Getting the Sleep You Need When Sick
By Donna Stark
Did you wake up this morning with the chills, a fever, and some muscle aches? Is your head pounding and does your skin hurt? Whether you have caught yourself a very bad cold or the dreaded flu, you are bound to receive countless suggestions on how to get better. And let's be honest here your loved ones are probably already headed to the store to buy you medicine, orange juice, and the ingredients for homemade chicken noodle soup, aren't they? But the most important thing you can do to get better quickly is to get plenty of rest. Even if that means you need to stay in bed all day.
How to Get Quality Rest
Your body is up against an enemy right now and if you want it to win this battle, you have to give it plenty of rest. But getting quality sleep while you are feeling like junk can be difficult, can't it? After all, how can you relax if you can't breathe, stop coughing, or get comfortable in bed? Here are some tips on how to score some great rest.
- Medicine - It's always a good idea to make sure the medicine you take will actually help with the symptoms you are experiencing. A cough suppressant won't help with your head pain and a pain-reliever won't alleviate your congestion. Taking the right medicines for the symptoms you have will help you find the relief you need to secure quality rest.
- Pillows - If congestion is causing you some problems, sleeping on an incline could help. When you lie flat on your bed, pressure can build which can lead to headaches, throat irritation, and a cough. Try to stack a couple of pillows on top of one another or if you have one, use a foam wedge to lift your upper body.
- Humidifiers - Humidifiers are a great way to add moisture to the air which can soothe your nasal passages and calm your cough. If you don't have access to a humidifier though, you can always take a hot shower or sip on a steaming hot cup of tea.
- Lifelines - There is nothing worse than getting to the point of almost falling asleep and then needing to get out of bed to grab a tissue or a glass of water. By keeping those lifelines next to you and within reach, it may be easier to get back to your dreams. Items you should consider are water, tissues, throat lozenges, pain relievers, and a thermometer.
Feeling Better With Better Sleep
Making sure you get quality rest while feeling under the weather is exactly what you need to do, so after your loved ones come back with everything from the store, head on back to bed! It's the best, and only, place you should be right now!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Charles, Mo.