When you have the flu, sleep at night is no easy task. Feeling like the symptoms of a cold are getting too much, such as nasal congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, and even headaches. According to MD Bruna Santana, this isn’t just an impression: it’s actually happening. Read on to find out how flu symptoms get worse at night and how to ease them.
Why are flu symptoms worse at night?
According to the doctor, cold and flu symptoms, especially coughs, are worse at night, especially at bedtime, for two reasons. First of all, when we lie down, our body increases blood circulation in the facial area. Thus, due to the situation in which we find ourselves, this causes edema, that is, swelling of the upper respiratory tract, bad breath, and therefore aggravates the cough.
The second reason is postnasal drip, which occurs when there is a buildup of nasal secretions. Therefore, this flow returns to the throat and can reach the lower respiratory tract. In this way, this process causes a very irritating cough that contains secretions. Therefore, we feel the worst symptoms at night when we are sleep.
How to sleep better even with the Flu
To prevent or alleviate symptoms, dr. Brunna recommends this nasal wash. “It is very important to do this, especially when there is discharge in the upper respiratory tract, as this discharge can reach the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia, or travel to the ear canals, causing ear infection and even sinusitis,” he says. she. He says.
Thus, the nose can be washed with saline solution or saline solution can be applied in one of the nostrils with the help of a syringe designed for this purpose. And so, it is enough to inject the solution until the liquid comes out of the other nostril, repeating the process several times.
The applied solution helps to reduce accumulated mucus in the nose and significantly improves breathing.
In addition to Dr. Brunna, other home methods help reduce discomfort caused by nasal congestion, namely:
Warm compresses on the nose: Simply moisten a washcloth or towel with warm water and place it on the nose for 15 minutes. This method is recommended up to 3 times a day;
Consume hot drinks: In this way, the steam from the drinks will help to decongest the respiratory tract;
Hot Showers – Have you ever stepped into the shower and noticed a relief from your congestion? This habit really helps to open up a stuffy nose, because, like a hot drink, it releases steam and clears the airways.
Lastly, remember to keep your air conditioner at room temperature or at least not too cold, and keep your air filter cleaned frequently to prevent nasal congestion, recommends dr. Bruna. To help recover from the flu, drink plenty of water to thin secretions.
