I'm having trouble sleeping lately. Does this increase my chances of getting sick?
Answer From Eric J. Olson, M.D.
Yes, lack of sleep can affect your immune system. Studies show that people who don't get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.
During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or inflammation, or when you're under stress. Sleep deprivation may decrease production of these protective cytokines. In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you don't get enough sleep.
So, your body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases. Long-term lack of sleep also increases your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
How much sleep do you need to bolster your immune system? The optimal amount of sleep for most adults is seven to eight hours of good sleep each night. Teenagers need nine to 10 hours of sleep. School-aged children may need 10 or more hours of sleep.
But more sleep isn't always better. For adults, sleeping more than nine to 10 hours a night may result in a poor quality of sleep, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Valerian: A safe and effective herbal sleep aid?
- Insomnia: How do I stay asleep?
Nov. 28, 2018
- Brain basics: Understanding sleep. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm. Accessed May 27, 2015.
- Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/resources/sleep/healthy-sleep. Accessed May 27, 2015.
- Cirelli C. Definition and consequences of sleep deprivation. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 27, 2015.
- Cedernaes J, et al. Determinants of shortened, disrupted, and mistimed sleep and associated metabolic health consequences in healthy humans. Diabetes. 2015;64:1073.
- How sleep deprivation affects your heart. National Sleep Foundation. http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-your-heart. Accessed May 27, 2015.
- Olson EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 2, 2015.
See more Expert Answers
Products and Services
See also
- Ambien: Is dependence a concern?
- Anorexia nervosa
- Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?
- Antidepressants and alcohol: What's the concern?
- Antidepressants and weight gain: What causes it?
- Antidepressants: Can they stop working?
- Antidepressants for children and teens
- Antidepressants: Side effects
- Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you
- Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?
- Atypical antidepressants
- Biofeedback
- Central sleep apnea
- CJD - Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Clinical depression: What does that mean?
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- CPAP machines: Tips for avoiding 10 common problems
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
- Depression, anxiety and exercise
- What is depression? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
- Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap
- Depression (major depressive disorder)
- Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
- Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
- Fatigue
- Headaches and stress
- Sleep guidelines
- How opioid use disorder occurs
- How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
- Huntington's disease
- Insomnia
- Insomnia: How do I stay asleep?
- Insomnia treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy instead of sleeping pills
- Jet lag disorder
- Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
- Kratom for opioid withdrawal
- Male depression: Understanding the issues
- MAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?
- Marijuana and depression
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Restless legs syndrome in kids
- Mayo Clinic Minute: What you should know about bats and rabies
- Melatonin side effects
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Napping do's and don'ts
- Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
- Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?
- Nicotine dependence
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Opioid stewardship: What is it?
- Pain and depression: Is there a link?
- Persistent post-concussive symptoms (Post-concussion syndrome)
- Pinworm infection
- Polysomnography (sleep study)
- Poppy seed tea: Beneficial or dangerous?
- Porphyria
- Postpartum depression
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Prescription drug abuse
- Prescription sleeping pills: What's right for you?
- Pulmonary edema
- Rabies
- Restless legs syndrome
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light box
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Antihistamines for insomnia
- OTC sleep aids
- Sleep and psoriatic arthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Sleep tips
- Stress symptoms
- Tapering off opioids: When and how
- Teen depression
- Tension headache
- Relieving tension-type headaches
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Tricyclic antidepressants and tetracyclic antidepressants
- Valerian: A safe and effective herbal sleep aid?
- CPAP: How it works
- Obstructive sleep apnea: What happens?
- Vitamin B-12 and depression
- What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
- Which CPAP masks are best for you?
- Xylazine
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Do not share pain medication
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid opioids for chronic pain
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Be careful not to pop pain pills
.
