A study from Liverpool John Moores University suggests that a good night’s sleep outperforms a longer one.
A new study has found that people who don’t get enough sleep, or don’t get enough sleep, are almost three times more likely to get colds. But it has also been found that good sleep quality — defined as no tossing and turning during the night and falling asleep quickly — can effectively offset too few hours in bed when it comes to boosting the immune system.
The results of the work, according to scientists, should “change our understanding of sleep and health.” In a first-of-its-kind study, they followed 1,318 military recruits for 12 weeks. Their job was to track participants’ sleep patterns and health status for several weeks before training and after enlisting in the military, where they had to follow a strict wake-up routine.
On average, participants slept two hours less during the exercise. However, the researchers noted that more than half of people with sleep restriction rated their sleep as good. Recruits who experienced sleep restriction during training were nearly three times more likely to suffer respiratory infections, the team said. This was done after taking into account factors that may have influenced these types of diseases, such as the time of year and smoking.
However, sleep restriction only increased the risk of infection among those who reported poor sleep quality. Scientists say that quality sleep protects against any respiratory diseases, despite the shorter duration. Experts have previously found that poor sleep in pre-pandemic times increased the severity of COVID-19.
Lecithin to protect the liver and brain: what does it do and where to find it?
Especially important fat: what is the danger of a lack of lecithin in the diet and how to make up for it.