Sleep and Immune Health: How Sleep Deprivation Affects your Immune System
How would you feel if you were 4.2 times more likely to catch a cold than your well-rested peers? That’s what happens when you sleep less than 6 hours a night, according to a study by the University of California, San Francisco.
Sleep is often the one thing we dismiss in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. We push it off, tell ourselves we don’t need it, all the while finding glory in our supposed 'ability' to function on a mere few hours of shut-eye.
Well, we hate to break it to you (not really), this is a monumental mistake!
Sleep is not optional; it is as vital as breathing.
In particular, sleep is a key player in your immune health and susceptibility to diseases. Let's explore the connection between sleep and immune health.
Sleep and The Immune System
How well you sleep and how long you sleep for, can dictate the strength of your body's defenses.
So, if you're someone who brags about getting only four or five hours of sleep each night, you might want to reconsider and redefine your concept of 'superhuman'.
Sleep is your body's nightly tune-up, an important maintenance period where all your physical and mental systems heal, recharge. Regular, healthy sleep cycles lead to improved immunity response because our body is well rested and able to recover quicker.
An unhealthy sleep cycle can wreak havoc on your immune system and make you more likely to get sick when you encounter some virus and also make your recovery much longer.
A slew of studies have unraveled the profound connection between sleep and immunity. Lack of sleep has been identified as a significant risk factor for falling sick, as it can impede your immune system's ability to fight off infections.
How Sleep Affects Your Immune Health
Lack of sleep is linked to many chronic health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and even depression.
Sleep also affects your hormones and metabolism. If you don’t get enough sleep, or stay awake for longer durations, you may have noticed that you feel hungrier and crave unhealthy foods. This can lead to weight gain and obesity-related diseases.
Not only that, your body produces more immune cells while you sleep to fight off infections.
But, did you know that sleep can affect your genes?
A study by the University of Surrey found that sleeping less than 6 hours a night for one week altered the expression of over 700 genes, including those involved in inflammation, immunity, and stress response.
What happens in your body when you fall asleep?
Our body's immune system produces small proteins called cytokines that help control inflammation. There are two main types:
Pro-inflammatory cytokines: These trigger inflammation when there's a threat, like an infection, injury, or stress. They're like the body's alarm system, signaling that it's time to fight.
Anti-inflammatory cytokines: These help calm things down once the threat is under control. They prevent the body's immune system from overreacting and reduce inflammation.
The balance between these two types of cytokines is very important. If they get out of balance, it can lead to health problems.
Sleep has a big role to play in this balance. A proper sleep cycle helps the immune system work well, supporting a healthy response to threats.
When we’re sleeping, our bodies produce anti-inflammatory cytokines which are thought to promote sleep. But contrary to popular belief, cytokines influence the production and release of other hormones that regulate sleep, such as melatonin, serotonin, and adenosine.
The production of anti-inflammatory cytokines is increased by sufficient and good-quality sleep, as well as by physical activity, meditation, and happiness.
These cytokines can counteract the effects of excess pro-inflammatory cytokines and promote health and well-being.
Conversely, the pro-inflammatory cytokines are not only increased by lack of sleep, but also by chronic stress, aging, obesity, and other factors that impair the immune system.
That’s how important sleep is for our health.
How Much Sleep Do You Need?
Sleep isn't just for the lazy or the faint-hearted. It's for the health warriors who wish to keep their immune system and health robust.
If you want to avoid being taken down by the next cold or flu that comes your way, it's time to make sleep a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.
Forget the heroic tales of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and maximum productivity; it's high time we start glorying a good night's sleep and the formidable immune health it brings.
So tonight, do yourself a favor, turn off the lights, shut down your screens, and give your body the rest it needs to keep you safe, healthy, and ready to face whatever comes your way.
Sleep or Sickness: The Life-Changing Decision You Make Every Night
So, you’re part of the club that texts “Team No Sleep” to your friends at 2 am during your Netflix binge. Yet, when the morning rolls around, you're dead on your feet.
Don't worry, there's a solution that doesn't rely on over-the-counter sleep aids, nor does it make you groggy in the morning.
How Does CBN Help With Sleep?
When we think about cannabinoids, we usually think of CBD and THC - the two most prominent and popular cannabinoids found in hemp. While THC is mostly used for recreational purposes, CBD, for its health benefits.
CBN is a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis and hemp plants which has sedative properties. It is replacing OTC products for many people as their supplement of choice for falling and staying asleep.
CBD binds to both the neurotransmitter (CB1) cannabinoid receptor and the immune system (CB2) receptor, found in our Endocannabinoid System.
CBN binds more strongly to the CB2 receptor, so it may aid and induce sleep due to its affinity for the CB2 cannabinoid receptor.
So, how can we bolster our immune function? By improving our sleep, that's how.
Sleep Better Naturally With Cannovia
Our GOODNIGHT CBD+CBN Oil for sleep is a certified and tested blend of CBD and CBN. Don’t think a natural supplement can be that good? Read the reviews.
