The best sleeping position when sick is often elevated, using pillows or a wedge to raise your head and chest, which promotes sinus drainage and reduces post-nasal drip that can cause coughing, while sleeping on your side (especially the left) can help with nausea and digestion. Elevating your upper body helps gravity clear nasal passages and keeps mucus from pooling in your throat, while side sleeping prevents choking if you vomit.
If you feel like you're going to throw up, sleep on your side with your head elevated. 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.
You can make it easier for gravity to do its job by elevating your head and shoulders when you sleep. You can use several pillows to support your back and shoulders. A wedge pillow works especially well. Sleeping on your side is another decent option, especially if you're congested on one side of your nose.
These simple self-help tips may help you to feel less nauseous and get a better night's sleep:
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (especially the final month) is physically demanding with discomfort, frequent urination, sleep issues, and anxiety about labor, making the last few months incredibly challenging for most. The second trimester often offers relief, but back pain and heartburn can begin, Cleveland Clinic notes.
Here's what to do: First, when you're feeling nauseous, avoid lying down. When you lie flat on your back, gastric juices can rise and increase feelings of nausea and overall discomfort. Instead, when you're nauseous, try reclining with your upper body elevated and moving around as little as possible.
The 3-2-1 bedtime method is a simple sleep hygiene strategy: stop eating 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, and stop using screens (phones, tablets, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping your body transition to rest by reducing stimulants and digestive load for better sleep quality. A more detailed version adds 10 hours (no caffeine) and 0 (no snoozing) for a 10-3-2-1-0 rule.
Between elevated temperatures and increased sweating, dehydration is something to avoid when you have a fever. Caffeine and alcohol can make your symptoms worse (especially stomach-related symptoms), so I'd recommend sipping on water and other clear liquids throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Choose immune-boosting nutrients
Sleeping on your left side with your head elevated can help prevent further episodes of vomiting and reduce the risk of acid reflux, which is common after vomiting. This position aids in digestion and helps keep stomach contents from rising up, providing a more comfortable rest.
Keep your room warm but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and ease congestion and coughing. Keep the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds. Soothe your throat.
Avoid salty foods, alcohol, coffee and sugary drinks, which can be dehydrating. Ice chips are another simple way to stay hydrated and calm a scratchy throat. Gargle with salt water.
Five signs of a weak immune system include frequent infections, slow-healing wounds, persistent fatigue, ongoing digestive issues, and getting sick with things that last a long time, like a cold that lingers or severe infections requiring strong treatment. These indicate your body struggles to fight off pathogens or repair itself effectively.
Cold remedies that work
A study from the University of Southern California has revealed that fasting for 72 hours can trigger a complete regeneration of the immune system.
Foods to Avoid When Sick
While drinking soft drinks like Sprite can be soothing to the stomach for some, its carbonation can be irritating for others. Soda's high sugar content means it's maybe not the healthiest or best drink for nausea, but it can provide quick relief.
If you have a severe infection or are at high risk of complications from a flu infection, your healthcare professional may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat the flu. These medicines can include oseltamivir (Tamiflu), baloxavir (Xofluza) and zanamivir (Relenza). You take oseltamivir and baloxavir by mouth.
The 80/20 Rule means that you stick to your healthy, consistent sleep schedule 80% of the time. You then can make exceptions to your schedule 20% of the time. The 80/20 Rule allows you to “live life” and enjoy those special moments with your family.
In his piece, he revealed that through his years of research, he's found that rumination is the biggest thing that causes poor sleep. He says that being worried about something at night has affected his own ability to fall asleep.
The koala is the animal that sleeps approximately 90% of the day (20-22 hours), a necessity due to its low-energy eucalyptus diet requiring intensive digestion, making it the ultimate champion of sleep in the animal kingdom, followed closely by sloths and bats.
Stay home and rest
Your body needs to battle what is ailing you. “Extra sleep can help your immune system function at its best and potentially shorten the duration of your illness,” says Heather Finn, MD, of Upstate Family and Preventive Medicine. “It can also help prevent you from becoming sick in the first place.”
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep can all strengthen your immune system. Reducing your stress levels can also boost your resistance to disease and infections. Staying up to date on vaccinations gives you the most protection against those pathogens.