If you, like many others, are dreading the fall season and the colder weather because of impending illnesses like the common cold, maybe you should hit the hay a little earlier tonight.
A recent study published in the journal Sleep recorded the sleep patterns of 164 men and women purposely infected with a common cold virus.
The results?
The people who were sleeping 5-6 hours a night were four times more likely to actually catch a cold versus the people who were sleeping at least seven hours per night.
“There’s evidence that people who don’t get enough sleep show higher levels of inflammation,” says Sheldon Cohen, a psychologist at Carnegie Mellon University who co-authored the study.
That may not be the only reason sleep helps protect people from getting sick. Other studies suggest age plays a role, and smoking, chronic stress and a lack of exercise can also break down our immune systems and make us more susceptible.
To learn more about the study and its findings, you can read coverage on the NPR Health Blog.
