The Immune System and Sleep Are Sending Messages to Each Other for A Healthy Life

In addition to being an essential need for resting physically, sleep is extremely important for the regular functioning of many systems in our body, healing wounds, weight control, and a strong immune system. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı said, “For a well-functioning immune system, good sleep is needed in terms of quality and quantity, and a well-functioning immune system is needed to sleep well”, especially drawing attention to the close relationship between sleep and immune system.

There Is a Two-Way Communication!

The immune system protects our organs and systems against threats from inside and outside. It is unthinkable that the sleep period, in which approximately one-third of human life is spent, and the immune system is unaware of each other. In the medical literature, this relationship is defined as 'two-way talk'. In other words, sleep and the immune system communicate with each other, messaging for a healthier life.

Stating that when looking at lupus, rheumatic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases, which progress with inflammation, sleep disorders are seen more or less in all of them, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı said, “The immune system consists of two parts: natural and acquired. The innate immune system includes the first response, protection steps, against a threatening situation from inside of the organism or from outside such as microorganisms, diseased cells, and cells in which cancerous transformation begins. While the acquired immune system tries to limit the infection with the secretions of the immune system cells that encounter the microorganism, it also creates a protective memory against that microbe. When the same microorganism is encountered in the following periods, it immediately attacks that microbe as if it had been vaccinated.”

Sleep Deprivation Makes You Hungry

Reminding that leptin, known as the appetite hormone, decreases in sleep deprivation, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı said, “With sleep deprivation, the appetite hormone called ghrelin increases. This leads to eating behavior disorders, obesity, and indirectly to immune dysregulation. In other words, besides affecting the immune system, sleep deprivation also causes weight gain.”

The Body Wants to Use All Its Energy to Fight Microorganisms

Reminding that after a long period of sleep deprivation, it is seen that infections are common, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı said, “When we are exposed to an infection, we feel sleepier in the normal course of the infection. This is actually a protective mechanism. Responding to this need is in the best interest of the organism. At the beginning of such a period, the immune system sends signals to our brain with some secretions it creates, leading us to a more inactive period. It wants to slow down all metabolic and kinetic activities and use its energy in the fight against microorganisms.”

Stating that a vicious circle will emerge when the infection that develops with sleep deprivation progresses or becomes severe, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı said, “We cannot talk about quality sleep during the cytokine storm period even if we want. As our sleep deprivation lasts longer, the immune system is adversely affected and the infection process prolongs. Along with the treatment of inflammatory diseases with increased cytokines, improvements in sleep quality have been shown.”