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The Truth About Sleep Dysfunction
Bolstering your immune system especially when the seasons change is one of the most important things you can do to avoid getting cold and after cold and having them hang around for weeks! The key to avoiding bad health this winter, without spending any extra cash is… sleep! Every person that I see as a client and patient has had some level of sleep dysfunction and most of them were not even aware of it. Even more surprising to most people is that getting not just enough sleep but also the right KIND of sleep is the single most important thing you can do for your immunity and your immune system. It is more important than any supplement or superfood and it’s free!
Sleep and The Immune System
Here are the facts about sleep, based on research, that are hard to believe and most doctors won’t talk to you about it. Most people do NOT get enough good quality sleep and this directly hurts your immune system. Most people need to have 9-10 hours of time spent in bed to get at least 8 hours of high quality sleep and 90% of my clients and patients when they first come to me are not getting anywhere NEAR this amount! In multiple studies, immune factors such as the interleukins, regulate sleep and in turn are altered by sleep deprivation. Even a small level of sleep debt can cause immune dysfunction.
Are You Sleeping Enough?
Many people are completely unaware that they are not sleeping well, or enough, and subconscious patterns of stress and anxiety prevent getting a good sleep without people even realizing it. In one study looking at the relationship between sleep, mental stress and not being able to shut off thoughts at night and immune function; decreased REM sleep and episodes of waking-up were associated with lower natural killer cell counts, one of the most important cells in the immune system to fight viruses and prevent cancer.
So to avoid getting sick with colds or the flu this winter make sure you are getting the right amount of quality sleep every night. Read my post from last week to learn more about the damaging effects of sleep debt and why it is so important to prioritize getting good sleep!
Click here to try my Natural Sleep Program for free!