Weak Immune System Treatment: Boost Immunity by Getting Sleep
Getting sleep is important as part of a weak immune system treatment plan to boost immunity. About 35% of American adults report insufficient sleep, which is less than seven hours per night, according to the Sleep Foundation. Stress, overstimulation, and electronic devices interfere with healthy resting, but it is common to develop insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and even sleepwalking in extreme cases. Why is sleep a key ingredient in boosting immunity? It's all about the biological soul and how to improve immunity again!
Sleep to Keep Biological Soul Healthy
The first thing we need to acknowledge is that sleep is what your body does in order to rest. You need to sleep to keep the biological soul healthy. We turn off electronics and put computers on sleep mode to preserve energy, and so it’s a similar complex process for humans to sleep. If your brain and heart, for example, don't get a chance to reach "sleep mode," you are bound to deal with some glitches during your hours of operation. In order to sleep, you have to be capable of resting, which means tackling down a big culprit in poor health - stress. If you’re over stressed, you are unlikely to sleep well, which snowballs into other health issues over time.
Less Stress Means More Sleep
You can boost immunity with meditation. Meditation practices have been on the rise as trendy pop culture, but meditation tools have a key to health in that they alleviate stress. You can boost immunity with meditation by taking on good habits from any of the broad meditation practices available today. In the Fall 2022 Well Being Journal Volume 31, we find that Tai Chi and Qigong are ancient Chinese moving meditation practices, similar to yoga, coordinating body-postures, breathing, and meditation. These meditative practices have been around for centuries and help people stay healthy by decreasing stress and increasing sleep, and this is a super easy way to learn how to boost immunity. .
Meditation Tools to Get Sleep and Boost Immunity
Pranayama breathing exercises
Listening to instrumental music
Quietly smiling in a seated position
Journaling to start and/or end the day
Taking a Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, or other moving meditation class
Meditation and the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve carries messages to and from the brain, heart, lungs, digestive system, and other organs. In Immunity Strong: Boost Your Natural Healing Power and Live to 100, we see that anything that relaxes you will have its benefits towards the goal of proper rest and getting sleep. There are public and private options for meditation to fit your schedule, too. You can do a few minutes daily or devote a weekly day and time to a class. Being able to slow down your body’s pace will increase your immunity and make it possible to get sleep. That sleep will support your weak immune system and make your immunity strong.
Lack of Sleep and Low Immunity
Lack of sleep really messes with your mind and biological soul (brain, heart, lungs, and skin). An increase in stress creates less sleep and low immunity. Why? Not getting sleep enhances inflammatory diseases and an unreliable circadian rhythm also impacts immunity. This can look like acne on a stressed out youth or extra weight on an adult juggling family and work obligations. Not sleeping takes a toll on the heart, pushing it to work harder, and not resting ruins the hormonal balance needed for all of our vital organs. We are all different, but we all need sleep as a basic foundation for our bodies to function. Our body resists infections better when it has proper rest. It’s that simple. A lack of sleep will turn into low immunity throughout the body in different ways from inability to focus, catching colds easily, and developing chronic illnesses to name a few.
Lack of Sleep Side Effects on a Stronger Immune System
You don't have to be unhealthy to get sick from a lack of sleep. Healthy people who get too busy or stressed out often have sudden changes in their medical history. You could have a stronger immune system than most people, but if you take advantage of your body's energy, it will eventually catch up to you if you do not slow down and get sleep. A lack of sleep has side effects, even on a stronger immune system.
Raised cortisol levels
Obesity
Heart attack
Hypertension
Diabetes
Anxiety and mood disorders
Memory loss or lack of focus
Weak Immune System Treatment: Getting Sleep
If the biological soul can be seen as the core players in your body’s immunity team, getting sleep is the actual game. You can take care of what you eat, optimize gut health, exercise, and avoid alcohol or smoking, but you can still have a weak immune system from not getting sleep. The missing piece in your wellness treatment plan is rest. To get sleep, you have to focus on the light and dark cycle for your pituitary gland to secrete a healthy amount of melatonin when needed. Immunity boosts happen when your body goes to sleep and stays asleep, and this depends on a stable circadian rhythm. If you struggle with staying asleep overnight, consider seeing your doctor for assistance on how to improve your rest.
Weak Immune System Treatment: Circadian Rhythm
What is circadian rhythm? In humans, the circadian rhythm is the collection of natural processes that occur physically, mentally, and behaviorally within a 24-hour period due to our reactions to light and dark stimulation. In fact, all living things follow some type of circadian rhythm - even plants. For us, when we awake, fall asleep, and even go to the bathroom is managed by our circadian rhythm. A weak immune system treatment will address unstable or inconsistent circadian rhythm issues first. That’s also why meditation and relaxing habits help in the goal of getting sleep. On your way to pursuing a stronger immune system, do not ever forget the power of sleep in how to boost immunity.
Doctor Robert Lahita is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, a Professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Disease St. Joseph's Healthcare System. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Master of the American College of Rheumatology, and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Dr. Lahita is the author of more than 16 books and 150 scientific publications in the field of autoimmunity.
Want to know more about the Biological Soul and how to live to 100? You can get Dr. Bob’s new book, “Immunity Strong” here on Amazon.