The stages of a sinus infection
Before we get started, the diagram below demonstrates the stages of a sinus infection, so you can have a clearer understanding of why you might be sleeping with a blocked nose.
Advice on how to sleep with sinusitis
Is your nose blocked at night? Whether your sinusitis and nasal congestion at night is caused by infection, allergies such as pollen, pet hair or dust mite allergy, or environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke or air pollution, here are some of the things you can do to help when you’re struggling to relieve symptoms and sleeping with a blocked nose. Find out how to sleep with sinusitis, and how to clear a stuffy nose while sleeping below.
How to sleep with a stuffy nose
If you’re struggling with nasal congestion at night, it can make for a miserable few hours of tossing and turning, and it’s no surprise that lying down in bed increases the problem. When you’re on your back, the mucus will collect in your sinuses, causing increased pressure in an already tender area. So what is the best sleeping position for sinus drainage? By lifting your head with an extra pillow, you’ll find that this will relieve sinusitis, as gravity will run its course and help to drain the mucus, letting you breathe more easily.
If you're still unsure on how to sleep with a stuffy nose and an extra pillow tends to give you a stiff neck, why not try our Chatsworth or Organic Washable Wool Pillows? You can increase the firmness by adding extra wool balls of stuffing to give your head a bit more of a lift.
How to sleep with a stuffy nose? Start by preparing yourself before bed.
Sleeping with a blocked nose or sinusitis is never easy, but there are a few things you can try in the run up to bedtime to make sure that you’re not too congested to sleep. Find out how to clear a stuffy nose while sleeping with our top tips:
- Keep your nasal passages moist: Create a steam bath by filling a bowl with boiling water. Put a towel over your head and breath in the steam for 5-15 minutes. Add eucalyptus or peppermint oil to the water to help soothe and open up your nasal passages to make sleeping with a blocked nose that little bit easier.
TOP TIP: Avoid using menthol oil as it can cause further sinusitis and sleep issues, including swelling and irritation.
- Blow your nose gently before bed: Try not to blow repeatedly and aggressively, as you will find it irritates the nasal passages and can make the problem worse.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated can reduce the discomfort of having your nose blocked at night by helping to stop the mucus from becoming too thick.
- Tackle allergies: One of the most common reasons for sinusitis and other kinds of sinus pain is a dust mite allergy, or sensitivity to other microbes or fungal spores, especially during the winter months. These allergens like to live in your bedding, mattress and other soft furnishings, causing a stuffy nose and breathing issues when you’re shut in a room with them overnight.
What's the best bedding for sleeping with a blocked nose?
If you struggle with dust mite allergy or nasal congestion at night, try switching your synthetic bedding out for wool duvets and pillows. Wool bedding is naturally hypoallergenic, and capable of wicking moisture and humidity away into the atmosphere – making it a hostile environment for dust mites and other allergens. This makes it the perfect choice if you’re wondering how to sleep with sinusitis or a stuffy nose caused by a common household allergen.
More tips on how to sleep with sinusitis
Knowing how to sleep with sinusitis can be troublesome. But don’t forget, it’s worth trying out some of our more general tips to help you sleep better at night – these should help you get better quality sleep, and help you settle quicker after your head hits the pillow. After all, you’ll try anything when you’re battling with the pain of sinusitis. For more information on how to sleep with a stuffy nose visit our Sleep Health & Advice hub for information on allergies at night or the best bedding for allergies. Nose blocked at night? Browse our full range of wool bedding by clicking the image below.
