Much has been written about the serious consequences of a lack of sleep. We all know that sleep deprivation, also known as insomnia in its worst form, can cause all kinds of issues during one’s waking hours including a lack of productivity, constant tiredness and a general feeling of being run down and unable to cope.
Have you ever considered though that a lack of sleep can also directly cause all kinds of health issues, and one of these is an effect on the immune system? Simply put, a lack of sleep could be contributing to that common cold – and as we are now in the middle of flu season, maybe this is something we should look at.
Ask the experts
This is not just conjecture either, according to research conducted and published by The National Library of Medicine, in a paper titled ‘The Bidirectional Relationship between Sleep and Immunity against Infections,’ there is a direct correlation between lack of sleep and immune deficiency.
It states ‘’Sleep is considered an important modulator of the immune response. Thus, a lack of sleep can weaken immunity, increasing organism susceptibility to infection. For instance, shorter sleep durations are associated with a rise in suffering from the common cold.’’
It works both ways
Sleep and the immune system are, in fact, inextricably intertwined as the lack of either one can affect the other. The American Sleep Foundation, in analysing and simplifying the aforementioned research, states that ‘’Sleep and the immune system have a bidirectional relationship. Lack of immune response, like that caused by a viral infection, can affect sleep. At the same time, consistent sleep strengthens the immune system, allowing for balanced and effective immune function – but lack of sleep can throw off the immune system. Evidence indicates that in both the short- and long-term, sleep deprivation can make you sick!’’
Sleep to rebuild
It makes perfect sense then that when one is ill one tends to sleep a lot more as this is a critical way to rebuild the immune system This is achieved because when the body relaxes it allows the immune system to rev up and start to perform important functions.
As the Sleep Foundation article puts it ‘’During sleep there is an increased production of cytokines associated with inflammation. When someone is ill or injured, this inflammatory response may help with recovery, fortifying innate and adaptive immunity as the body works to repair wounds or fight off an infection.’’
Your mattress makes a difference too!
When it comes to contracting the common cold, one of the primary causes is allergies so the mattress you sleep on can also be an important way to avoid allergens and subsequently strengthen the immune system.
A Truform mattress will not only assist you to enjoy better sleep, strengthening your immune system and improving your health and posture, but if cleaned regularly and flipped when required it can assist you to avoid allergies too.
So, don’t let a lack of sleep be the cause of your common cold. To get a good night’s sleep, just test a Truform mattress at a store near you today – and who knows? – you may find that elusive cure for the common cold!