Lack of Sleep Increases Risk of Illness

"People who slept less than seven hours were about three times more likely to get a cold than people who slept eight hours or more a night," said Sheldon Cohen, psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University, in a podcast. The study was published Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Those in the study who had less than seven hours of sleep were at greater risk than those who got eight hours of sleep a night. The researchers don't know why less sleep is associated with a greater susceptibility to colds. It is a possibility that sleep deprivation may affect the immune system's ability to function at an optimal level.

Medical experts claim that sleep deprivation affects 73 percent of Americans who get between 4 to 6 hours of sleep per night. Doctors recommend that you get 8 hours of sleep per night and say you should maintain the same sleep hours every night. Consistency and length of sleep seem to be the key to a better immune system.

Aside from being more susceptible to colds, sleep deprivation impairs our ability to think properly and increases our stress level. Lack of sleep can also lead to a variety of other medical problems including depression, hypertension and weight gain.

Stocking up on Vitamin C and eating properly to ward off colds during this season of sneezing might be a great idea, but a consistently good night sleep is one of the best ways to take care of your immune system. Losing sleep may increase your risk of illness, so make sure you get yourself on a good sleep schedule before you end up catching the latest cold going around.

Written by: Cheryl Phillips
Providence, RI
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