Sleep plays a critical role in the body's immune system and healing process. During sleep, the body produces proteins called cytokines, which are responsible for controlling inflammation and supporting the immune system. During illness, cytokine production increases when we sleep, allowing the body to heal faster.
Extra sleep has been shown to decrease the healing time for colds and runny noses, and getting more than eight hours a night was correlated with decreased susceptibility to cold viruses. Doctors recommend sleeping on your side, propped up by pillows during runny nose episodes; this allows the mucus to drain more effectively.

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