Nytol Original

When you're full of a cold, you need plenty of rest to help fight the ensuing infection. But the symptoms of a cold can make it harder for you to get the rest your body needs.A blocked nose, tight chest, sore throat and general fatigue can make it difficult to get comfortable and keep you awake.Luckily, there are many ways to alleviate the symptoms of a cold, allowing you to sleep better.Use a decongestantWhen you have a stuffy nose, you may find it harder to breathe. While there are many natural ways of clearing a blocked nose, you may find fast and effective relief from the use of a decongestant nasal spray.Decongestant sprays containing xylometazoline, such as Otrivine or Sudafed, can be easily purchased over the counter from pharmacies in the UK.These sprays work by opening the blood vessels in the nose, which become inflamed due to an allergy or infection, and the effects can last for up to 12 hours, depending on the brand.Use nasal stripsAn alternative to a decongestant spray is nasal strips. These small strips are adhered directly onto the nose above the flare of the nostrils. Athletes often use nasal strips to improve breathing, and individuals with snoring use them to treat the condition.They contain small, flexible spines which stretch across the nose and pull the nasal passages open, making it easier to breathe. Nasal strips can be bought over the counter from most chemists.Put on a nasal strip just before you go to bed to help you breathe more easily while you sleep. Remove the strip in the morning with warm, soapy water.Have a soothing hot drinkIt's important to drink plenty of fluids when you have a cold. Before bed, drink something warm, such as tea, hot chocolate, malt drink (Horlicks), or natural soups - particularly chicken soup, which is rich in protein, and tomato soup, which is rich in vitamin C. The steam can help to clear the mucus from your nose, and the warm fluid can help ease a sore throat and warm you up during the cold and flu season. Plus, the great taste is sure to perk you up when you're not feeling your best.A popular home remedy is a hot ginger, lemon and honey drink, often called lemon and honey tea despite containing no tea leaves. Simply mix hot water with lemon juice, ginger extract and honey. The lemon juice provides vitamins and decongesting properties, while the honey and ginger help to soothe a sore throat.Cold and flu drinks, such as Lemsip, can also be bought from chemists. These are often small powder sachets which are mixed with hot water. These drinks contain paracetamol to help relieve headaches and muscle aches, which are common symptoms of colds and flus. If you are taking a cold and flu treatment that contains paracetamol, do not take other medications which also contain paracetamol.Lozenges and cough syrupsAn incessant cough can cause your throat to become sore and disrupt your sleep. Depending on the type of cough you have, whether it's dry, mucous, or chesty, will determine the kind of syrup you should take. Speak to your pharmacist if you are unsure which type of cough you have and which treatment would be best for you.Some syrups are formulated with codeine to offer more effective pain relief from a dry or chesty cough. Codeine is an opioid which is used to relieve pain, treat diarrhoea and suppress coughs, and is found in a range of products. However, codeine is addictive. Before taking any products which contain codeine, it's important to speak to your doctor or a pharmacist about the dangers of codeine.Other cough syrups, such as Night Nurse Liquid, combine paracetamol (which relieves pain and reduces fever), a cough suppressant and a sedating antihistamine, which helps you get a good night's sleep. You can buy Night Nurse over the counter from your local pharmacy or online from Prescription Doctor.Alternatively, a lozenge may help to soothe your throat. Lozenges containing menthol (peppermint oil) and/or eucalyptol (eucalyptus oil), such as Lockets, Strepsils, Soothers and Halls, are available from chemists, corner shops and supermarkets. They are available in a range of flavours, and some are filled with a liquid centre. Much like syrups, you may find different types of lozenges for various types of cough. For the best results, choose the treatment that corresponds to the kind of cough you have - this information is usually found on the packaging.Be careful when choosing syrups and lozenges, as some can contain high amounts of sugar. You may want to ask your pharmacist for a sugar-free option if your doctor has advised you to reduce your sugar intake.Have a hot bath or showerA hot bath or shower before bed can help with symptoms of the common cold.Firstly, the steam can help with decongestion by cleaning out the mucus in your nose.Secondly, the warm water can help treat mild muscle aches you may have.To make your bath more effective in alleviating your symptoms, try adding a few drops of essential oil to your bathwater.Essential oilsAromatherapy is a popular home remedy for treating the symptoms of various conditions. It involves diffusing essential oils in hot water and breathing in the vapours. Always use caution with essential oils as they can cause irritation on the skin.Take a bowl of hot steaming water and add a few drops of essential oil. Peppermint, lavender or eucalyptus are popular choices for decongestion. Placing your face a few inches above the bowl, cover both your head and the bowl with a towel.Close your eyes and slowly breathe in through your nose for 2 minutes at a time. The steam and ingredients in the oil will help relieve your blocked nose quickly and promote relaxation before bed.Alternatively, you may want to use a vapour lotion or gel. These mentholated topical treatments can help unblock your sinuses and make breathing easier at night.To use them, apply some lotion to your chest, neck, and upper back immediately before going to bed. Vapour rubs, such as Vicks VapoRub, are available from most chemists.What is Menthol?Menthol is a substance extracted