The body needs as much energy as possible to fight off the infection and repair damage. For this reason, it is important to rest, allowing the immune system to work and cells to repair as quickly as possible. Anyone with stomach flu should rest during the day and get a good night's sleep each night.
Sleeping with the Stomach Flu or Nausea
Try distracting yourself with a podcast or streaming show. And get as comfortable as possible. This may mean sleeping at an incline or on your side, especially the left side because it keeps the stomach acid lower in the esophagus.
While you have a stomach bug, you should be lying or sitting down as much as possible. Take it easy and give your body time to rest.
There's not always a specific treatment, so you have to let the illness run its course. You don't usually need to get medical advice, unless your symptoms don't improve or there's a risk of a more serious problem. There are things you can do to help ease your symptoms.
Getting extra sleep when you're sick doesn't just give you a few hours of respite from unpleasant symptoms: Sleep is like medicine for the immune system, ultimately helping you make a full recovery from an illness. “Sleep is the only time of anyone's day or night where we have restoration processes happening.
Whether you're dealing with the common cold, the flu or a stomach bug, you've probably noticed that your symptoms feel worse at night. You're not imagining things. Research suggests that your body's circadian rhythms—as well as some other factors—can exacerbate your symptoms after sundown.
If your partner gets the infection, that snuggling sesh is definitely a no-go — mostly because bae will probably be spending most of their time in the bathroom. (Gross but true.)
To kill the virus and prevent it from spreading, health experts recommend thorough cleaning and disinfecting. This will usually involve washing hands with soap and water, disinfecting surfaces with a bleach solution, and cleaning clothing in the hottest setting.
Sleeping on your side with your head raised can ease symptoms and keep you from choking on your vomit, if you're unable to make it to the bathroom in time.
There is no real cure for a stomach bug (viral gastroenteritis) because it is caused by a virus. Most people don't need medical treatment and symptoms will go away on their own within a few days, though in some people symptoms may last up to 10 days.
Most of the time, diarrhea is simply your gut's way of getting rid of a harmful invader, like a bacteria or virus.
Norovirus. With norovirus — the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in adults — you're contagious when you begin to feel ill. Symptoms usually appear within one to two days of exposure.
Generally, symptoms will be most severe in the first day or two of the illness. Sipping on water or a low-sugar electrolyte drink will help prevent dehydration. “For most patients, if they're able to rest and stay hydrated, and if the nausea and vomiting resolve within 24 to 48 hours, they should be fine,” Dr.
Many people only experience these symptoms for 24 hours, but it is not uncommon for 24-hour stomach bugs to last longer than 1 day. In adults, a case of viral gastroenteritis typically lasts 1–3 days. In children, stomach bugs can last up to 12 days, depending on the cause.
The illness typically comes on suddenly. The infected person may feel very sick and vomit often, sometimes without warning, many times a day.
No matter the root cause of your nausea or nauseous symptoms, you should usually try to sleep on your left side. Why? Your stomach is located below and slightly to the left of your esophagus and diaphragm. When you sleep on your left side, gravity can help settle your stomach.
Struggling with the stomach flu
Sleep on your side with your head elevated: If you find yourself vomiting a lot, then sleep on your side with your head elevated.
“Generally by day two or three, you may start feeling hungry if your nausea has improved,” says Dr. Wong. “It's a good sign that your body is recovering.” It's recommended to go on a bland diet with foods that are easier on your digestive system like BRAT, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
The initial stages start with chills, fever, and nausea, which transition into vomiting, diarrhea, and aches and pains. It's awful, and there is no cure. Stomach flu has to run its course. The sickness usually passes in about 10 days without medication.
Caffeine contracts your intestines, which can make diarrhea worse, Dr. Lipold notes. Avoid alcohol altogether: Alcoholic beverages act as a diuretic and can aggravate your stomach even more. Don't eat hard-to-digest foods: When you have the stomach flu steer clear of fatty, greasy, spicy and acidic foods.