The Importance of Sleep to Help Your Body Fight Colds and Flu Any Season

 Sleep to Help Your Body

Fight Cold & Flu

Can you recall a time in your life when you didn’t get enough sleep? For many of us, this happens from time to time. We’re staying up late to study for finals in school. Or how about those many sleepless nights after welcoming a newborn. Or maybe you suffer from the occasional bout of insomnia.

Think back on one of those times. Chances are that those were also times when you were more likely to catch a cold or come down with the flu or a stomach bug. A tired body and mind is more likely to suffer from a weak immune system.

Making sure you get plenty of quality sleep can serve as a sort of insurance policy for better health. It strengthens your immune system and helps your body fight off any type of infection or threat that comes its way. In addition, your body will be able to heal itself faster should you come down with something else. When you get plenty of rest, your body will be stronger to fight off the elements that weaken your body and make you sick. That’s why your doctor often orders plenty of rest and to drink fluids when you have a cold.

Is sleep so important?

Sleep is important, both to boost the immune system and to avoid getting sick in the first place. It just is important. A body needs rest so it can function properly. And, during the recovery period, rest helps you to keep from coming down with something else.

Your immune system uses antibodies to fight an infection, it's easier if you slow down and do it while resting. At the end of the day, it works the same whether you’re preventing an infection from taking hold or fighting one off that’s taken enough of a hold to make you feel sick. These antibodies stick to the virus and affect cells, rendering them ineffective. The virus-antibody combo can then be eliminated, which is why it is important that you drink plenty of fluids. It makes it easier for your body to flush them out.

Your body produces antibodies more effectively while you sleep. When you are at rest, you are giving your body a chance to heal. I’m no scientist, but I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that your body isn’t busy doing everything else it has to do as you move about your day, running around, eating, getting that paper cut that requires additional resources… you get the idea.

While you are asleep, your immune system can work more efficiently at producing antibodies and deploying them throughout the body to fight the infection.

Keep this in mind the next time you’re tempted to burn the candles from both ends, and use it as motivation to stay home and take a nap instead of heading into work when you’re coming down with something.

Everyone needs their rest. As hard as it is to get it sometimes, everyone needs to get some sleep. So if you feel yourself running down, do what is most important for a quick recovery.

Get well soon. Get some sleep.

Feel better sooner!

#sleep #coldsandflu #healing #happy

The Importance of Sleep to Help Your Body Fight Colds and Flu Any Season [Part Five - How To Avoid Colds And Flu]