Written by: Everyone hates being sick.
And everyone gets angry when they can’t sleep well.
Which is a common issue when you have a cold.
But don’t worry, as I’m just about to share with you some tips on how to sleep with a cold. They literally save me every time I get sick, so I hope they will prove to be as helpful to you!
#1 Use Chest Rubs and Warming Creams
In my experience, the best way to sleep with a cold is using a special warming cream or gel before bed. Do you remember how your mom used to do that for you when you were little? Well, this method is just as effective now as it was then.
You see, those rubs and creams have special components that relieve some of the cold symptoms like coughing, chest pain, muscle pain, stuffy nose, etc. They often contain essential oils, menthol, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, etc. Not only can they help with cold symptoms but they also make you feel calmer and relaxed.
#2 Use Air Humidifier
These devices can make the air in your room more humid, which can actually help you breathe better when you have a stuffy nose or can’t stop coughing. Of course, a humidifier cannot help you get rid of the cold symptoms, but it’s a great way to sleep a bit better when you’re sick.
#3 Elevate Your Head
If you have a stuffy nose at night, you should sleep with your head elevated. You see, when your head is placed a bit higher than the rest of your body, the pressure in the sinuses drops. This reduces the swelling and allows you to breathe more freely. It will be much easier to fall asleep like that.
#4 Have a Hot Drink Right Before Bed
My mom used to treat me with a milk+butter+honey cocktail, which, I believe, has a Slavic origin. It tasted quite nasty to me because I really can’t stand melted butter. And the worst thing was I had to drink it in one go! But it worked magic, and I could peacefully drift off without coughing.
Actually, any hot beverage can reduce the swelling and help you with that nasty dry coughing. A more conventional option can be tea with lemon and honey. Lemon has vitamin C, which is known to strengthen your body overall when it’s fighting a cold, while honey works to suppress coughing, at least temporarily.
#5 Wear Socks in Bed
Did you know that keeping your feet warm can actually help you sleep better? Wearing socks in bed creates that feeling of coziness and comfort too, which can contribute to your sleep quality greatly.
#6 Take a Hot Shower
Obviously, a hot shower helps you relax before bed.
But it goes beyond that.
Firstly, the steam from the shower reduces the swelling in your nose and throat, thus allowing you to breathe better during sleep (and making your throat less sore). Secondly, hot water helps with muscle pain, which is a common issue for flu patients, especially those who cough all the time and experience chest and abdominal pain.
#7 Try Acupressure
Even though considered a non-traditional form of medicine, acupressure can be very effective in helping you relieve some of the symptoms.
To relieve sinus pressure and swelling, place your index fingers on the base parts of each side of the nose. Hold for a couple of minutes and release.
To deal with headaches caused by a stuffy nose, you can try pressing on the innermost corners of your eyebrows, right where your nose “meets” the forehead. Alternate applying and releasing pressure for a few minutes and see if it works.
#8 Eat Spicy Food
This little trick works great to relieve a stuffy nose temporarily. You see, some spices have a special agent called capsaicin, which is known to have a thinning effect on mucus. Typically, hot sauces and meals with chili pepper contain capsaicin. Keep in mind that mucus thinning will make your nose runnier. So, you might want to blow it a couple of times before going to bed.
#9 Rinse Your Nose with Salt Water
You can gargle with salt water too. This relieves throat pain and inflammation. Plus, it cleans the nose from mucus nicely. And yes, this method is not the most pleasant one. But it really works.
You need to mix around half a teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle it a couple of times. And to clean your nose, you can use a special Neti Pot or just a syringe (without the needle, of course).
#10 Use Essential Oils
If you can’t stop coughing at night or your nose is very stuffy, you don’t want to spend the whole night using nasal sprays or popping cough drops. What you can do instead is drip a few drops of essential oil on your pillow. You will inhale their subtle fumes during the night, and the oils will work to relieve your symptoms. Menthol, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils work the best for this purpose.
So, what are you willing to do to get relief and sleep well all through the night? What helps you fall asleep when you have a cold? You’re welcome to share your own tips below.
Additional resources:
This research is supported by you, our readers, through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission with no extra cost to you. Learn More