Why You Get Tired and Sleepy When You’re Sick

Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Editor

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In This Article

Ever wondered why you get so tired and sleepy when you get sick? Check out what our experts think of it.

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This article was expert reviewed by Dr. Loy Anderson M.D.

It’s normal to feel lethargic or sleepy when you’re sick, and research shows that this is an essential survival mechanism in animals, including humans.

Not only is feeling sleepy a natural response to the energy your body is spending fighting off an illness, but it is also a protective one. When our bodies slow down into a more restful state or, even better, into a sleeping state, we are better able to heal what ails us. 

But why exactly is this the case? What is happening in our bodies when we rest while sick? In this article, we’ll talk about what exactly causes us to get sleepy when we’re sick and why it is so important to listen to your body in these moments and rest.

Reasons Why You’re Sleepy When Sick

Sleep¹ allows the body downtime to restore cells and repair tissue; and it works to help the brain consolidate memories, process information, and learn. This is true when we’re in top condition, but when we’re sick or even overly stressed, sleep is even more important. 

When you’re sick, your body is under stress — or more specifically, your cells are under stress². Your desire for extra sleep when you’re sick, then, is your body’s way of allowing it time to restore those cells to a healthy state so that you can recover from your illness.²

How Sleeping Fights Sickness

You Don’t Use Up Extra Energy

When the body is fighting off an infection, it uses more energy in the form of calories⁵. This means that when you’re sick, your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) increases as the body tries to maintain your body temperature and fight off the infection.⁵ 

If you’re expending extra energy by maintaining your regular lifestyle – perhaps exercising or working – you’ll be “spending” important calories (energy) that your body actually needs for fighting off the illness. 

The more energy you conserve when you are sick, the more resources your immune system has to help you recover faster.

Less Exposure to Bacteria and Germs

Our innate survival mechanism tells us that it’s dangerous to go out into the world when we’re not feeling well. The same is true for other animals, including our pets – when sick, they tend to hide⁶ or refuse to go outside. 

On a biological level, we know that when we are sick, we are in a weakened state and would be less able to defend ourselves or run from a predator.

Even though humans are not likely to encounter an attack, our bodies know that it is safer to stay home and rest.

Manages Cortisol and Stress Levels

Cortisol⁷ is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. Consistently high levels of cortisol, which is often caused by stress or a lack of sleep, can lead to increased inflammation and a weakened immune system.⁷ 

With that knowledge in mind, getting enough quality sleep when you’re sick, then, should help prevent elevated cortisol levels and aid the healing process.

Reduced Pain Sensitivity

The body’s endogenous opioid system⁸ regulates several functions, including pain relief, stress resilience, cardiovascular production, food intake control, feelings of euphoria, and more. Poor sleep can impact⁹ the endogenous opioid system, making the body more sensitive to pain and stress. Conversely, getting more sleep should help the body to better regulate pain and stress – two important components of feeling better when sick. 

Learn more: The Relationship Between Sleep and Pain

Antioxidant Production

Research¹⁰ shows that sleep plays an important role in the production of antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants are chemical properties that help curb free radicals in the body.  In other words, they help repair DNA¹¹, maintain the health of cells, and reduce oxidative stress. 

People who consistently get less sleep have lower levels of antioxidant defenses and are more likely to get– or remain– ill.¹⁰

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you oversleep when you’re sick?

You should feel free to rest as much as your body needs to when you’re sick. Often, people tend to sleep the most during the first couple of days of feeling sick. As long as you wake up to hydrate periodically, and listen to your body’s needs, we think you’ll be perfectly okay.

What sleeping position is best for cold sufferers?

People with a cold should make sure their head and nasal passages are elevated. Back and side sleeping are both suitable positions, but we recommend propping your head up with a wedge pillow to help you breathe easier.

Learn More: How to Sleep With a Cold