NEARLY one in six bunged-up Brits are banished from their beds when they have a cold – spending as long as three nights in exile.
A poll of 2,000 adults found 45 per cent of these ended up seeking refuge in the spare room, while 40 per cent have been forced to flee to the sofa in the dead of night.
And 18 per cent ended up sleeping in solitude on the floor of the kid’s room.
Dr Sara Kayat, who has partnered with nasal spray brand Stérimar, which commissioned the research, said: “Suffering from a blocked nose or congestion can make it harder to get to sleep at night.
“A blocked nose can actually feel worse at night because more blood flows to it when you lie down, which can add to the nasal inflammation and congestion.”
It also emerged for 53 per cent their snoring will get worse when they can’t breathe clearly because of a cold or blocked nose.
These ailments will impact the quality of sleep for 70 per cent of adults, depriving them of an average of three hours each night of precious kip.
As a result of this, 61 per cent are low on energy the next day, with 48 per cent being more irritable.
Over a third (37 per cent) of these will struggle to concentrate and 29 per cent won’t be on top form at work, the figures found.
Dr Sara Kayat added: “Having your sleep disturbed by a cold or blocked nose is bad enough.
“But the survey shows that your sleep disturbance can quickly become the source of low energy, negative mood and even relationship grumbles if you keep your loved one awake.
“It’s important to find a solution quickly that helps you breathe more easily, and that lets those around you get good quality sleep too.”
Mike Hewitson, a pharmacist from Somerset, suggests the best thing someone can buy when they have a cold or flu is standard paracetamol.
“I generally advise people to use unbranded medicines which are often as effective as the branded products, but at a fraction of the price,” he said.
Paracetamol can help to “control the fever” which often accompanies the flu, Mike said.
Sadik Al-Hassan, a pharmacist based in Bath, added that medicines such as Lemsip Max, which contain a combination of drugs, can also be helpful at reducing symptoms.
“The paracetamol can help reduce pain, the decongestant to clear out the sinuses and vitamin C to help you fight infections faster,” he said.
Both pharmacists warned patients against Echinacea – a herbal supplement which some take to boost immunity.
“While it probably isn’t going to do much harm to take it for most people, there isn’t much evidence to suggest it actually helps,” Mike said.
The experts stressed that prevention is better than cure and there are many effective ways at reducing your chances of getting ill in the first place.
Sadik said: “There are a lot of cold and flu prevention nasal sprays on the market which create a gel barrier which words as a physical barrier.”
Meanwhile, Mike pointed out that it isn’t too late to get a flu jab.
“Many pharmacies will also be able to provide you with a private flu vaccination service if you don’t qualify for the free NHS jab,” he said.
