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Good sleep hygiene is protective of you.

Posted by Manuela Boyle on 3 May 2021
Good sleep hygiene is protective of you.

Sleep is your body's first line of defence against infectious disease. During sleep, your body produces proteins called cytokines that fight inflammation and infection. When you are exposed to infectious pathogens, have inflammation, or experience chronic stress, your body increases the production of these cytokines to offset illness. Sleep deprivation hinders this immune response, for instance, by increasing the risk of catching a common cold, so not getting enough sleep impacts your body's ability to fight off infections naturally.
Sleep disturbances are linked with early stages of infection; fever and irregular sleep patterns could signal that your body is beginning to fight off illness. Lack of sleep could slow down your immune response and allow illness to progress further. If you are already feeling sick, the age-old advice to "get lots of rest" may be the best approach to bolster your immune system response. The benefits of sleep are preventive and restorative; experts recommend between seven to nine hours of sleep every night for optimal health.
Good sleep hygiene doesn't just mean sleeping with clean sheets; it also involves routines that help facilitate the body's circadian rhythm and reduce environmental stressors that could be affecting your slumber. Simply knowing how certain behaviours affect your sleep patterns may help you adjust your daytime behaviours to improve sleep later. You can support your sleep and health just by making positive changes in your daily routine.
There are plenty of tips to help you improve your sleep routine during cancer treatments and beyond.
We are looking forward to working with you and help you reach a sound and restorative sleep pattern.

References
Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M. The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:1152/physrev.00010.2018
Del Gallo F, Opp MR, Imeri L. The reciprocal link between sleep and immune responses. Arch Ital Biol. 2014;152(2-3):93-102. doi:12871/000298292014234
Author:Manuela Boyle
Tags:NewsMind Body MedicineEvidence Based ResearchCancer

Associations

  • The Institute for Functional Medicine
  • Society for Integrative Oncology
  • Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia
  • Australian Traditional-Medicine Society
  • British Naturopathic Association