Lack of sleep makes you sick

Most of us have heard how lack of sleep can lead to things like weight gain and leaves you with dark circles on your under eyes.  According to a UCSF study, a lack of sleep can even make you sick, and you are more likely to catch a cold. Researchers found that people who slept for less than six hours were four times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus than those who slept seven hours a night or more.

During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, which help promote sleep.  Those cytokines increase when you have an infection or inflammation, also when stressed.  Sleep deprivation also decreases the production of these proteins.  Therefore, infection fighting antibodies are reduced.

However, over sleeping isn’t healthy either. For adults, sleeping more than 10 hours a night can lead to poor sleeping pattern and insomnia.  So make sure you regulate your sleep patterns.