Building your Immune System with SLEEP

One of most underutilized tools to fight infection is sleep. It is generally one of the first things sacrificed when trying to get things done. 40-70 million Americans are sleep deprived, most of them are teens (and I would add moms, based on my observations).

⁣Studies show that lack of sleep increases your risk of getting sick after being exposed to viruses. Lack of sleep also prolongs how long you’re going to be sick. ⁣

⁣During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines. Certain cytokines increase when you have an infection or inflammation, or when you’re under stress.⁣

⁣Sleep deprivation decreases the production of these protective cytokines.⁣

⁣Sleep deprivation reduces infection-fighting antibodies. ⁣

⁣Sleep loss not only plays a role in whether we come down with a cold or virus. It also influences how we fight illnesses once we come down with them. ⁣

⁣For example, our bodies fight infection with fevers. One of the things that happens when we sleep is that we can get a better fever response. This is why fevers tend to rise at night. But if we are not sleeping, our fever reaction is not primed, so we may not be waging war on infection as best we can.⁣

_______________________________________⁣

⁣Summertime is full of fun and activities but your immune system can’t fully work off of sleep from 2am-12pm ⁣

⁣Try to keep your kids on a summer sleep schedule as well as yourself to keep the immune system strong and ready to fight off whatever if needs to ⁣

This means making sure to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night (adult)

Below is a chart to show exactly how much sleep your child needs by age:

sleep.jpeg

PRO TIP: prevention of colds and viruses with sleep is a much better plan than waiting to be sick and then treating the symptoms

Sleep is FREE⁣

⁣Not getting sick is PRICELESS⁣

⁣Stop treating sleep like an inconvenience

Below are some Healthy Sleep Habits:

healthysleephabits.jpeg

In Good Health, Dr. Ana-Maria

My Latest Posts

Holistic Approaches for Swimmer’s Ear

Sweet summertime is here and kids want all the water time they can get⁣. But what about Swimmers Ear? What…

Read More...

3 Natural Remedies for Treating Molluscum Contagiosum

3 Simple solutions to this annoying condition of childhood

Read More...

Reduce Your Screen Time Challenge

Screen Time Challenge - can you keep your personal screen time under 2hrs a day? Your body and mind...

Read More...

Download Dr. Temple's Mega-list of Approved Packaged Foods

Sign up with your email address to receive your free download, tips, news and updates!

Scroll to Top