In the quest to prevent colds and flu, many overlook a vital component—making sure they get a good night’s rest.
According to a Huffington Post article by Jason Tetro, studies have linked poor sleep and susceptibility to illness. In 2010, one study asked volunteers to chronicle their sleep habits from the previous two weeks. Then they were infected with rhinovirus, a strain of the common cold.
Some came down with a full cold while others were only mildly affected. Those who had previously had less than seven hours of sleep were three times more likely to come down with an infection than those who had slept eight hours or more, the article notes.
So get your flu shot, wash your hands and get a full eight hours of sleep. Your immune system will thank you.
