In a healthy river, sleep is like a silent angel and plays a vital role in immunisation and resistance to infection. However, many are caught in the wrong zone of “sleep is not important for immunity and resistance to infection”, and today let us reveal the truth and rediscover the health defender of sleep.
When we were asleep, the body began a wonderful “rehabilitation trip”. Cells and factors in the immune system work in an orderly manner under the command of sleep. For example, white cells, the “minor guards” of these bodies, which are more active during their sleep, like trained soldiers, are more efficient in identifying and removing invasive pathogens, be they ferocious bacteria or cunning viruses, from the “eyes” of the white cells. At the same time, sleep promotes the production of various types of immunoglobins in the body, which are “heavy weapons” of the immune system, which are uniquely combined with pathogens, rendering them inactivated and creating strong lines of defence for the body.
Physically, sleep is closely linked to the endocrine system, which regulates immunity. In the course of sleep, a hormonal called melanone is distributed. Declin not only regulates the sleep cycle but also has antioxidation and anti-inflammation properties. It can contain the inflammation response and mitigate the inflammation damage of the body in its response to the infection, like a timely “cleaning” of the body’s “field” to reduce the damage to itself caused by the spread of war. In addition, growth hormones are also abundant in sleep, which helps to repair and regenerate body tissues, including cells in the immune system. It is like providing sufficient “resupply” to the “force” of the immune system to enable it to maintain a robust combat power.
Sufficient sleep means a lot to prevent infection. People with chronic sleep deprivation, like a broken castle of walls, are more vulnerable to pathogens. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can lead to reduced immune functions and reduced human resistance to common infectious diseases such as influenza and flu. In a study on the relationship between sleep and cold, volunteers were exposed to the same cold virus environment, and it was found that sleep-deprived volunteers were significantly more likely to be infected than sleep-sufficient people. This is because lack of sleep affects the normal functioning of the immune system, which slows the body to react in the face of a virus invasion and prevents the effective and timely activation of the immune defence mechanism.
In cases where infection has already occurred, sleep is also a good helper for physical recovery. When we get sick, the body needs more energy and resources to fight the pathogens, and sleep provides a good environment for the process. During sleep, the body’s metabolic rate is reduced and energy consumption is reduced so that more energy can be used for the operation of the immune system and for body restoration. For example, in the case of influenza, a good night’s sleep is observed, and the next day is often felt to have reduced symptoms. This is because sleep contributes to the elimination of the virus from the immune system and accelerates physical recovery.
In modern, fast-paced life, people often ignore the importance of sleep and sacrifice sleep time for work, study or recreation. However, such behaviour is tantamount to thirst and, in the long run, has serious consequences for immunity and increases the risk of infection. We’re supposed to have a good sleep habit and a good quality sleep of 7-8 hours a day. Maintaining regular spacetime, avoiding the use of electronic devices before sleeping, and creating a quiet, comfortable, dark sleep environment are key to improving the quality of sleep.
Sleep is not nothing but a strong shield of immunity and a natural defence against infection. Let us move away from the erroneous notion that “sleep is not important for immunity and resistance to infection”, cherishing sleep, using sufficient sleep as a guardian of health, and allowing the body to build strength in the arms of sleep at every quiet night and to celebrate a new day of dynamism and health.
