We’ve all done it – hit the “snooze button” on our alarm clock in a last-ditch attempt to sleep longer….Well, what if you had a nice scientific reason to let yourself indulge? We’ve all heard the benefits of a full night’s sleep, but what if sleeping in could help make vaccinations more effective?
Sound a bit odd? Well, first it’s important to understand how vaccines work. Simply put, those injections are debriefing your body’s homeland security (your immune system) about potential threats. After getting a sneak peak at known harmful invaders, your body learns to defend itself against those unwelcomed guests. This way you’re protected in the event of a “real” attack.
This is where a good night’s sleep comes in. Researchers found that your body’s immune system can’t do its job properly unless you get at least seven hours of sleep per night. No sleep, no protection. Actually, the researchers found that getting fewer than six hours of sleep per night increased the odds of the vaccination having no effect at all by 11.5 times. Keep in mind, that’s average sleep per evening – not just the night after you get the shot. So, next time you get vaccinated, you’ve got a solid reason to sleep in.
To read the UCSF announcement about this research, click here.
Vey informative! Thanks!