The Holiday Season is still at its peak and a lot of us are still running around chasing year-end deadlines at work and midnight sales in malls and bazaars. The result? Lack of sleep. The season to be merry brings with it both the frosty mornings of December and the contagious effects of the common cold. Some viruses that cause the common cold thrive on cold or wet weather. And did you know that depriving yourself of sleep makes you more susceptible to catching a cold?
Sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat and nasal congestion are among the symptoms of a cold. We catch a cold when our immune system is not strong enough to properly protect us from the attacks of viruses in the environment. Studies show that not getting quality sleep impairs the immune system, making us more vulnerable to both physical and mental problems. This is because it is during sleep that the body repairs itself and releases certain proteins that help us fight off viruses and bacteria. Sleeping for less than seven hours a night reduces infection-fighting antibodies and cells which makes you three times more likely to catch a cold than somebody who had a proper shuteye. Moreover, if you sleep poorly on a regular basis, you’re five times more prone to catching one as well.
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