Getting good rest, for example, can help bodies reset white blood cell counts, says a sleep expert.
Getting a good night’s sleep can feel great, and a sleep neurologist wants people to know that getting a good night’s sleep can also boost your immune system and mental health.
“It’s really important to get a good night’s sleep,” said Dr. Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi, a board member of the National Sleep Foundation and associate professor of neurology at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Noting that bodies are constantly working to fight ailments, Oyegbile-Chidi said that getting plenty of rest can help bodies reset white blood cell counts.
“We know that while fighting bacteria, etcetera, white blood cell levels can go down … but when you sleep well, you basically reset or ‘reactivate’ white blood cells and other immune factors. And this can lead to better overall health. [and you’re] less likely to have infections, “he said.
Adults are recommended to get seven to nine hours a night. Children need eight to 11 hours every night.
People who wake up after a bad night’s sleep may feel groggy, irritable, and / or grumpy during the day.
“Sometimes you just have this mental confusion: you are not able to concentrate as clearly as you would have if you had a good night’s sleep,” he said.
“It’s the same over time when you keep getting reduced sleep. It begins to accumulate in your brain. After a while, the lightheadedness, irritability and bad mood begin to turn into depression, anxiety and these kinds of mental health disorders that we try to avoid.
People who have been very sleep deprived over time, he said, may find that they are not only incapable of thinking, but also begin to believe that their personalities are irritable or moody.
“When you have your sleep under control, you will really find that your mental health, your feelings of happiness and well-being will improve a lot, compared to if you continue with that sleep deprivation,” said Oyegbile-Chidi.
You can find tips and advice on how to achieve better sleep in the following audio clip and in the National Sleep Foundation website.
Tips from Dr. Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi for a restful sleep
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