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When you go to the doctor for an illness, what is one of the first things they tell you to do? It is probably to go home and get some rest. There is a reason for this. Sleep does more than help you pass the time. In fact, it can help fight off an infection in your body, making it possible for you to get better, quicker. To find out how this is possible, let a sleep dentist in Powell explain the findings of a group of German researchers.
Why is Sleep Important to Fighting Off Infection?
All your life, you’ve probably heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine.” Well, while it might help, sleep is actually a great method for fight off infection. How so?
According to researchers in Germany, getting adequate sleep can enable your body’s T cells to attach to a cell infected with a virus, attack it and kill it. T cells are white blood cells that are necessary for your body to maintain a strong immune response. When your T cells recognize the infected cell, they release integrins, which are sticky proteins that help them make the attachment.
Ok, but how is this possible?
A particular protein known as the Gαs-coupled receptor must decrease in activity in order for the T cells to do their job. When adrenaline and inflammation molecules exist, it suppresses the immune system and makes it difficult, if not impossible for the T cells to fight off the infection. However, when you are asleep, these two molecules decrease in activity, making it possible for T cells to attack, fight, and kill.
In better understanding how sleep can help the body fight off infection and negative effects that are associated with stress, depression, and impaired sleep, researchers can develop new ways to treat patients suffering from sleep apnea and other harmful conditions.
How Can I Make Sure I’m Getting Adequate Sleep?
There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting as much sleep as possible, such as:
- Talking to your dentist: If you are concerned you might have sleep apnea, it might be necessary that you have a sleep study conducted to provide an official diagnosis. Should it reveal you are suffering from this condition, a sleep dentist can offer available treatment options to help you get the rest you need.
- Seeing a counselor: Patients who struggle with chronic stress or depression should seek the expertise of a professional counselor. By talking through your problems or concerns, they can offer suggestive methods of relieving stress and finding ways to improve your condition.
- Exercise: Whether it is running or lifting weights, exercise can improve your quality of sleep. Not only will it reduce stress and anxiety levels, but it also helps you enter into a deep sleep cycle, which is necessary for improved function the following day.
Keep your body healthy and strong by getting the sleep you need and deserve. If you’re struggling with sleep apnea or a related condition, talk to your sleep dentist about treatment and other effective ways of achieving quality sleep. Those hours spent snoozing not only help in productivity the next day, but it also restores your body and brain, keeping you happy and healthy.
About the Author
Dr. Shelley Shults is a board-certified registered nurse, general dentist, family nurse practitioner, and dental sleep medicine practitioner. She graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing before going on to spend years working in a variety of nursing fields, including everything from neonatal to urgent care. In 2001, she graduated from The Ohio State University with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She then received her MATRx certification in sleep apnea in 2013. Dr. Shults and her team are proud to offer patients a solution to their sleep problems and look forward to helping you achieve the rest you need. To learn more, contact us at (614) 396-9310.