How to Sleep With a Cough or a Cold

Key Takeaways If your cold or cough gets worse at night, it can be beneficial to use cough medicine or a humidifier and elevate your head and neck. You may experience a cough that gets worse at night due to postnasal drip, which often accompanies a cold. Getting plenty of sleep can help you recover from a cold and decrease your risk of getting sick. Each year, up to 30 million doctor’s visits occur to address coughing. Many people also likely experience coughing without seeking treatment, as it is a symptom of the common cold, flu, and several other common respiratory viruses.. When you have a cough, you might notice it interfering with your sleep. Thankfully, there are actions you can take to help yourself obtain the sleep you need to feel better.