Is the Flu Making You "Sick and Tired" ?
Recent studies have demonstrated that loss of sleep can cause your
immune system to fail and predispose you to the flu, and other communicable diseases.
Sleep Enhances the Effectiveness of Immune Cells
In 2007,
researchers investigated the effect of sleep on the number and function of key immune
regulatory cells (monocytes and other myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells)
and circulating immune signaling factors (cytokines).
They found that sleep
dramatically enhances the activity and effectiveness of immune cells
and that without sleep there is a loss of adaptive immune responses
which are necessary to fight off infection.
Reduced Sleep Increases Risk
Not only may reduced sleep increase your risk for infectious diseases,
but it may also result in inappropriate inflammatory responses associated with cardiovascular
disease, diabetes and increased mortality.
Restoring Sleep is a Preventative
In 2006, investigators demonstrated that partial sleep loss causes an inappropriate
ramping up of cellular and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Using
genomic markers of inflammation they demonstrated that a 4 hour reduction in sleep
time results in sustained activation of inflammatory pathways. These same pathways
are now targets for medical therapy in many conditions including atherosclerosis,
diabetes, arthritis and even cancer. The authors suggested that restoring
sleep is an important preventative measure and critical
component of medical therapy. These findings are underlined by a number of studies,
the latest reported in the previous volume of the Sleep Bulletin, demonstrating
that adequate sleep is associated with a decreased mortality risk
in the general population.
Sleep Disorders can be the
Root Cause
If you or some one you know is suffering from the flu, a nagging cold or any of
the diseases noted above, it is important to identify correctable causes for decreased
sleep quality and quantity. Snoring, restlessness, frequent bathroom breaks, and
insomnia are just a few of the many symptoms associated with sleep disorders that
can be the root cause for feeling sick and tired.
References:
- Benedict C, et al., Sleep enhances serum interlukin-7 concentrations in humans.
Brain Behav Immunology, 2007 Nov;21(8):1058-62.
- Dimitrov S, et al., Number and function of circulating human antigen
presenting cells regulated by sleep. Sleep, 2007 Apr;30(4):401-11.
- Irwin MR, et al., Sleep deprivation and activation of morning levels of cellular
and genomic markers of inflammation. Arch Internal Med, 2006 Sept;166:1756-62.