Your Immune System May Be Suffering From Poor Sleep July 11, 2021 Have you ever found yourself getting sick after an all-nighter, or after burning the candle at both ends for too long? There’s a good reason – research shows that a lack of sleep weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to getting sick. In fact, research even shows sleep deprivation can make vaccinations less effective, as your antibody response can be reduced by 50%. One study from the Carnegie Mellon University found that poor sleep efficiency and short sleep duration in the weeks preceding exposure to a common cold made people more susceptible to illness. 153 healthy men and women (aged 21-55) were first quarantined for 14 days before being given nasal drops containing a virus for the common cold. It was found that those who slept less than seven hours per night were 2.94 times more likely to catch the cold than the participants who slept for eight hours or more. So how can you improve your sleep – and immune system? Try avoiding screens before bed, exercising daily, taking a warm bath, listening to relaxing music, breathing exercises, meditation or yoga, and having a light healthy meal for dinner. If you continue to experience difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or wake up feeling exhausted, speak to your family doctor or a sleep specialist. The CPAP Clinic has a network of 40 clinics nationwide, and works in partnership with Centurion Healthcare, a Respiratory & Sleep Specialist clinic group to provide comprehensive sleep care including: Respiratory & Sleep Specialist consultation – face-to-face and telehealth available Sleep studies – in-lab, home and contactless sleep studies available. Bulk billing available for specialist telehealth consultations as well as sleep studies. Medicare criteria apply. Call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au for more information.
