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Health study Those who sleep little more often catch cold
Those who sleep too little endanger their health. A new study shows that lack of sleep increases the risk of catching a cold. Even factors such as alcohol and tobacco consumption or stress have less influence on the risk of getting a cold than sleep.
Sleep Deficit Increases Cold Risk
That lack of sleep endangers the health has long been known. According to experts, in people who sleep too little, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, obesity or diabetes increases. According to a new study people are less susceptible to colds due to lack of sleep. As the news agency dpa reports, the study showed that a sleep deficit increased the risk of cold by a good fourfold.
Insomnia makes you very ill in the long run. Picture: by Lieres - fotolia Study participants were infected with cold viruses
Scientists working with Aric Prather at the University of California, San Francisco, studied a total of 164 adults and questioned their lifestyle - for example, in terms of alcohol and tobacco use, diet or stress. Furthermore, the sleep of the subjects with sensors was measured for one week. Subsequently, the study participants were infected with cold viruses and isolated in a hotel. The researchers took a sample of nasal mucus each day the following week, which was then examined.
Sleep played a bigger role than diet or stress
It turned out that those who slept less than six hours a night were 4.2 times more likely to catch a cold than those who slept for at least seven hours. Those who slept less than five hours were even 4.5 times more at risk. As the team reported in the journal "Sleep", sleep had a much greater impact than age, diet, stress or smoking. "Sleep goes beyond all other factors in our measurement," Prather said in a statement from his university. "It did not matter how old people were, how stressed out, their ethnicity, education or income. It did not matter if they were smokers. Not getting any sleep fundamentally affects your physical health. "
"Crucial point for our well-being"
According to Prather, the new study is more informative than previous studies. In these, the study participants were kept awake or awakened, while this time the normal sleep behavior was made the basis. "It could be a normal week during the cold," said the expert. It is also about the society: "In our busy culture there is also the pride of being little sleep and being very efficient. We need more such studies to get our heads off that sleep is a crucial point for our well-being. "
Valerian proved to be a natural aid to sleep! Image: Olaf Speier - fotolia Help with sleep problems
There are indeed many people - including the public - who boast of their low sleep. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said of herself that she has "camel-like skills": she has a certain ability to store, but then has to refuel. For some time, so-called polyphasic sleep models are in fashion: sleep short and deep, recover quickly, and thus save time. Doctors strongly advise against such methods. But if not such time-saving measures, but sleep disorders are the reason that people do not come to rest, they can rely on proven home remedies or natural herbal remedies. Relaxation techniques such as autogenic training, yoga, meditation or progressive muscle relaxation can help. Since stress is a common cause of sleep problems, stress reduction methods are available to help you get enough sleep. Many people also rely on the help of Valerian. (Ad)