This time of year, people tend to get sick. Many airborne viruses love to make their way through the season, infecting everyone with a nasty cold. If you are one of those people affected by the cold season, you may be wondering how to sleep with a cold.
Colds are never fun, and they often don’t go away soon enough. If you’re feeling grumpier than Scrooge this holiday season, it’s time for you to get some much-needed relief from your symptoms. As your top sleep doctor in NYC, we’ve come up with a few tips for making it a little easier for you to sleep while you have a cold.
Try these techniques to learn how to sleep with a cold and stay asleep longer.
Drink Water – But Nothing Else
One of the worst things to do while you’re suffering from a cold is drink alcohol. While you may think of alcohol as a good solution to help you feel more drowsy and sleepy, it can actually make your sinuses even more swollen.
According to Restonic, alcohol, and sleep just don’t mix. It will dry you out and leave your senses even more stuffy and deprived than they were before you started drinking.
When learning how to sleep with a cold, it’s crucial that you drink plenty of water. Water not only replenishes your system, but it gives your body the nutrients it needs to continue fighting the cold without running out of steam.
Keep a Good Room Temperature
Just because you have a cold does not mean you are cold. Many people tend to heat up their rooms during a cold in order to help them sleep. But if the temperature gets too warm, it can dry you out and make your nose and throat feel terrible. However, make sure there is some humidity in the room. Maintain moisture so your body has a chance to recover in a nurturing environment.
It’s okay to open the window if you need a little bit of cool air, but you don’t want it to be too cold, either.
It’s recommended that your bedroom should be between 69 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re recovering from a cold.
Sit Up While You Sleep
Have you ever noticed that laying down on your side during a cold can sometimes make your symptoms feel worse? You may be able to breathe out of your nose a little bit when you’re sitting up, but as soon as you lay down, you get all stopped up.
This is because your sinuses actually have a better time recovering when your head is higher than your body. It’s all about gravity! So, next time you go to sleep with a cold, prop yourself up. You can sleep sitting up, and you may even feel better since you are avoiding postnasal drip during sleep.
Take Some Medicine
You can choose from a number of over-the-counter cold and flu medicines that work specifically well during the night time. If you are having trouble figuring out what the best medicine is to take, you can get in touch with our certified sleep specialists. Or, your pharmacy may be able to help you out.
Sleep By Yourself
When you have a cold, you don’t want to spread the virus to others – especially not to your loved ones. You may want to sleep separately from your partner for a while until you are recovered. Not only will this keep the nasty virus from spreading, but it will also allow you to take as much room as you need while you’re sick. You can cough, sneeze, and get up without disturbing anyone.
How to Sleep with a Cold and Get Over Sleep Disorders!
At Sleep MD, we are the leading advanced sleep institute in New York City. If you are having trouble sleeping through your cold symptoms, Dr. Mayank Shukla can help you with some much-needed care. After trying some of the suggestions listed above, get in touch with us for further assistance. You can contact us online or give us a call at (917) 746-3431 to schedule a consultation.
