9 Sleep Tips When Feeling Sick & How to Recover Fast
Last Updated on April 8, 2021
by Marc Werner, Founder - GhostBed
Sleep is extremely important when feeling sick as getting one’s rest is often the best medicine to heal. With a head that is pounding and stuffed up it is helpful to follow tips for sleeping while sick in order to achieve the allusive shuteye.
I. How Feeling Sick Affects Sleep
II. 9 Sleep Tips When Feeling Sick
III. Pillow Support for Pregnant Sleepers
Attempting to find sleep when ill can be very difficult while battling a stuffy head and fever. Tossing and turning as the body fights to freak a fever or battle a migraine can hinder the ability to fall asleep.
Sleeping problems when sick is very common, but there are sleep tips that will help one find some relief. Utilizing some sleep tips while resting on a cool memory foam mattress will help the body heal as it drifts off to dreamland.
I. How Feeling Sick Affects Sleep
When feeling sick with the common cold or flu one can ache all over and feel like the head is going to explode from the congestion. With the congestion impeding breathing through the nose, causing one to breathe through the mouth, symptoms seem to get worse just as the body lays down to rest.
The aches and pains associated with a fever can cause major discomfort when the body is attempting to get much needed healing sleep. This is caused by the body releasing immune fighting factors into the bloodstream in an effort to mend itself.
Whether just a common cold, or an all-out flu, sleeping problems when sick is a universal issue that all ages must deal with throughout the world. Luckily these illnesses do have an end in sight when one knows they will be up and about again. To get through the stuffed up and achy stage it helps to use these 16 tips for sleeping while sick.
II. 9 Feeling Sick Sleep Tips
When treating sleep problem while sick one may first want to consult with a doctor to control pain and other issues that also may be working to disrupt slumber. Medications can be prescribed to work with a specific illness to help provide a respite from symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is usually no magic potions that will work to provide perfect relief. As a supplement to medicine there are several options one can try to help achieve a night of more peaceful sleep.
1) Quiet Please
Keeping noise down during sleep hours can help reduce stress and induce slumber. Make sure that the household understands the importance of keeping noise levels at bay when an ill one is sleeping. This includes loud TVs, music, talking, and alarms.
2) Hot Shower
The soothing hot shower can feel comforting on a body aching from an illness. The steamy shower also works wonderfully to clear congested nasal passages. After the shower put on comfy clean PJs and slip between the covers ready for sleep.
3) Salt Water Gargle
Grandma knows the best home remedies and salt is certainly at the top of the list. Simply by gargling with salt water is known to help decrease an upper respiratory tract infection that is causing dreaded congestion. Gargle with salt water several times a day and especially right before bedtime.
4) In the Dark
Although one does want to be aware as fare as treatments, it is vital to stay in the dark when it comes to finding a night of sleep. Make sure that the room has blackout window coverings to keep the morning sun from causing to wake too early, and to invite an afternoon nap.
5) Keep it Cool
Even those not suffering from illness struggle with a heated-up room keeping them awake. So, it stands to reason that an environment with a comfortable temperature will be more inviting for sleep. Keeping the room at a cooler temp can be soothing to help invite slumber. Even in a room that may have a bit more chill can provide more comfort when the sleeper is snug inside a comforter rather than kicking off bedding when woken in an overheated situation.
6) Watch Food and Drink
It is vital to stay hydrated as an avenue to healing but one should also make sure to avoid foods and drinks that may aggravate health and disrupt sleep, such as spicy foods and anything with caffeine. Chicken soup worked for grandma and it is the perfect remedy for a body fighting an illness.
Those who find that drinking liquids before bed only lead to waking for bathroom visits may wish to reduce fluids for a few hours before sleep. Be aware of what food and beverages may invite sleep – such as a cup of decaf herbal tea or warm milk, or even a treat of a freshly baked warm cookie.
7) Elevate the Head
Since the head gets even more congested when laying down it stands to reason that relief to sleep can be found simply by elevating the head. One can use a wedge pillow or prop a few pillows behind the head but for the most comfortable way to raise one’s head is to sleep on an adjustable bed frame. These bases work wonders for relieving body aches as well.
8) To Nap or Not to Nap
With sleep often the best medicine to getting over a sickness, the body often craves naps. It is important to listen to the body and give in to getting the rest it needs. It is often during these resting periods that a fever will break paving the way for wellness.
On the other hand, once the body begins healing, to assist in inviting a full night of sleep one may want to avoid the lure of a daytime nap. By skipping a nap the body will be more ready, and hopefully, more willing and able to achieve a full night of sleep.
9) Sleep Therapy
In addition to the medicine-free home remedies there are therapies that can be effective in helping one to find sleep. A trained sleep-disorder specialist can help using biofeedback, teaching relaxation exercises, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
III. Conclusion: Sleep Better
Attempting to slumber while sick can often be difficult, but, ultimately, it can also be a best remedy to healing. Utilizing sleep tips will help in finding comfort for the body to drift off to dreamland.
In addition to using tips for sleeping while sick one will certainly find relief resting on a comforting GhostBed Luxe memory foam bed with cooling GhostBed pillows. The final sleep tip for comfort is slipping into a clean freshly made bed with quality sheets and bedding.

After undergoing three neck surgeries, Marc knew what it was like to live and sleep in constant pain. In 2001, after searching fruitlessly for a comfortable pillow and mattress that supported his neck and back ... Learn More
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