It seems like if I have the flu or other type of illness involving breathing trouble, I am more likely to develop a secondary bacterial bronchitis if I sleep flat rather than propping up my head and shoulders, or better yet sleep sitting up in a chair. Why?
I think it has to do with the pressure on your lungs and innards ( yes, that is a medical name.) when you are sick will cause the coughing and discomfort. Propping yourself up takes the pressure off. YMMV.
It’s because the system is designed to be upright most of the time and that’s how it functions best.
Anyone lying flat too long ups their chances for lung problems
Likewise, people with lung problems such as asthma find they breathe better when not lying flat.
When you’re sick, particularly with something respiratory, your lungs need to do extra work, and probably aren’t as efficient to begin with.
If this becomes a frequent problem talk to a doctor about it.
And that’s as technical as I’m getting - maybe one of the Doper MD’s will drop in soon to provide greater detail
The same thing happens to me; I have somewhat crummy and asthmatic lungs, and a tendency to get bronchitis (and a couple of times, pneumonia) when laid up. When I was in the hospital after surgery, they made me do breathing exercises with a little tube and ball thingy (I’m sure there’s a technical name for it, but I don’t know what it is).
The way my doc explained it is that when you are lying down, mucous and fluids pool in the lungs and wreack havoc. If you force yourself to sit up and use your lungs, they are more likely to stay clear.