{"id":28299,"date":"2023-11-16T07:00:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T12:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/sin-categorizar\/sleep-powerful-weapon-flu"},"modified":"2024-04-09T09:22:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T13:22:34","slug":"sleep-powerful-weapon-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/es\/blog-es\/sleep-powerful-weapon-flu","title":{"rendered":"Why Sleep is a Powerful Weapon Against the Flu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you ready for another flu season? It\u2019s coming and you need adequate rest to help you through it\"\"<\/h2>\n

As much as we\u2019re excited about the changing seasons (because it means the holidays are coming and cozying up in warm sweaters), it also marks the impending arrival of flu season. Not that you need a reminder, but flu season peaks from December to February, with a healthy (pardon the pun), ramp up in October and November. Every year, like clockwork, an estimated 5 to 20% of the American population will get the flu.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s good news. Along with getting a flu shot (talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting one early in the season), one of the most powerful weapons against getting sick and preventing illness is easy, free and widely available to everyone. SLEEP. Its healing and preventative health benefits<\/a> are well documented \u2013 and it\u2019s yours for the taking.<\/p>\n

Is sleep really our very own defense mechanism?<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a growing amount of evidence that makes a strong case for sleep and its important role in maintaining short and long-term health. Conversely, it\u2019s well understood that sleep deprivation opens the door to a wide range of illnesses by weakening the body\u2019s immune system, now and in the future.<\/p>\n

Specifically, it\u2019s the T-cells that bolster our cellular immunity and ability to defend ourselves from the disease<\/a>. Pulling a few all-nighters to get some work done or a weekend full of partying into the wee hours over the holidays is enough to make you more susceptible to colds and flu. That\u2019s just one more reason to make sleep a priority and stick to a regular bedtime schedule.<\/p>\n

How sleep helps to beat the flu and keep you healthy<\/h2>\n

Research done at Washington State University in Spokane has gained some insight into why your mom\u2019s advice on handling the flu<\/a> \u2013 \u201cget some sleep\u201d \u2013\u00a0 is still the best medicine. Sleep is associated with a brain protein called AcPb that has been shown to speed up recovery in tests done on lab mice that were infected with the flu strain H1N1.<\/p>\n

\"WhatAnother part of the sleep\/flu equation is tied to its effect on fevers that are often part of the illness. When you feel flush and hot, that\u2019s a sign your body is hard at work, engaged in a battle against the flu virus. Fevers tend to rise at night when you\u2019re sleeping (and coincidentally when your body is in full repair mode). If you\u2019re up late watching Jimmy Kimmel, reading or out at a nightclub and not sleeping, your body isn\u2019t in prime fighting condition.<\/p>\n

According to WebMD<\/a>, those who are short on sleep also aren\u2019t getting the maximum benefit from their flu shots. Along with the immune response being suppressed, the body develops fewer antibodies and it takes longer for it to respond to immunizations.<\/p>\n

The secret is to make sure you\u2019re getting deep sleep<\/a>, where your body is able to do its heavy lifting to protect and restore you. It strengthens the immune system to the max and you\u2019ll make fight off the flu better and make a speedier recovery because of it.<\/p>\n

Flu fighting basics 101<\/h2>\n

Flu symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. Many of these are similar to what you may experience with a cold, but the key differences are high fever and muscle aches. Those are more common with the flu. And one other point to note: Influenza comes on fast and strong, more so than colds.<\/p>\n

Colds tend to go heavy on congestion but are less apt to cause complications than a flu bug. The CDC strongly recommends that Americans from the age of 6 months and up get a flu shot. More than 117 million doses of flu vaccine have already been distributed for the coming season.<\/p>\n

For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

10 must-dos when you have the flu<\/h2>\n