by Dr. Michelle Irwin

We all know that sleep is important, but it is more than just being able to stay awake during the workday. Sleep is dedicated to our bodies healing and recovery. Research shows that during sleep, our immune system is actively fighting infection while also producing additional immune cells that are better able to fight cancer!

Still, more studies show that people who don’t get enough quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. Whether you are getting enough sleep or not also impacts how quickly recovery happens. This is because certain immune cells are released during sleep which are essential for fighting off infection, inflammation and even combat stress. When we don’t get enough sleep the infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced, and we become more susceptible to viral and bacterial overload which can lead to a prolonged illness. As a result, our sleep is disrupted because of the work our immune system is having to do to protect our bodies. So, it is important to get good quality sleep whenever possible in order to stay healthy and should be just as valued as eating right and exercising. Sleep is just as important to our overall health.

Since our immune system works on a 24-hour cycle just as we do, it is important to know how to develop a quality sleep schedule that works best for you. Research right now recommends 7-8 hours for adults, 9-10 hours for teenagers, and 10 or more hours for younger children.

One easy tip to put into place right away for better sleep is to stop any visual electronic use 30 minutes prior to going to bed and reduce any background noise that might come from something like the TV or radio station. I used to fall asleep to the TV or music with lyrics, but I found that when I switched to ocean sounds or white-noise I got better sleep. Personally, I need some consistent noise to drown out the sounds of the world outside my room in order to sleep, and with delta wave mediation and a fan, I sleep sound.