Can Poor Sleep Negatively Affect Your Immune System?

Do you find yourself getting sick more often than usual? Not sure why everyone around you seems to be getting by fine and you’re stuck at home away from work because of a frustrating cold or the flu? Now more than ever, it’s essential to keep your immune system strong. However, if you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, your immune system could be taking a hit without you even realizing it, according to a sleep dentist in Covington. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do to get your sleep back on track.

Can Lack of Sleep Affect My Immune System?

The short answer is yes and there is also quite a large body of research supporting the idea. Not only are you at higher risk of becoming sick when you do not get enough sleep, but you’re also more likely to need more time to recover from an illness once you already have it. This only compounds the issue further, making it especially important to get the sleep you need daily.

When you sleep, the immune system releases a series of proteins known as cytokines. Some of these cytokines work to promote sleep, however, other types are produced when your body is fighting an infection or virus. Not only does sleep deprivation decrease the amount of protective cytokines your body produces, but the number of antibodies and cells that fight infections as well.

Other Reasons Why Sleep Matters to Your Overall Health

It’s worth mentioning that your immune system is not the only part of your body that takes a hit when you don’t get enough sleep. In fact, your risk for many other debilitating, chronic and even life-threatening conditions increases the longer you go sleep-deprived. For example, long-term lack of sleep can lead to a higher risk for:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart and blood vessel (or cardiovascular) disease
• High blood pressure
• Stroke

Additionally, lack of sleep is more likely to make you fatigued throughout the day, which can result in a traffic collision or workplace injury if you work around heavy machinery. All in all, it’s worth it to visit an expert for sleep-related problems.

What You Can Do Next to Protect Your Immune System

In the event that you believe your sleep deprivation is caused by sleep apnea, consider contacting a sleep dentist. They are specially trained in examining the health of your airway as well as prescribing oral appliances that make breathing easier throughout the night. Sleep apnea (specifically obstructive sleep apnea) is a condition where the airway is blocked by oral tissue, such as the tongue or the soft palate. An oral appliance works to readjust the position of these tissues, ensuring a cleared airway throughout the night and fewer apneas which force you awake.

If you are experiencing choking or coughing in the middle of the night, chronic fatigue, loud snoring, nighttime urination, or headaches every time you wake up, now is the time to call a sleep dentist and see if sleep apnea therapy is right for you!

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Dean has attended countless trainings and advanced courses specifically on the topic of sleep dentistry and the use of oral appliances to treat and manage sleep apnea. If you believe or are unsure if sleep apnea is affecting your sleep quality, don’t hesitate to give him a call through his website.