too damp with a humidifier can help you breathe more easily
  • Providing comfortable relief with cough suppressants – powerful formulas will reduce coughing during the night when you have a tickly cough and can’t sleep
Sleeping with a ColdYou need to give your body as much rest as possible in order to fight off cold and flu infections. How to sleep when you have a cold includes:
  • Taking medication at night time that helps with cold and flu symptoms
  • Using a nasal decongestant that helps you breathe more easily
  • Drinking and eating hot food that helps soothe dried out nasal passages
  • Avoiding alcohol as this can cause sinuses to swell and react adversely to medication
  • Maintaining a comfortable temperature level to avoid perspiration
  • Sleeping alone to prevent spreading your germs
  • Relaxing with a book or listening to music until you feel tired

More Tips to Sleep BetterThe best way to sleep with a cold is to improve your nasal symptoms during the day. Blowing your nose can actually be detrimental as this generates extra pressure that can cause fluid from your nose to go into the sinuses. Try dabbing a runny nose with a tissue – or gently blow one nostril at a time if essential.Relieving sinus pressure can be done through acupressure. You can target pressure in your sinuses by pressing on either side of your nose with your index fingers – and holding for about three minutes. Pressing your fingers into the innermost corners of your eyebrows will help with sinus headaches.Gargling with salt water can help flush out the virus – mix half a teaspoon in 8oz of warm water and gargle as needed.Get Medication SavvyMany symptoms of a cold can be eased with medication. Look at sets of remedies designed for how to sleep with a stuffy nose and how to sleep with a blocked nose…

  • Cold and flu medications – containing decongestants, antihistamines, and pain relief. They may be available in night time options – and can cause drowsiness which helps you to sleep. You’ll need to take a dose just before bedtime and this will give you four to six hours of relief.
  • Decongestant nasal sprays – these can be used before going to sleep and will clear nasal passages to make breathing easier. Read the instructions carefully as using this them for too long can cause additional inflammation that aggravates the problem.
  • Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are just two over the counter painkillers that can help relieve aches and pains that accompany a cold. Take the course of tablets as directed with the final dose about half an hour before bedtime.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain and inflammation and can be effective in lessening sneezing, ear pain, and fever.
  • Menthol lozenges trigger sensations that create the feeling of air passing through – and make breathing feel easier. They can also help with sore throats.
Smart Sleep PurchasesHow to sleep when you have a cold and cough is made easier with a range of products specifically designed to help you sleep such as:
  • Headbands and touchpads with sleep-monitoring sensors and daily sleep reports
  • Humidifiers that help you breathe easily while you sleep
  • White noise machines that mask disturbing sounds

If you wish to see reviews of the latest sleep aid tech products visit https://www.wellprof.co.uk/reviews/sleep-more

About the Author

I am a Professional writer for Well Professor.

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Author: Henry Warren

Henry Warren

Member since: Aug 12, 2019
Published articles: 1

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