Sleep & The Immune System
Many people report getting sick when they don’t get enough sleep, simply because it is one of the body’s most important defensive mechanisms. Which is why when you do get sick you often feel more sleepy.
The immune system is connected to the circadian rhythms of the body and as a result both influences and is influenced by sleep.
Whether you are in good health or ill-health, there are components of the immune system (e.g. Cytokines) which partly regulate sleep and affect its duration and quality.
One way sleep boosts the immune system is by increasing the production of certain disease-fighting substances e.g. IL-7 which helps to create more immune cells (T&B-cells)
There are numerous studies suggesting the immune system functions best when you get seven hours or more.
Video: Sleep & The Immune System
Scouting Report: Sleep and the Immune System