How sleep can help keep colds away

Your immune system is your best defence against colds and flu and protecting it can be as simple as getting a good night’s sleep.

How sleep helps fight colds

Getting around 8 hours of sleep a night, and getting good quality sleep has been shown to decrease your chance of getting a cold.¹

In contrast, people who lose just a little bit of sleep are more likely to come down with a cold. In a recent study, those who got less than 7 hours of good sleep were almost 3 times more likely to get sick than people who got 8 or more hours.¹ What’s more, if you’re normally an 8-hour sleeper and you lose as little as 10 minutes of sleep in an average night – you’re more likely to catch a cold!¹

How you can get more sleep, and better quality sleep

As beneficial as sleep is for keeping colds and sickness at bay, many of us struggle to get enough of it. Recent data shows that an estimated 1.5 million Australians suffer from sleep-related problems.²

Lack of sleep affects work performance, leisure activities, relationships and the ability to think clearly.³

Motoring organisations also estimate that fatigue is also a key factor in one in six fatal road accidents.⁴

The following small changes can help ensure sufficient, quality sleep and can be easily remembered by remembering the word ‘ASLEAP’:⁵

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and late night exercise
• Set aside some ‘worry time’ in the evening away from the bedroom to go through any problems and think or plan about what you have on the next day
• Limit the bedroom to sleep and relaxation. Avoid reading, listening to the radio or watching TV in bed.
• Exercise in the early morning sunlight to help strengthen your body’s natural sleep rhythm
• Avoid sleeping in or napping during the day, try to get up at the same time each day, even if it is a weekend.
• Plan for bedtime by having a regular bedtime routine such as taking a warm bath, or eating a small snack.

It’s worth remembering that regular sleep disruption could be an early sign of a sleep disorder.³ If you’re in any doubt, it’s a good idea to seek advice from your doctor.

Suggested Products