Lack of Sleep and the Immune System

A group of researchers from Great Britain and Netherlands studied how human body reacts on lack of sleep. Like stress, lack of sleep (including chronic one) has negative effects on the immune system. 

During stress human body starts to produce granulocytic cells, a kind of leukocytes. Lack of sleep has the same effects. It was proved by a study in which participated 15 young people who slept 8 hours  daily during a week, after which they did not sleep for 29 hours.

Tests have shown that 29 hours of insomnia provoked not only increase in production of granulocytic cells but also break in rhythm of renewal of white blood cells. It was proved that lack of sleep may cause different diseases such as obesity, diabetes and increased blood pressure.

Researchers also say that chronic lack of sleep leads to absorption of body immune system. In the very near future they intend to make one more study during which they plan to study body reaction on stress at molecular level in order to understand how exactly lack of sleep provokes different diseases.

Scientists consider that results of the study are an occasion to overview schedule of work in professions which are connected with long periods of awakenings, for example, where people work in rotating teams.

Keep Your Immune System Strong

A number of scientists claim that weak immune system is a result of natural aging process. Dr. Fillips says that it is enough just to change lifestyle to make immunity much stronger. “Eventually, the way we take care of our heath determines the way our immunity system takes care of us.” Here are the ways you may keep your immune system strong.

Eliminate Stress
From the earliest times scholars suspected stress to weaken immune system. At present time, there are many proves of this theory. An experiment was made. Four hundred volunteers used nose drops with virus of catarrhal disease, and group of 26 volunteers used placebo (i.e. drops without virus). Then in both groups was measured stress level in their blood and then they got new dozes of vaccine. As a result, in people with high stress level the probability to get diseased was two times higher than in those who had low stress level. In group of 26 people no one got diseased.

Scientists say that stress contributes to steroid hormones production in atrabiliary capsules which suppress activity of immune system. It is up to you to choose how to fight stress. You should begin with next activities: play with your children, pets, work in the garden, etc. Also you may meditate, practice yoga or read an interesting book.

Have Enough Sleep
“Sleep is a repair shop of immune system” - says Dr. Fillips. During sleep you rest with your body and mind but your immune system keeps working. It must guard your health but it requires less energy to strengthen defense mechanisms. Insufficient sleep has negative effects on your immune system. Scientists have stated that when people lose 3 or 4 hours of their sleep, their immune system activity reduces by 30%.  The conclusion is that you must sleep not less than 6 – 8 hours a day.

Quit Smoking
Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde, a substance that paralyzes macrophages in lungs. This makes human more vulnerable to the diseases of upper respiratory tract including influenza. So you should give up smoking if you smoke.

Make Regular Exercises
Moderate physical activity prevents from microbes assembly in lungs and strengthens immune system which helps to accelerating of antibodies circulation in blood. In order to keep your immune system strong you should practice aerobics, walk, jog, swim or ride a bike 20 minutes a day.