from mint plants.It is found in a wide variety of products, including Benylin, Covonia, Strepsils and Vick's VapoRub.While menthol doesn't actually decongest your nose, it makes it feel like you are breathing more easily, and provides a pleasant cooling sensation when applied to the skin, inhaled, or ingested.Keep your head uprightLying down can exacerbate breathing difficulties and make it harder for you to fall asleep. If your cold is affecting your chest, you should consider adopting a different sleeping posture.One sleeping posture, often used to help alleviate shortness of breath, is to lie on your side in a fetal position with your head elevated and a pillow placed between your knees. If you prefer to sleep on your back, elevate your head with a few pillows and put a pillow under your knees.While in one of these positions, breathe slowly and deeply as you drift off to sleep.TemperatureWhen you have a cold, you may feel you are more sensitive to temperature and humidity in the air. A bedroom that is too warm and dry can exacerbate your cold symptoms and make it harder to sleep.It's essential to maintain good sleep hygiene when you're unwell to enhance the quality of your sleep.Keep your bedroom cool. You may want to open a window, turn on the air conditioner, or place a fan in your room to gently circulate cool air throughout the space.While you may want to wrap up and stay warm in bed while fighting a cold, the warmth may actually disrupt your sleeping pattern.The NHS recommends that your bedroom should be approximately 18° Celsius, with a maximum temperature of 24° Celsius, for optimal sleep.HumidityTo combat air dryness, consider using a humidifier in your room while you sleep.Humidifiers emit a cool mist into the air and can help moisturise dry skin, clear blocked sinuses and make it easier to breathe.Be careful, however, as excessive humidity can cause condensation on walls and ceilings, which can foster the growth of harmful bacteria and exacerbate symptoms in those susceptible to mould allergies.Things to avoidWhen you are ill, there are many things that can make you feel worse and drastically affect the quality of your sleep.Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and energy drinks, can significantly impact your sleep patterns. Before bed, try to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages and opt instead for fruit, herbal tea, hot chocolate, malt drinks, and soups.A popular misconception is that milk can increase the amount of mucus in the body when you have a cold. Although drinking milk will not increase the amount of mucus, it can thicken the mucus in your nose and throat. You may want to limit your dairy consumption while you have a cold.Alcohol can cause dehydration and generally make you feel worse if you are already feeling under the weather. It may also interact with medication you are taking for your cold symptoms, resulting in adverse side effects or simply rendering them ineffective. Therefore, you should avoid alcohol while you are battling a cold.Which treatment is best for me?Everybody is different, and you may find yourself using more than one of these tips to ease your symptoms.If you are unsure about which cold treatments are right for you, speak to your pharmacist about the symptoms you are experiencing, so they can suggest the right treatment for you.Having a cold can interrupt your sleeping pattern, leaving you feeling worse the next day. However, with the right treatments, you can manage your symptoms and enjoy a better night's sleep.

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. According to a well-being report by the UK insurance company Aviva, a third of Britons suffer from insomnia. Some 67% of respondents reported having disturbed sleep, and 51% stated that they do not get enough sleep.On average, the people in the study slept for less than 6.5 hours of the recommended 8 hours a night. Doctor Neil Stanley pointed the finger at the UK's "24-hour society", in which people are employed around the clock to work all hours of the day to satisfy demand.For most people, a change in habit is all that is needed to get a good night's sleep. Here, we'll discuss some ways to help you fall asleep.Firstly, it's important to understand your circadian rhythm. This is your body's natural biological clock, which tells you when you should be awake and when you should be asleep. Throughout the day, the body produces a hormone called melatonin, which induces sleepiness. If you disturb your circadian rhythm for too long, it can have a detrimental impact on your health.So, how can you ensure you get a good night's sleep?Sleep ritualsGoing to sleep and waking up at the same time each day can help synchronise your circadian rhythm with the natural 24-hour day/night cycle.Setting an alarm for the same time each day, including weekends, can help reset your body clock and improve your sleep quality. In much the same way that bedtime routines are important for the cognitive development of children, adults should have a distinct bedtime ritual. This could be taking a relaxing bath before bed or reading a chapter or two of a book.Organising yourself the night before is a great way to get into the habit of a bedtime routine and can help you de-stress before you're about to get tucked in. Preparing your lunch and putting it in the fridge, packing your bag with all the essential items you'll need tomorrow or making an organised list of what needs to be done before getting some shut-eye can greatly reduce stress that would otherwise interrupt your sleep.Many sleep therapists advise only using your bed for sleeping and sex so that your brain only associates these two activities with your bed.DietAvoid caffeine in the afternoon. Caffeine is a stimulant which can keep your brain activated. When consumed, it can trigger a fight-or-flight response in the body, as caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain, increasing the activity of nerve cells. This activity causes your pituitary gland to release