Sufficient and restful sleep helps stabilize your immune system

Too little sleep harms your health not only in the long term, but also in the short term. In a clinical study, test subjects were asked about their sleep habits and general state of health. They were then administered cold viruses with a nasal spray. The outstanding finding was that the subjects who got little sleep were four times more likely to catch a cold than those who got enough sleep, regardless of their other health status. Not only is adequate sleep important for T cells to be active, but T cell memory also solidifies during sleep. It is thought that the transmission of information from short-lived immune cells to T cells occurs during sleep. [1]

Even more significant are the results of a study conducted by the Universities of Kiel and Tübingen. In a series of experiments, the immune system of a group of people was monitored over 24 hours. Half of the participants were allowed to lie down for eight hours to sleep, while the other half had to go through 24 hours. The result: after just three hours of sleep deprivation, T-cell activity was significantly reduced, indicating a higher risk of infection. [2]

An autoimmune disease is when the immune system turns against its own body. A number of factors are responsible for the outbreak of an autoimmune disease. One of the most obvious is stress, which can lead to a change in the immune system, usually in connection with a drastic change in life circumstances, such as a separation, the experience of a precarious work situation or other drastic experiences. It is usually not possible to determine what caused an outbreak of the disease; however, if life circumstances improve, the disease may again fade into the background.

The connection between sleep problems and an autoimmune disease is rather obvious. Those who suffer from psoriasis, for example, may have interpersonal problems up to and including rejection, which in turn can lead to psychological problems up to and including depression and thus sleep problems. Psoriasis may also itch unbearably at night, which in turn may lead to further scratching and thus new stress. Rheumatoid arthritis, in turn, can lead to pain at night and thus decreased sleep quality. In a clinical study, patients with psoriasis were assessed for the quality of their sleep, with the result that 70% of patients with psoriatic arthritis, 60% of patients with psoriasis, and 15% of the control group reported sleep problems. [3]

However, clinical pictures such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or multiple sclerosis can also negatively affect sleep, which usually leads to a vicious circle. The German Rheumatism League points out that learning relaxation techniques is helpful for patients with an autoimmune disease, since restful sleep is the first step in activating the body's self-healing powers. Likewise, the risk of sleep apnea and associated other health risks is significantly increased. [4]

Sources:

[1] Lack of sleep harms body defenses hkk.de
[2] Too little sleep weakens the immune system br.de
[3] Poor sleep in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis deutschesgesundheitsportal.de
[4] Increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea in psoriasis deutschesgesundheitsportal.de