Sufficient and restful sleep helps to stabilize your immune system

Too little sleep not only damages your health in the long term, but also in the short term. In a clinical study, test subjects were asked about their sleeping habits and general state of health. They were then administered cold viruses with a nasal spray. The outstanding result was that the people who got little sleep, regardless of their other health conditions, had a four times greater risk of catching a cold than those who got enough sleep. Sufficient sleep is not only important for the T-cells to be active, but the memory of the T-cells is also consolidated during sleep. It is assumed that the transfer of information from the short-lived immune cells to the T cells takes place during sleep. [1]

Even more significant are the results of a study conducted by the Universities of Kiel and Tübingen. In a series of experiments, the immune system of a group of people was monitored for 24 hours. Half of the participants were allowed to lie down to sleep for eight hours, while the other half had to go through 24 hours. The result: After just three hours of sleep deprivation, the activity of the T cells was significantly reducedwhich indicates a higher risk of infection. [2]

An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system turns against its own body. A variety of factors are responsible for the onset of an autoimmune disease, one of the most obvious being stress, as this can lead to a change in the immune system, usually in connection with a drastic change in life circumstances, such as a separation, the experience of a precarious work situation or other drastic experiences. It is not usually possible to determine what has caused an outbreak of the disease, although the disease can recede into the background if life circumstances improve.

The connection between sleep problems and an autoimmune disease is rather obvious. Anyone suffering from psoriasis, for example, may have interpersonal problems, including rejection, which in turn can lead to psychological problems, including depression and therefore sleep problems. Psoriasis can also cause unbearable itching at night, which in turn can lead to further scratching and therefore new stress. Rheumatoid arthritis can in turn lead to pain at night and thus to a reduced quality of sleep. In a clinical study, patients with psoriasis were examined for the quality of their sleep, with the result that 70% of patients with psoriatic arthritis, 60% of patients with psoriasis and 15% of the control group reported sleep problems. [3]

However, conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or multiple sclerosis can also have a negative impact on sleep, which usually leads to a vicious circle. The German Rheumatism League points out that learning relaxation techniques is helpful for patients with an autoimmune disease, as restful sleep is the first step in activating the body's self-healing powers. The risk of sleep apnea and other associated health risks is also significantly increased. [4]

Sources:

[1] Lack of sleep damages the body's defenses hkk.de
[2] Too little sleep weakens the immune system br.de
[3] Poor sleep in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis deutschesgesundheitsportal.de
[4] Increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea in psoriasis deutschesgesundheitsportal.de