adrenaline into the bloodstream, which excites and stimulates your brain and body.If you eat too soon before bed without giving your body time to digest the food, you may cause unwanted sleep disturbances, such as indigestion. If you feel peckish before bedtime, try eating a small bowl of whole-grain, low-sugar cereal such as muesli. Plain popcorn is also a light snack high in tryptophan, a chemical which helps neurotransmitters in the brain to release serotonin into the body. If you're thirsty, try drinking hot, milky beverages like tea or hot chocolate.Though alcohol can make you feel drowsy and tired, the sleep you experience will not be of sufficient quality and can leave you feeling tired in the morning.Drinking too much liquid throughout the day or in the evening can disrupt your sleep due to the need for frequent trips to the bathroom. While it's essential to stay hydrated, limit your liquid intake in the evening. It's also a good idea to use the bathroom just before going to bed to reduce the chances of needing to get up in the middle of the night.ExerciseExercising during the day can help you sleep better at night. It may take a few months of frequent exercise before you feel the benefits, but moderate exercise during the day can stimulate your brain, keeping you awake until it's time for bed.Try to avoid vigorous exercises within 4 hours of bedtime, as this can increase cortisol levels in the body, a hormone that promotes wakefulness. In the morning, our cortisol levels are high to wake us up, but throughout the day, the levels of this hormone in the body slowly deplete as melatonin takes over.If you can only exercise in the evening, consider yoga or gentle stretches.The effect of lightThe production of melatonin is directly linked to the amount of sunlight you are exposed to throughout the day. Bright sunlight in the morning induces wakefulness, and dim lights in the evening induce sleepiness. Managing your exposure to light is important if you want to get a restful night's sleep.In the evening, dim the lights and limit your exposure to bright light. Exposing yourself to a darker environment triggers your pineal gland to secrete melatonin, helping you transition into a state of sleepiness.According to a study conducted by Deloitte, over half of the respondents reported using their phone before going to bed. Half of those involved in the study, ages 18-24, admitted to using their phone in bed. Moreover, 58% of people said they start using their phone within 15 minutes of getting up.There are many reasons why you should put down your smartphone before going to bed. Simply put, the blue light emitted from your smart devices suppresses the production of melatonin, keeping you awake. To improve your sleep quality, it's best to avoid using your smartphone before bed.The optimal sleeping environmentKeep your bedroom cool - around 18 degrees Celsius is ideal. To initiate sleep, the body's core temperature needs to drop.Irritating sounds can make it difficult for you to fall asleep, so try to mitigate any noises that could be keeping you awake.You can easily combat both of these common problems with a fan. The cool air circulating around your room will help lower your body temperature, providing the right conditions for sleep, while the gentle hum can help block out other noises.What should you do if your sleep is disturbed?If you find yourself lying awake in bed and unable to fall back asleep, one of the best things you can do is engage in a gentle activity, such as reading a book. This should help you drift back off to sleep, so long as the book you choose isn't a gripping thriller or a horror classic.It's essential to avoid turning on any bright lights or checking your phone. While it might be tempting to read your social feed to help you get to sleep, it can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety, especially if you are one of the 40% of people who receive work emails on their phones.A popular method for addressing disturbed sleep is the 4-7-8 deep breathing exercise.Breathe in through your nose to the mental count of 4.Hold your breath for a mental count of 7.Audibly exhale to the count of 8.Repeat for as long as necessary until you feel tired again.Sleep aidsIf you feel that you have tried everything but still can't get to sleep, there are medicines which can help you drift off into a natural and deep sleep.Nytol Original is a sedating antihistamine which can help you drift off. There is also Nytol Herbal, a traditional medicine that combines a range of plant extracts, such as passion flower and valerian root extract, which have been used for many years to aid sleep.Some cold remedies, such as Night Nurse, are specifically formulated to help relieve the symptoms and aid your sleep while you are ill. Night Nurse contains paracetamol, which helps relieve pain and reduce fever, a cough suppressant to prevent coughing, and a sedating antihistamine to aid sleep.Although you can purchase these from your local pharmacy, it is still essential to consult with your doctor or a pharmacist to ensure they are safe for you. You should always read the leaflet supplied with any medicine to ensure you take it correctly. Never take more than the recommended dose, and promptly report any side effects to your doctor.Don't have time to visit your pharmacy to buy Nytol or Night Nurse? You can buy Nytol and Night Nurse online from Prescription Doctor's fast and convenient online pharmacy.Circadin (Melatonin) is prescribed for people with long-term insomnia who are over the age of 55. However, it may also be prescribed off-label for jet lag - a sleep disorder which develops when crossing time zones.To summarise, if you are suffering from insomnia, then you may require a change in your diet or lifestyle. If you have been suffering from insomnia for a long time, you might want to speak to your doctor, who may recommend or prescribe a treatment or refer you to a sleep specialist.We hope these tips can help you get a good night's sleep. Sweet dreams.