A global problem such as the coronavirus outbreak has greatly increased the role of the immune system in today's world. Since sleep plays a significant role in this matter, we propose to elaborate on this issue in our blog.
If we have the understanding that we sleep well and comfortably on a regular basis, then we have every chance of being guaranteed good immunity as a quality defense against disease. The fact that sleep is the best defense against diseases and viruses is a long known and scientifically proven fact.
When we get sick, the most famous recommendations are a bowl of warm soup and a healthy, sound and comfortable sleep. The more science advances, the more they affirm their view that sleep is crucial to the formation of the immune system. A little later in our blog, we will be sure to tell you about the close relationship between immunity and sleep.
It's no secret that sleep is an integral part of your immune system. That's why it's important to understand why sleep is so important to keep us healthy and immune. Here are the facts that allow us to ensure a comfortable sleep throughout the night and support your immune system.
How the Immune System Works
First, we will recommend that you examine how your immune system works. Scientifically speaking, our immune system is a kind of defense system against various harmful germs and other microorganisms that cause disease in our bodies.
Together, let's outline the three main tasks of the immune system. One of the most basic tasks is to identify germs that contribute to various diseases and make our body get rid of them. This could include various parasites, viral infections, fungi or bacteria. We also need our immune system so that you can detect and neutralize a variety of substances that are harmful to the body and contribute to various diseases. Finally, our immune system helps us cope with very serious changes in the body, including cancer, and literally stands up to cancer cells.
If any germs are detected in your body which are either foreign to your body or potentially harmful to it, your immune system will be activated automatically. This will immediately stimulate a reaction that will produce antibodies and special cells that will protect your health. In addition, if you fall ill once, and your immune system produces special cells in your body, you will no longer be afraid of the disease! That is why there are so many diseases in the world that a person can get sick just once.
How Sleep Affects Your Immune System
Sleep is a natural antidepressant that is vital to keep your immune system running smoothly and like clockwork.
We have a great metaphor for you to consider. Let's assume that your immune system would be a soccer coach. Then it would be logical to assume that sleep is such a break between halves.
If you've ever been involved in the game of soccer, for example, you know that halftime is never accidental. Such breaks are also used to recognize the strategy of your opponents. Paradoxically, your body uses sleep for the same purposes. When you sleep, it's as if your body is scanning itself to recognize and assess any potential threats or dangers. If our internal system recognizes such a threat, it directs its defense cells to attack. However, if you are sleep-deprived enough, such a battle is very likely to be lost.
Sleep Boosts T Cell Production
There is one way that sleep is used to help our immune system do its hard work. One of the most effective ways is through the production of special T-cells.
What are T-cells? T-cells are the white blood cells that play an important role in the development of our immune system and its response to any viral pathogens. When they are activated, they play a very important function as part of our body's fight against those who attack us. Such cells mercilessly destroy virus carriers. However, for them to work optimally, the human body needs a calm and comfortable night's sleep.
There has been a tremendous amount of research on this topic. One of them confirmed that those individuals who were able to sleep through the night had a higher level of T-cell activation compared to those who did not sleep. Thus, we can conclude that if we don't get enough sleep, our T-cells are under-activated, which leads to lower immunity and disease.
Sleep Improves the Immune System’s Response to Threats
If you sleep peacefully and comfortably throughout the night, your immune system is strengthened and your body becomes much easier to fight off any illnesses.
If you go through all four sleep cycles during your night, cytokine release is thus activated. Cytokine is a special protein compound that allows your body's immune system to respond rapidly to released antigens.
Let's look at the two most important functions of cytokines:
Cytokines promote communication between cells
Cytokines target and fight infections
Such proteins are a kind of redistribution center of your immune system, which take all the signals about how to counteract viruses in the body and direct immune cells to fight them.
If you don't get enough sleep, that task becomes many times more difficult. Normal functioning of your body directly depends on getting a comfortable and good night's rest. This is when you replenish the cells and proteins that we need to be able to effectively guard against all illnesses. If you don't get enough sleep at night or your sleep rhythm is disrupted, cytokine production slows significantly.
Quality Sleep Fights Back Against Colds
I think you've often heard from your family and doctors about what to do when you have a cold or a little cough. Oddly enough, it's really true - you just need to get a good night's sleep.
Scientists and researchers have repeatedly drawn attention to this fact. In particular, the results of a study conducted by the University of California showed that a person who has not had enough sleep has almost a hundred percent chance of catching a cold if exposed to a virus.
More than 150 people took part in the above study. All participants monitored their sleep habits closely for a week. After 7 days, they were placed in an air-conditioned hotel and provided with nasal drops. Those participants who slept at least 7 hours a night were expected to be the last to fall ill. Those volunteers who slept less than 6 hours were about 4.2 times more likely to catch the virus.
Studies have actually confirmed that people who regularly suffer from sleep deprivation are sicker than those who regularly sleep. In addition, it was noted that poor sleep is at the forefront of the causes of disease and affects the human condition much more seriously than age, race, habits and even smoking. Thus, numerous scientific studies directly testify that a normal and comfortable night's sleep plays a crucial role in fighting everyday diseases and directly protects your body from the harmful effects of viruses.
In our blog, we told you that sleep is the best cure for all diseases and the easiest way to strengthen the immune system. We hope that armed with this new knowledge, you will sleep better and pay attention to the quality and duration of your sleep.
However, such a simple rule as getting enough sleep is sometimes quite difficult to implement. In today's world people are usually busy with a lot of things to do, work and family, and it is very difficult to find time for quality rest. Lack of sleep can cost you not only a broken schedule, but also health problems. We recommend that you check out our blog, called "Sleep Calculator".There you can get important and interesting knowledge about how to rest on a regular basis and sleep at least 7.5 hours.
This information can be very helpful for remembering how important sleep is for our immune system to work without interruption. When we get a good night's sleep, it provides us with excellent protection against threats to our body.
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