New health study points to importance of sleep

A recent study by JAMA Network, an internationally recognized general medical journal, has discovered that people who sleep fewer hours on average are at a substantial risk for obtaining colds and other infections.

The data was collected from 2005 to 2012 and surveyed men and women with an average age of 46 who volunteered information about their health for the study. When the results came in, scientists analyzed the data to see if there was a connection to participants who had gotten a cold or pneumonia and how much sleep they’d gotten the month before. They found that 19 percent of participants who slept for five or less hours a night had gotten chest colds compared to 16 percent of patients who slept for six hours every night, and 15 percent who slept for seven or more hours.

Dr. Navin Jain is the medical director of ProMedica Herrick Hospital Sleep Center. He said the study shows the evidence that adults need a good night’s sleep in order to stay healthy.

“It’s more of a correlation study,” Jain said. “If someone is not sleeping enough they are at high risk for getting upper respiratory infections, and several other studies in the past have shown immune function is impaired if you do not sleep.”

Jain said people who sleep well have a better chance of mounting an immune response against viruses compared to those who sleep less than seven hours a night. Adults should obtain seven quality hours of sleep or more a night to avoid harming immune function. Jain suggests that patients ensure the room is dark and not too hot before going to bed. He advises against heavy exercise, caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and suggests having the room free of electronics and social media so sleepers are not disturbed. “Try to set aside a time for sleeping. We set aside time for work and entertainment, so we must sleep also,” Jain said.

Patients who struggle with sleeping are advised by Jain to see a physician. Not getting enough sleep can have a negative effect on immune functions, leading to more infections and a higher risk of falling ill. Some negative results of not getting enough sleep include high blood pressure, heart attack, and even stroke. “If you’re tired and sleepy during the daytime, you could get into workplace accidents, or accidents while driving,” Jain said. “People have died because they did not sleep for five to seven days, so it’s very important.”