Sleeping Well Can Keep You Healthy

Bottom Line:

New research has shown that a good night’s sleep can keep you mentally sharp and help you stay healthy by strengthening your immune system. For years, physicians have believed that sleep helps healing, but new evidence has been discovered that indicates sleep plays a role in regulating your immune function. Your immune system is the complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that protect your body from disease. So, keeping that system functioning at its highest level is very important to your overall health and wellness.

Why it Matters: 

While asleep, your central nervous system is in constant communication with your immune system. Many immune system functions, like your sleep schedule, operate on a 24-hour cycle. Your T-cells, some of the most important immune cells, are very active while you are asleep. While not everyone requires the same amount of sleep, the research shows that getting a good night's sleep will help bolster your immune system.

• Sleep patterns are tightly linked to your immune function.

• Chronic sleep issues promote inflammation and pain.

• Your body uses sleep as its time to rest and recover.

Next Steps:

Sleeping well has been proven to be an essential part of staying healthy. Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can make it extremely difficult to get a good night's sleep, leaving you tired and sleepy all day. If you have experienced difficulty sleeping, let us know. 

Science Source:  

Sleep and immune function. European Journal of Physiology. 2012