The benefits of adequate sleep: make the immune system stronger & bull; hello healthy

How many hours of sleep do you sleep each night? Do you have a regular sleep schedule? If your sleep schedule and duration are still irregular, don't be surprised if you get sick recently. The reason is, sleep has proven to have benefits to increase immunity, you know? How come, huh?

Benefits of sleep, strengthens immunity

Do not underestimate your sleep hours, because if you are sleep deprived, you are susceptible to various infectious diseases.

For example, when you feel tired due to heavy activity and not enough sleep. Usually if it's been like that for a while then you end up catching a cold, cough, or cold due to an infection.

Well, this fact has been proven in various studies, one of which is research published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

In this research, researchers have proven the various benefits of sleep, one of which is being able to improve the immune system against infection and disease.

Through this research, it is known that adequate sleep can improve the performance of immune cells, especially T lymphocytes, which play a role in fighting disease infections.

These anibodies are usually active against viruses that cause flu, HIV, herpes, and cancer cells.

How can sleep help antibodies work?

The study even found a new mechanism on how sleep can improve the immune system.

When T lymphocytes recognize a disease infection that has entered the body, the integrins will be activated. Integrins are a type of sticky protein that allows T lymphocytes to attach to and kill infected cells.

The researchers compared T lymphocytes from two different groups. The first group was asked to sleep, while the other group stayed up all night.

The result, it was found that T lymphocytes in the study subjects who slept much better. This condition makes the active integrins increase, so that more T lymphocytes can detect more infected cells.

Experts believe this happens because during sleep, levels of the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and prostaglandins decrease. This is what affects the work of T lymphocytes.

When compared to the sleep-deprived group, stress hormones actually increased and inhibited the ability of T cells to function optimally. As a result, someone who is sleep deprived becomes more prone to illness.

In order for your body to be strong, you must sleep at least 7 hours a night

The benefits of sleep that can make your immune system stronger can only be felt if you get enough rest every night. Adults are encouraged to sleep at least 7 hours every night so that their health is maintained.

Unfortunately, not everyone follows this recommendation because of busy activity or simply difficulty sleeping at night. Yet if left unchecked, sleep deprivation can trigger an increase in stress hormones in the body.

Quoted via Healthline, a sleep neurologist Suzanne Stevens, says that lack of sleep can cause long-term health problems. Starting from disturbances in mood, memory, and blood sugar.

In severe cases, lack of sleep increases the risk of inflammation, blood pressure, insulin resistance, cortisol, weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and lower blood sugar regulation.

So, what needs to be done to get good quality and quantity of sleep? You can create a conducive and comfortable sleeping atmosphere. For example, using a light sleeper, turning on the air conditioner, and keeping gadgets out of reach.

Before going to bed, you are also advised to limit your consumption of caffeine and alcoholic drinks. We recommend that you exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes per day) to improve the quality of sleep at night.