Disclosure Tip "Precious" To prevent the flu

YNP:

With cases of colds and flu on the rise during winter, a GP has confirmed that the most effective means of protection can be very simple: getting enough sleep.

Dr Sophie Newton explained that getting enough hours of regular sleep is an essential factor in strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of infection.

This is based on a scientific study in which volunteers were exposed to the cold virus, and the results showed that those who sleep less than seven hours per night are three times more likely to contract a cold than those who sleep eight hours or more.

The results are not only limited to the number of hours of sleep, but also reveal that people who suffer from intermittent sleep are up to five and a half times more likely to suffer from cold symptoms, even after taking into account other factors such as age, stress, alcohol consumption and weight, according to what was reported by the website “Mirror”.

Newton showed that the immune system is significantly active during sleep because the body produces cytokines and builds immune cells and antibodies that fight viruses. She added that lack of sleep means a lack of natural defenses, which makes the body more vulnerable to disease.

She noted that increasing daily sleep duration by just 15 to 30 minutes could help significantly boost immunity. She also advised following a set of simple habits, the most important of which are:

Commitment to a set bedtime every day

Dim the lights one hour before bed

Maintain a moderate, cool temperature in the bedroom

Keep phones and electronic devices away from bed

The doctor emphasized that the benefits of regular sleep are not limited to preventing viruses, but rather extend to improving mental health, strengthening memory and improving general health.

In a related health context, Dr. Suraj Kokadia warned against the habit of sleeping on your stomach, explaining that it can increase the risk of costochondritis, which is an inflammation that affects the area that connects the ribs to the sternum.

He pointed out that constant pressure on the chest while sleeping for long periods of time can lead to joint irritation, particularly when it coincides with poor sitting posture or carrying heavy weights during the day, describing this as the “ideal environment” for this type of inflammation to occur.