As cold and flu season approaches, it's important to understand the important role that sleep plays in our immune system. Some infections are getting more and more resistant to the medications we have and are getting more difficult to treat. Certain strains of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are so mutated and resistant to our medications that they are referred to as superbugs. 

Superbug infections kill almost a million people every year, and it causes more than 2.8 million cases in the US every year, with 35,000 deaths. These numbers can only grow as these bugs become more and more resistant. 

Some of the most common are carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They pose a threat to daily life and are especially dangerous to those with suppressed immune systems - autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, etc. 

Sleeping may be one way that we can help ward off these superbugs. Continue reading for more information. 

Immunity and Sleep 

Sleep helps our bodies function in a way that fights infections. This is also known as homeostatic immune defense, and it is responsible for warding off illnesses. 

Sleep helps our immune system just as much as a lack of sleep can hurt it. Sleep deprivation can cause us to be more susceptible to illnesses and superbugs. Sleep deprivation happens when we don't get the recommended number of hours of sleep for our age. Adults should be getting anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep a night depending on individual needs and daily activities. 

Individuals who are unable to sleep, or who have untreated sleep apnea and insomnia, have a harder time fighting off illnesses and superbugs. 

Worse symptoms with sleep deprivation 

Bad sleep can lead to decreased immunity and worsened symptoms once you are asleep. One study showed that sleep-deprived patients who were infected with rhinovirus - also known as the common cold - had a greater impact from the virus than those who weren't. 

Antibiotics and Sleep 

The main reason that superbugs have been created is due to large-scale antibiotic resistance. This is normally due to overuse and inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. Viruses begin to learn how to evade them, so that way they stop working. It's even worse when individuals don't take their full prescription because the remaining bugs in their system mutate so they are not affected by the antibiotics, and then those bugs are introduced into the population to multiply and continue mutating. 

Certain antibiotics can increase wakefulness, and some, like clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin, can cause hypersomnia. If you are prescribed an antibiotic and notice any changes, then please let your physician know, as optimal sleep is so important for recovery. 

If you are struggling with insomnia, it's time to get help for optimal protection against the spread of superbugs. Please click the orange button below to take a free online sleep test and get in contact with one of our sleep health professionals.  

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/can-we-fight-superbugs-with-sleep