{"id":28261,"date":"2020-03-18T16:00:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T20:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/sin-categorizar\/sleep-coronavirus-pandemic-687161"},"modified":"2022-08-16T17:00:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T21:00:06","slug":"sleep-coronavirus-pandemic-687161","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/es\/blog-es\/sleep-coronavirus-pandemic-687161","title":{"rendered":"Why Sleep is Your Best Tool to Boost Your Immune System & Fight Viruses!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boosting your immune system & improving mental health \u2013 the stuff you need to fight any illness!<\/h2>\n

\"SleepHow do you fight back against a virus you can\u2019t even see? A healthy diet and regular exercise, of course \u2013 but what about a good night\u2019s sleep?<\/p>\n

Sleep. It\u2019s a crucial component for good health because of the important role it plays in strengthening the immune system. A recognized flu-fighter<\/a>, sleep helps us fight off viruses and disease and is a crucial boost to recovery if we do get sick. While a good night\u2019s sleep is not a cure by itself, it\u2019s an effective, natural immune booster during every day, regular life but especially during a health\u00a0 crisis.<\/p>\n

Sleep & your immune system \u2013 a match made in, well, your body!<\/h2>\n

Sleep is, on the surface, such a simple thing, but so very important. The good news? It\u2019s something we have control over and it doesn\u2019t cost anything. You just need a cozy, quiet and dark place to curl up and shut your eyes.<\/p>\n

While some body functions slow during sleep, like breathing and heartrate, it\u2019s a busy time for your immune system. Being at rest provides a perfect window for your immune system to do some maintenance work and assess the existence of any threats, or antigens. While you\u2019re dreaming of the perfect chocolate souffle, command cells are seeking out and destroying illness-causing antigens. In early 2019, researchers from the\u00a0University of T\u00fcbingen in Germany<\/a> discovered a mechanism that identified the strong link between sleep and the immune system. They discovered T-cells, a type of specialized immune cells that impacts the body\u2019s ability to defend itself against certain diseases.<\/p>\n

Other studies have also pointed to cytokines, proteins that are released by the immune system. Some of them help promote sleep, while other types increase when needed to ward off disease. Sleep deprivation is thought to decrease levels of these vital cytokines, as well as other infection-fighting antibodies. In plainer terms, poor sleep causes the body to respond to disease sluggishly \u2013 something none of us can afford when facing a pandemic.<\/p>\n

University of Washington research conducted an interesting study with identical twins<\/a>. It showed that the twin who had a shorter sleep duration also had a depressed immune system. \u00abWhat we show is that the immune system functions best when it gets enough sleep. Seven or more hours of sleep is recommended for optimal health,\u00bb said lead author Dr. Nathaniel Watson, co-director of the UW Medicine Sleep Center at Harborview Medical Center.<\/p>\n

Protecting your physical AND mental health with sleep in troubled times<\/h2>\n

During stressful times, like coping with a global pandemic, sleep can be challenging given the amount of anxiety, fear and isolation so many are facing. Mental health can suffer with poor sleep, and sleep can suffer due to poor mental health. It\u2019s a vicious circle that we need to carefully manage.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to go back to basics when it comes to getting a good night\u2019s sleep. Need a quick refresher on the best way to get the sleep you need? We can help.\"Why<\/p>\n