{"categories":"Condition,Person Group Concept,Person Group Concept,Theme of Focus","keywords":"Diagnosable condition,Mental disorder,Sleep conditions,Insomnia,Age Concept,Adult,19 to 44 younger,Age Concept,Adult,45 to 64 middle,Clinical Focus Value Set,Complication","abstract":"\u003cp\u003eLack of sleep can affect your immune system. Here's what you need to know.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Lack of sleep: Can it make you sick?","body":"\u003cdiv class='section'\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHead'\u003eAnswer Section\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHTML'\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo, 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut 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.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","doc_id":"FAQ-20057757","object_id":"e26d03c3-f3fc-4e31-b0c4-13e7aa3c694e","updated_at":"2018-11-28","meta_keywords":"","benefit_summary":"","sections":{"Answer Section":"\u003cp\u003eYes, 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo, 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow 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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut 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.\u003c/p\u003e "},"has_flash":false,"flash_content_url":null,"flash_content_height":null,"flash_content_width":null}