If you don't want to catch colds, get more sleep

Added 29.01.2009

You are no doubt familiar with the fact that we need our "beauty sleep." But getting enough sleep is much more than that. Sure, sleep is a time when your cells regenerate and grow giving you a fresh and rested complexion. Without sleep, however, you literally wouldn't survive. What's more, a study published this month says sleep-deprived people are three times as likely to catch colds as those who get enough sleep.

Why you need to sleep enough hours

Getting enough sleep is not only essential for sound mental and physical health; sleep is vital for us to live. It is crucial for the proper functioning of all our body systems, especially for our nerve and immunological systems. We have all experienced the effects of a sleepless night: drowsiness, lack of concentration and reflexes, memory problems and moodiness, just to name a few. If this happens sporadically, there is no need for alarm. However, when we deprive ourselves of sleep repeatedly, our health suffers. Our immune system can become seriously compromised and open the door to all sorts of illnesses. A recent study shows just how valuable sleep is and how, even minimal sleep deprivation, can put you at a 300% higher risk of catching colds.

Not sleeping well leaves you vulnerable against colds

A study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has discovered that if you sleep less than seven hours a day, your risk of catching colds increases threefold.

The study also revealed that it is not just the number of hours you sleep that keeps you healthy, it is also the quality of sleep you are getting. Lead researcher Sheldon Cohen explains, "Although sleep's relationship with the immune system is well-documented, this is the first evidence that even relatively minor sleep disturbances can influence the body's reaction to cold viruses."

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Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:

This study is very interesting as it deals with a way to prevent common colds, one of the most common causes of sick leave. We all know that sleep is necessary for the brain to regenerate, but this study shows that we even increase our risk of developing a common cold by 300% if we don't get at least seven hours of sleep. But what if you can't sleep? A common reason for sleep disturbances is a deficiency in basic nutrients. More than 90% of us do not even get the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of the most basic vitamins and minerals. Lack of these vital nutrients causes a lot of dysfunction such as disturbed sleep and less energy.

• Common Cold Supplement