Learn how to combat symptoms this cold and flu season

Nurse Barb Dehn offers tips on how to get the rest you need to stay healthy this cold, cough and flu season.

A majority (73.8 percent) of people include sleep among their primary therapies when suffering from a cold or flu, according to a survey from the makers of Vicks NyQuil and DayQuil Severe, but resting may be difficult, as more than half of the respondents said their ability to sleep well is negatively affected when suffering from a respiratory illness.

When a cold or flu strikes, Nurse Barb Dehn, R.N., M.S., N.P, practicing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Vicks Spokesperson, offers these helpful tips to get you the rest you need to fight the worst cold and flu symptoms:

• Take a hot shower before bed. Steam and humidity can help sinuses to drain and relieve stuffiness from a cold. It can also help you to relax. Put your towel and/or bathrobe in the dryer so that you don’t feel chilled when you get out, and make sure the room is nice and warm.

• Elevate the head of the bed. Use a large, wedge-shaped pillow to raise the upper body from the waist up in order to allow blood to flow away from the head and reduce inflammation of the air passages. Make sure not to raise the body more than six inches to avoid sliding out of the bed.

• Take a nighttime multi-symptom medication. My patients want fast, effective relief to help them get back to their busy lives. Look for a medication that can treat the toughest symptoms while also helping you rest. NyQuil Severe fights your worst cold and flu symptoms so you can get the rest you need to get back to being you. There is also DayQuil Severe for cold and flu suffers, who want to power through their day. For more information, visit www.vicks.com.

• Sleep on a schedule. Go to bed and wake up on a regular schedule. Plus, avoid stimulating beverages like caffeinated coffee or alcohol before going to sleep, as well as bright light from the screens on your phone, TV or other electronic devices.

• Try tea. Drinking an herbal tea such as chamomile, passionflower or other soothing teas before bed can help you relax while also getting helpful fluids into your system.