When you’re sick, your body cells produce molecular messengers (cytokines) that help fight the infection.
As reported by the National Institute of Health, NIH, sickness changes our sleep patterns. In most cases, we tend to sleep more when we are sick. This article helps you know why you feel sleepy after catching flu, fever, or other infection, the benefits of sleep, and sleeping tips.
Causes Of Sleepiness When Sick
Your body needs enough quality sleep to be physically and mentally healthy. In fact, to feel sleepy when sick is an immune response. When you’re sick, your body cells produce molecular messengers (cytokines) that help fight the infection. These cytokines promote sleepiness.
In addition, defending and repairing the body is an energy-consuming process. So, the body induces sleep to conserve the energy needed for such a process.
Advantages Of Sleep When Sick
Your immune system recognizes and destroys harmful microorganisms that invade your body to help you avoid sickness. That said, sleep deprivation affects the way your immune mechanism functions. In this regard, defensive cells may not strike as rapidly, and you may become ill more frequently.
Furthermore, having more quality sleep can help you prevent feeling exhausted and worn out, as well as spending days in bed as your body recovers.
What’s “Enough Sleep” For A Sick Person
Mental health experts recommend sleeping for roughly eight hours for a healthy adult. The experts attribute lack of sleep to hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Although sleeping for long hours ( over 10 hours a day) may not be necessary, it is helpful for a sick person.
Additional Tips On How To Sleep When Sick:
- Avoid Caffeinated Cold Medication: Cough syrups and other cold medication can help you recover quickly, but be careful not to choose those with stimulants likely to prevent you from sleeping.
- Sleep With Your Head Raised: This allows your nasal passages to open up and relieves head pressure. Just make sure your head isn’t elevated so high that it hurts your neck.
- Take A Warm Shower Before Bed: This can help you relax while breaking up mucus, thus making it easier to breathe.
- Moisten The Air In Your Bedroom: Dry, congested, or stuffy air worsens flu, coughs, and other respiratory ailments and disrupts sleep. You see, this can be achieved by using a humidifier or vaporizer in the bedroom and helping to keep nasal passages open.
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