Sleeping position

[Janny1]

Has anyone considered a different sleeping position. Sleeping upright on my back just made me cough and wheeze more.So I have tried sleeping prone ie on my tummy. I still cough but hardly wheezing and slept a bit more.It also helps bring up any phlegm easier I did this when I had Covid and it helped.

I am not suggesting everyone tries it particularly if there is any cardiac history but its helps me so far

[CallysMum]

Hi Janny1, I too have found different positions have an effect... if I lie on either of my sides, (which is my favourite position) I cough. If I lay on my back, it is much reduced. But it is a boring position :-(. I think the mucus is still produced, as even then I cough like a steam train when I get up), but at least it allows me to actually sleep. But I will try sleeping on my front to see if that helps me too.

[Leith24 in reply to CallysMum]

Hi, a paediatric consultant friend of mine said that if your neck can manage it, sleeping prone is by far the best way to support breathing and lung function. Apparently it was always a position recommended but due to sudden infant death syndrome campaigning (a small but awful chance for some babies to block their breathing this way up) was discouraged for newborns and then gradually fell out of favour with the rest of the population. It is the position recommended for adults struggling with breathing through Covid in hospital, as it helps the lungs to expand and clear. I did this with a chest infection and it really helped me, although had to use no pillow or very flat pillow.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS AS MEDICAL ADVICE AND SPEAK WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL REGARDING SLEEPING POSITIONS FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN

[Caswarth in reply to Leith24]

As an 85 yr old I remember well the time before there was any treatment at all available for asthma. I could not lie down in bed but found the best position for breathing was sitting on a hard chair and leaning forward with my elbows propped up on the dining table. By about 4 a.m. as the attack eased I could lie on my side with my arm above my head and try to get some sleep. This would go on for week after week in the summer months and I used to say that at that age of 19 I felt like 90. . Th anks to modern inhalers I can breathe better now than I could in my teens and sleep better too though I still cannot lie on my back.

[Nmstoday in reply to Leith24]

A friend of mine who was also a paed always used to tell me to sleep on my front with a pillow under my chest so head slightly downwards - uncomfortable if you are a woman but I used to find it helpful if I was coughing a lot at night - it was what they suggested to children with cystic fibrosis as it helps the phlegm move from your chest.

[Beetle53]

Hi when I'm particularly bad and finding sleeping a challenge because of a barking cough... I tend to sleep propped up on a bean bag😊 works better than pillows for me. Also keeps back of my chest warm which helps.