When youre sick why is it worse at night

Thus, symptoms probably worsen during sleep hours, when our immune systems shift into overdrive. Our immunity systems work fulltime, Huffington Post reports:. The worsening of symptoms at night are made noticeable by the fact that during the day, your immune system tends to mellow out.

On the flip side of being up and about during the day, at nighttime we tend to lay down or recline, which experts agree will cause your cold or flu symptoms to worsen, namely because your mucus has nowhere to drain. Help yourself out by adding an extra pillow which will help promote sinus drainage, some experts suggest.

Your daily life can be extremely hectic, with little time for yourself. In evenings when you have time to relax and unwind, however, is when the mind has time to wander. Herbal remedies, over-the-counter medicine and vitamins may help, but nothing does the trick like rest, fluids and antioxidant-rich foods, Mayo Clinic advised. Bailey King PhillyVoice Staff. Women's Health.

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Also, lying down could stoke some congestion-related symptoms. If congestion is your biggest issue, it may be helpful to elevate your head with a few pillows, he says. This can help your mucus drain, preventing a big build-up in the back of your throat or in your sinuses. And because you drink less at night than you do during the day, nighttime snot can become viscous and clog your nose and airways. Drink plenty of fluids during the day to keep your mucus thin and watery, not thick and gunky, Smolensky says.

Another remedy: take something to treat your most bothersome symptoms. Whether you rely on over-the-counter decongestants or natural curatives like chicken soup which research has linked to a drop in inflammation among people with respiratory tract infections , these common therapies can provide short-term relief, says Dr. Jeffrey Steinbauer, a professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. So using all the weapons at your disposal to ease your nocturnal symptoms is a smart idea.

Contact us at letters time. By Markham Heid. As a result, your white blood cells readily detect and fight infections in your body at this time, provoking the symptoms of the infection to surface, such as fever, congestion, chills, or sweating.

Therefore, you feel sicker during the night. A couple of other things to consider are the natural differences we experience during the day and at night:. Keeping your body upright can make a world of difference for your congestion and breathing, by helping to drain mucous from your airway.

During the day you are naturally more upright, as you go about your routine, while at night you eventually lay down to sleep. Try adding an extra pillow to raise your head higher and promote sinus drainage.

As you have heard many times, the best thing to do when you are sick is to rest. Otherwise, you will be stressing out and elevating your cortisol levels. When you feel sick, turn to the doctors at Intercoastal Medical Group.