3 Tips For Getting Better Sleep When You Have A Cold

With cold and flu season upon us, people all over are having a hard time getting the sleep their bodies need in order to fight off the germs and bacteria that have invaded their bodies. Luckily, there are some tricks you can try to allow your body to rest peacefully despite the fact that you might be suffering from things like congestion, sore throat, body aches, and more.

To show you just how this can be done, here are three tips for getting better sleep when you have a cold.

Make Your Room More Humid

When preparing your room for bedtime with a cold, one of the best things you can do is get yourself in some humidity. By doing this, you’ll be able to loosen up some of the mucus that’s accumulated in your head or chest and, hopefully, clear the passageways in which you breathe, making it easier for you to get to sleep and stay asleep.

Some ways you can accomplish this, according to Dr. Neha Pathak, a contributor to WebMD.com, is to use a vaporizer or humidifier in your bedroom. This will help to keep the space you’re sleeping in at a more humid level so you can breathe better all night long. And if you’re wanting something that can help you open everything up and feel more relaxed right before bed, consider taking a hot bath or shower and allowing the steam to work some magic for you.

Sleep Propped Up

Getting comfortable in bed while you have a cold can be a real challenge. Even if you have a soft, cozy, memory foam mattress to sleep on, sometimes your upper body needs a little more support to help keep the congestion at bay.

To help you with this, Sleep.org advises that you bring some more pillows into your room and try to sleep in a more propped up position while you’re fighting your cold. When you lay down too horizontally, all of the mucus and fluids can collect in your throat and sinuses, making it hard to breathe. But when you’re sitting up a bit more, gravity can help to drain this out and keep your nasal passages clear.

Pick The Right Medications To Help

While there isn’t a lot that you can do to cure your cold, you can use some types of medicines to treat your symptoms and help you rest easier while you sleep like these sleep aids.

According to Regina Boyle Wheeler, a contributor to Everyday Health, antihistamines are the ideal medicine to take when you’re trying to go to sleep with a cold because they can dry out your sinuses and kick your body into sleep mode. While many people might think that taking a decongestant would make the most sense, a lot of these types of medicines are stimulants, which can actually make it harder for you to go to sleep.

If sleep has been alluding you due to having a cold, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how to overcome this.