It's hard to sleep when you have a constant cough and are feeling lousy. The good news is that there are some things you can do to make it a little easier to sleep when you have bronchitis. Here are some tips to help you get through the nights.
Bronchitis is an infection that affects your upper respiratory system and puts a lot of stress on your throat and lungs. Using a humidifier makes it easier for your throat and lungs to relax and helps you breathe. You can purchase a small humidifier online or at a local drug store that can help add moisture to the air you are breathing overnight. Just be sure to clean it often as the sitting water can get polluted and crystallize over time.
When you are fighting off bronchitis, it's important to remove any irritants from your home, especially your bedroom while you are sleeping. Keep pets out of your room because their dander can make you feel worse. Avoid using any perfumes, scented candles or other products that might irritate your respiratory system.
Expose yourself to hot steam before you go to bed. Whether it's in the form of a shower, bath or steaming your face over a pot of hot water, you will definitely benefit from it. Steam helps to break up the mucous in your lungs and clear up some problems that bronchitis causes. Even 10 or 15 minutes of steam can really make a difference in how well you sleep.
Drinking hot tea can have the same effects as steam. Choose a herbal tea without caffeine that won't keep you up. Teas with chamomile, eucalyptus and other calming herbs are especially good for helping ensure you get a good night of sleep.
Talk to your doctor about your bronchitis symptoms. If you are really suffering, it might be necessary to take pain medication. Some over-the-counter medications are great for helping with bronchitis pain but in some cases it might be necessary to get prescription painkillers or antibiotics in order to help you get a good night's sleep.
Sleep is important to recovering from bronchitis so if you are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about different solutions that can help you feel better more quickly.
