A Poor Night's Sleep May Increase Your Risk of Catching a Cold 

< Jan. 14, 2009 > -- The risk of catching a cold increases when you get fewer hours of quality sleep a night, researchers reveal.  

The quality and quantity of sleep are important factors that can be a predictor of immunity and the likelihood of developing the common cold

A new study suggests that you are three times more likely to catch a cold if you get less than seven hours of sleep a night. Getting poor quality sleep boosts your risk even higher- making you five times more susceptible.   

Sleep Habits Play a Role in Immunity 

Study lead author Dr. Sheldon Cohen, a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh says, "Regular sleep habits may play an important role in your immune system's ability to fight off infectious disease. Longer sleep duration and better sleep efficiency are both associated with greater resistance to the common cold." 

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, was based on data collected on 153 healthy men and women from 2000 to 2004. At the beginning of the study, the participants were questioned about the number of hours they slept a night, the amount of time they spent in bed, and whether they felt rested after sleeping. After this information was gathered, the participants were given nose drops that contained a common cold virus called the rhinovirus.

Five days after exposure to the virus, they were asked to report any signs or symptoms of a cold. During this time, mucus samples were also collected to test for the virus. Twenty-eight days later, the study concluded when the researchers obtained blood samples from the participants to determine if antibodies to the virus were present.  

Better, Longer Sleep Equals Better Health  

The results of the study found that participants who slept less than seven hours a night were 2.94 times more likely to develop a cold. "And those who lose more than 8 percent of sleep on an average night because they have trouble getting to sleep or wake up in the middle of the night are more than five times more likely to get a cold when exposed to a virus," Dr. Cohen says.

In accordance to this study, previous studies have shown that sleep deprivation impairs some immune function. Researchers have even discovered that people who sleep seven to eight hours a night have the lowest rates of heart disease and death.  

Sleeping Is a Good Investment

The importance of sleep in maintaining good health was highlighted by the study results, notes Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Yale University School of Medicine Prevention Research Center. "Getting good sleep should count among the priorities of health-conscious people," according to Dr. Katz. "Time invested in sleep will almost certainly be paid back in dividends of better health - fewer colds and greater productivity." 

Always consult your physician for more information.

Why is Sleep Important? 

Sleep is not just resting or taking a break from busy routines - it is essential to physical and emotional health. Adequate sleep may also play a role in helping the body recover from illness and injury. 

The emotional and mental benefits of sleep are also significant. Even occasional sleeping problems can make daily life feel more stressful and less productive. Not getting enough sleep may lead to an impaired ability to perform certain tasks involving memory, learning, logical reasoning, and mathematical calculation.

Approximately 50 million to 70 million Americans suffer debilitating sleep disorders; the majority of them are undiagnosed. There are many types of sleep problems. Disorders of sleeping and waking interfere with quality of life and personal health, and endanger public heath. These problems range from staying awake or staying with a regular sleep/wake cycle, sleepwalking, bedwetting, nightmares, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, snoring, and sleep apnea syndrome.

The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. Generally, most healthy adults need no more than of 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. If you have some of the following problems, you may need more sleep, or a better quality of sleep, than you are getting:

• trouble staying alert during boring or monotonous activities
  
• tendency to be unreasonably irritable with co-workers, family, or friends
  
• difficulty concentrating or remembering facts  

Inadequate sleep over a period of time is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. In some studies, sleep problems have been found to increase with aging

For those who suffer from sleep disorders, help is available from many sources. Sleep problems can be treated or managed by different medical specialties depending on the underlying medical cause. For example, pulmonary medicine will offer help to people who suffer from sleep apnea, and neurology will provide treatment for narcolepsy.

Always consult your physician for more information.